We presented the results of the DRWO4.0 project at the Brokerage Event and Cross-fertilization Workshop of the EUSDR PA8 Working Groups on Technology Transfer and Circular Economy & Bioeconomy in Ulm.
It was an opportunity to demonstrate how a local strategic vision can evolve into a recognized European initiative that delivers tangible value through transnational cooperation.
Some strategies remain on paper. Others grow into institutions, international partnerships, and lasting impact.
Eight years ago, as part of the Made in Danube project, we developed a Local Action Plan (LAP) for a Competence Centre for the Wood Industry with a clear ambition: to strengthen the competitiveness of the regional wood industry by connecting businesses, research organizations, and public authorities.
That Local Action Plan became much more than a strategic document. It laid the foundation for building a regional innovation ecosystem, with the Competence Centre Ltd. for Research and Development at its core.
Today, the Competence Centre Ltd. for Research and Development serves as a regional innovation hub, connecting more than 200 companies with research organizations and public institutions. At the same time, it has coordinated #DRWO40, one of the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) Priority Area 8 Flagship Projects (2025–2026) under the Interreg Danube Region Programme, bringing together partners from 11 countries across the Danube Region.
