SECMACV inaugural event

What role do clusters play in innovation and the transition to sustainability?

We often talk about the importance of partnerships and collaboration. A business cluster is exactly that. In an increasingly complex world, clusters represent strategic spaces for collective intelligence. They are platforms where people, companies, and institutions can work together to create transformative solutions through a systems lens—with a territorial focus. In the case of SECMACV, the territory is the Valencian Community.

That’s why we at Monnou chose to actively join the cluster: because we share its purpose—driving new business and territorial models based on real sustainability.

We believe that transforming the productive fabric is impossible without weaving networks of trust, learning, and shared action. And well-designed clusters provide solid infrastructure for that.

An event as an exercise in coherence

With that collective spirit in mind, we took on the challenge of designing the inaugural event from the Communication and Marketing Commission. But not as a mere institutional act—rather, as an opportunity to put our principles into practice.

To do this, coordinating the actions of several collaborating entities was key. Together with BLUEASE, we applied real sustainability criteria to every decision: transportation, energy, materials, waste management, accessibility, contribution to science… Thanks to their platform, we’re now measuring and improving various social and environmental impacts. With Chócala! Eco-Design, we developed reusable signage and other event materials using sustainable criteria. Thanks to Valencia Club Cocina, attendees enjoyed a local, healthy catering offer aligned with the cluster’s values. And of course, thanks to UPV, we were able to host the event in a space aligned with knowledge generation and innovation—while also meeting high environmental and social standards, supported by a rigorous sustainability plan.

The event included institutional presence: the Rector of UPV, representatives from the Generalitat Valenciana, and even the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. We also invited Manuel Maqueda as keynote speaker—an international reference who teaches Applied Circular Economy and Regenerative Economy at Harvard University, and has developed pioneering courses at Berkeley and UCLA. If you’d like to know more about the event agenda, we encourage you to read the blog post we published on the cluster’s website.

We also designed the more intangible aspects: the narrative, the pace, the overall experience. We took care of moderating the event in a way that aligned with its purpose. We avoided greenwashing and ensured every element—even a badge or a folder—was the result of a conscious, impact-driven decision.

Naturally, media coverage was also considered. Local and regional media outlets such as Economia 3 and Valencia Plaza featured the cluster’s launch and its mission.

Design is about making decisions with intention

At Monnou, we firmly believe that strategic design plays a key role in sustainability. Beyond communication, it’s about transformation. Events—when seen as narrative and experiential devices within an organization’s broader strategy—can serve as powerful examples of what it means to act in alignment between what we say and how we do it.

This first SECMACV event marked a strong step toward that shared horizon. An exciting starting point for a collective journey that’s just beginning—bringing to life the cluster’s core belief: “What must be done. Who says it, who knows how, and who follows through.”

At Monnou, we continue designing processes and partnerships that make sustainability practical and real. Shall we talk?