Establishment of Centres of Competence for “Smart and Innovative Rural Areas” in the Danube region, Project duration 15-07-2013 until 14-07-2014
The aim of the project is the establishment of Rural Areas in the field of agriculture, resource protection, bio-energy and rural development. They shall serve as institutional platforms for research, innovation and technology transfer to bridge the interface between science and business.
After a first study tour and preparatory interviews in summer, the kick-off workshop for the SIRA DANUBE project took place from 9-10 October in Osijek, Croatia. A broad panel of experts and colleagues from Danube riparian states and from other neighbouring partners in the Danube strategy elaborated the first steps to initiate competence centres to enhance economic viability and SME development in rural areas. 31 participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia attended a two days workshop organised by the Eastern Europe Centre of the University of Hohenheim and the Faculty of Agriculture, Osijek. Further concept development for the Centres of Competence will focus on strategic topics for SME development in agrifood value chains, green economy, natural resource management and local community development in rural areas.
Project coordination and contact
Universität Hohenheim, Eastern Europe Centre
Wollgrasweg 43, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Dr. h.c. Jochem Gieraths
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