Within the WASTE-CLUSTER, key stakeholders are working together in pursuit of regional economic development and the strengthening of the European Research Area (ERA). Following the logic of identifying similarities and complementarities among the participating projects' activities, the ultimate aim is to explore possible synergies among the projects in terms of concrete actions as well as in terms of funding opportunities with other European and local funding instruments.  The Mediterranean Innovation and Research Coordination Action (MIRA project) financed by the FP7 programme "international cooperation" offers possibilities to realize complementary activities with the WASTE-CLUSTER initiative at various levels.

Opportunities for benchmarking and exchange of best practices regarding strategies, structures and resources associated with technology transfer could be seized in order to increase the efficiency of the proposed measures by the WASTE Cluster initiative to further enhance its visibility and impact. Further synergies could be explored under the "Capacity-building" component of the Horizon 2020 political initiative that will launch a regional support programme sponsored by the European Neighbourhood Policy Instrument (ENPI) towards the end of 2009, early 2010. Its purpose is to support the implementation of Horizon 2020 through capacity-building and awareness raising activities. It will equally promote the integration of environmental issues in the policies of other sectors such as transport and energy.