The Danube Transfer Center Network is a project development by the PA 8 Working Group on Innovation and Technology Transfer. Originally, the project was funded by the State Ministry Baden-Württemberg with €. 200,000 from September 2012 to February 2014. Therefore the project is an outstanding example of sustainable project funding, as Steinbeis Europa Zentrum, continues to carry out targeted and successful activities well beyond the funding period until today.

In the framework of the Annual Forum in Brdo, Slovenia, on Oct. 24, 2023, Carmen Hawkins and Helia Kovačević Grčić from PA 8 together with the colleagues from Danube Strategy Point, Cristina Cuc and Katharina Lenz, handed over the Danube Flagship Certificate to Prof. Dr. Jonathan Loeffler from Steinbeis Europa Zentrum. Over 40 participants from 7 Danube countries joined to celebrate the handover of the Danube Strategy Flagship Certificate and to welcome three new members to the Network.

The status of the Danube Tranfer Center Network in 2023 is, that is is active in 10 Danube Region Countries, there are 15 DTC Entry points and 33 DTC Hubs.

The 15 Danube Transfer Centers are bridging the gap between research and innovation, focusing on improving competences  and cooperation between producers and users of knowledge and supporting the innovation and technology transfer at the local and regional level.

Within PA8, the Danube Transfer Center network, with its role between the business and research sectors, is an excellent showcase of best practice to be capitalised not only within the Interreg Danube Region Programme, but also at the strategic level of the EUSDR and at EU level in other funding programmes such as Horizon 2020.

The status of flagship project can be used to illustrate the progress made, the implementation of the EUSDR and the improvement of the region through cooperation.

Please find more information about the new PA 8 flagship project here