Established in 2006, Bydgoszcz Industrial Cluster Tool Valley incorporates companies of the toolmaking and plastics processing industries and a range of business related institutions, including universities, research and development units, public authorities, entrepreneurs’ associations and financial institutions. The majority of companies in the processing and toolmaking industry are small and medium-sized enterprises. Their activities are highly flexible. The cluster’s aim is the integration of processing and tool experts, representing their interests outside the industry and also establishing a network of business connections facilitating the operations of companies, access to human resources, technological development and an increase of innovation in production. In October 2016, BIC obtained Key National Cluster status, which is awarded as a part of the competition organized by the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Technology. The Cluster is a member of three international networks: MERGEurope, European Lightweight Cluster Alliance (ELCA) and European Composites, Plastics and Polymer Processing Platform (ECP4). It cooperates with industry clusters from Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain.