Across Europe, regions and cities increasingly rely on regional and local hubs to deliver development strategies, attract investment and retain talent.
However, many of these hubs operate with small teams, fragmented tools and limited collaboration at all levels of governance. MAGNET, an Interreg Europe initiative bringing together partners from Italy, the Netherlands, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania and North Macedonia, is designed to change that. By improving seven strategic documents and fostering interregional learning, the project aims to improve the way regions organise their efforts to invest and attract talent.
As the partnership begins its journey, early MAGNET exchanges already reveal a shared belief in the project’s transformative potential. For the Regional Development Agency Centru in Romania, the challenges MAGNET addresses are deeply linked to regional competitiveness and long-term growth. Expert Lucian Docea points out that “strengthening strategic thinking and connecting stakeholders around common goals is essential to make our region more attractive and better prepared for future development.” His team sees MAGNET as an opportunity to refine strategic approaches, improve stakeholder engagement, and learn from solutions tested in other European regions.
In the Netherlands, the city of Utrecht brings a dynamic urban perspective to the partnership. With its ongoing efforts to improve the business climate and retain talent, Utrecht sees significant value in practical policy learning. Merijn Suijkerbuijk, Policy Officer for Economic Affairs, emphasizes the importance of practical inspiration, noting that “seeing firsthand how other regions organize talent and investment attraction helps us to rethink our own approach and take new initiatives that really make a difference.” Utrecht is particularly enthusiastic about study visits that reveal how the strategy translates into real-life practice.
From Italy, ART-ER contributes expertise in innovation ecosystems and stakeholder management. The organisation sees MAGNET as a continuation of wider strategic work aimed at strengthening regional governance models. Giannandrea Esposito, project coordinator and communications manager, emphasises that “the real value of MAGNET lies in the exchange of practices across borders – learning how others build partnerships, tackle governance and develop cohesive territorial strategies inspires us to refine our own models”. ART-ER expects the collaboration to support long-term improvements in regional coordination and to strengthen cooperation mechanisms that influence both policy and practice.
Together, these perspectives illustrate why MAGNET matters. The project is not just about improving policy instruments; it is also about building stronger, more connected and more capable regions. Through shared learning, open dialogue and a commitment to long-term change, MAGNET partners work to create environments where talent can thrive, innovation can flourish and strategic investments can take root. As collaboration deepens, the project promises to leave a lasting mark on regional development practices across Europe.
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