Science, Innovation, Education - Get-Together Towards Competitiveness of Tomorrow

Workshop on developing and using synergies by linking actions of Priority Areas 7 and 8

About 30 members of Steering Groups and experts from Danube Region followed the joint invitation of PAC 8 team and Steinbeis Danube Center to discuss in Stuttgart how synergies across PA7 and PA8 can be developed and used. A workshop on September 2012, 27th was followed by a visit to Steinbeis-Day on September 2012, 28th (more). Latter was implemented into the program in order to present best practice of technology transfer and innovation.

Participants represented 6 states: Austria, Croatia, Germany, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia. Priority Area Coordinators 7 (Slovakia) and PAC 8 (Croatia and Baden-Württemberg) participated in person.

Background: Research and innovation are key drivers of competitiveness. Three priority areas of Danube Strategy are directly responsible for a functioning and successful innovation process. Priority Area 7 takes care about the research sector. Implementation of actions in PA7 will result in strong offers of technologies, scientific results and knowledge. For economic growth the business sector has to be beneficiary of such offer. PA8 ensure that enterprises in Danube region understand the need of innovation and develop demand on technologies. Enterprises will get access to market oriented technologies and will be able to translate them into innovation. Both research sector and the business sector need highly qualified scientists, engineers and skilled workers. PA 9 is faced to the challenge of preparing human resources according current and future needs.

 Workshop across Priority Areas 7 and 8 was a succesfull beginning. Another workshop will follow in time. A strong interaction with Priority Area 9 will be developed.