On 22 and 23 September 2025, three network organizations came together at the Hafenraum to reflect on their work, seek new perspectives and think about challenges together.
NIRO is a member of go-cluster, the cluster-related excellence measure of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. go-cluster supports cluster management organizations in a variety of ways and the Cluster Shaker workshop was organized through it.
Two days were dedicated to intensive exchange, getting to know each other and learning from each other using a variety of methods.
The first day was all about getting to know the offers, target groups and goals of the individual clusters. A canvas model was used for this. Each network used it to structure and analyze information about its target groups, their tasks and challenges.
We “shook” on the very first day to find out whether certain program points, activities and findings from one cluster could also be adapted or used for another. And somehow, as always, there was something that inspired others.
The motto for the second day was “Solve my problem and I’ll solve yours”. Each cluster described a current challenge. The focus was on member retention, effectiveness controlling and the question of how to “grow inwards”.
Creative ideas, tips and recommendations and helpful suggestions were shared and some aspects will certainly provide new impetus in Oldenburg, Hamburg and Dortmund.
All participants gave the new format positive feedback, appreciated the honest exchange, the variety of methods and already had initial ideas for further cross-cluster meetings.
Many thanks to go-cluster, who make workshops like this possible, to Johanna Simon-Lehmstedt and Dr. Sebastian v. Engelhardt, who guided us through the workshop with their extensive toolbox of methods, and to our open-minded fellow campaigners who were keen to discuss and organize networking.
