Project brings together Universities, R&D institutions, SME support facilities from EU-15, NMS as well as IPA to prepare and create first Automotive network in SEE. The second level clustering activities proposed by project are strictly oriented on the activities they are improving the innovation capacities in region and improve technology and know-transfer improvement the innovation circle. Project in the first stage analyses the clusters development and best practices across the regions as well as create the connection with other existing European activities in the automotive clustering. Project focus highly to produce concrete results and address main challenges they are particularly specific for SEE region, particularly the same across whole EU territory. In the other phase project aims to study the innovation capacities in each participating region in selected stakeholders from sides of the SMEs, R&D as well as public sector. The results will be disseminated by interactive innovative map in automotive industry for SEE region as well as summarized in Study. The results will be disseminated locally in each region as well as internally in project partners? institutions. Based on the results the project will create 4 working groups they have to prepare the list of possible joint innovative pilot projects in 4 selected area of interest (i.e. Green energy or Plastics). As one of the core results 3 joint innovative pilot projects will be funded by project and preparation of proposals to FP7 for other 3 projects will be realized. During the project activities which should promote automotive industry and increase the cooperation between universities and smes will be realized as well one permanent exchange program will be realized. Project will summarize earned experienced and know-how to the Common Methodology which will elaborate close to the project closure to help in other regions and different industries in second level clustering focused on innovation. Project budget: Overall project budget: 1.645.000,00 € ERDF contribution: 1.398.250,00 € IPA contribution: 0,00 € ENPI contribution: 0,00 € Project start date / end date: 2009-04 / 2012-03