Priority Area 8: “Support of the competitiveness of enterprises, including cluster development." Karlheinz Bechtle Team PAC 8, Ministry of Finance and Economics Baden-Württemberg, Germany

EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu “The question is how we can maximise the potential of the Danube region which reaches from the Black Forest to the Black Sea. We have much shared history, and now we need to find out how far we can pool our efforts to develop modern solutions to the challenges of the future.” Commissioner Johannes Hahn What are the challenges and what are the solutions to them? EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu

EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu "The 3 NOs and the 3 YES" 3 NOs New Legislation, New Institution, New Funding 3 YES Better alignment of funding More efficient coordination of instruments New Ideas EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu

1 Strategy – 4 Pillars – 11 Priorities Connecting the Region Protecting the Environment Building Prosperity Strengthening the Region PA 1 Mobility and Multimodality PA 4 Water Quality PA 7 Knowledge Society PA 10 Institutional Capacity and Cooperation PA 2 Sustainable Energy PA 5 Environmental Risks PA 8 Competitive-ness PA 11 Security PA 3 Culture and Tourism; People to People PA 6 Biodiversity, Landscapes, Air and Soil Quality PA 9 People and Skills

Priority Area Coordinators Governance Structure EU/ Political Authorities (EC,NCP) Stakeholder Stakeholder Projects Projects Stakeholder Stakeholder Stakeholder Stakeholder Projects Stakeholder Stakeholder Steering Group Priority Area Coordinators Stakeholder Projects Stakeholder Stakeholder Projects Stakeholder Working Groups Stakeholder Projects Stakeholder Stakeholder e.g. national/regional/local authorities, economic decision makers (instituional/ organizational), sciences, civil society etc. Stakeholder Stakeholder Projects Projects Projects

National Contact Points Priority Area Coordinator EUSDR Governance Coordination and Support European Commission DG Regio National Contact Points Annual meeting with other PACs Facilitation Exchange Report Facilitation + Support Priority Area Coordinator Competitiveness (08) Baden-Württemberg & Croatia Information + Involvement Feedback Information Feedback Steering Group group of members of governments and others Coordination Facilitation + Support Involvement Report Stakeholder Participation (International Industry associations, intergovernmental organisations,…) Working Groups: - Innovation and Technology Transfer Clusters of Excellence Environmental Technology Vocational Training, SEECEL Network Cooperation of business organisations Competitiveness of Rural Areas Die Prioritätsbereiche und horizontalen Aktionen werden im Aktionsplan mit Beispielprojekten oder Flagschiffprojekten unterstützt. Die SGs und PACs sind die Schnittstelle zwischen dieser und der Umsetzungsebene. Die Umsetzung findet neben dem Netzwerk der Strategie durch Projekte statt. Die Steering Group (SG) besteht aus Vertretern der den Schwerpunktbereichen jeweils thematische verbundenen Ministerien und Nichtregierungsorganisationen der einzelnen Länder und aus Vertretern von DG Regio sowie weiteren Generaldirektionen, die für das jeweilige Themengebiet Bedeutung haben. Die Ländervertreter in der SG treiben die Umsetzung des Schwerpunktbereiches im eigenen Land voran und sind die Vermittlungsstelle zwischen der Strategie und den nationalen Akteuren. Von den Entscheidungen der SGs hängen die inhaltliche Ausrichtung der PAs und die Auswahl der Projekte ab. Als Unterstützung für die SG und die PACs gibt es thematische Arbeitsgruppen (WGs), die je nach Themenbereichen auf Expertenebene die Projektauswahl und –entwicklung vorbereiten. Participation Report Implementation Initiation Report Flagships and other projects

National Contact Points Priority Area Coordinator EUSDR Governance Coordination and Support European Commission DG Regio National Contact Points Annual meeting with other PACs Facilitation Exchange Report Facilitation + Support Priority Area Coordinator Competitiveness (08) Baden-Württemberg & Croatia Information + Involvement Feedback Information Feedback Steering Group group of members of governments and others Coordination Facilitation + Support Involvement Report Stakeholder Participation (International Industry associations, intergovernmental organisations,…) Working Groups: - Innovation and Technology Transfer Clusters of Excellence Environmental Technology Vocational Training, SEECEL Network Cooperation of business organisations Competitiveness of Rural Areas Die Prioritätsbereiche und horizontalen Aktionen werden im Aktionsplan mit Beispielprojekten oder Flagschiffprojekten unterstützt. Die SGs und PACs sind die Schnittstelle zwischen dieser und der Umsetzungsebene. Die Umsetzung findet neben dem Netzwerk der Strategie durch Projekte statt. Die Steering Group (SG) besteht aus Vertretern der den Schwerpunktbereichen jeweils thematische verbundenen Ministerien und Nichtregierungsorganisationen der einzelnen Länder und aus Vertretern von DG Regio sowie weiteren Generaldirektionen, die für das jeweilige Themengebiet Bedeutung haben. Die Ländervertreter in der SG treiben die Umsetzung des Schwerpunktbereiches im eigenen Land voran und sind die Vermittlungsstelle zwischen der Strategie und den nationalen Akteuren. Von den Entscheidungen der SGs hängen die inhaltliche Ausrichtung der PAs und die Auswahl der Projekte ab. Als Unterstützung für die SG und die PACs gibt es thematische Arbeitsgruppen (WGs), die je nach Themenbereichen auf Expertenebene die Projektauswahl und –entwicklung vorbereiten. Participation Report Implementation Initiation Report Flagships and other projects

EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu Goals and targets of Priority Area 8 Basis of all activities is the Action Plan for PA 8. It was developed with support of the EU Commission and it was adopted by the 14 member states of the Danube Strategy. The following actions are listed for PA 8. EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu

Action Plan of PA 8 (1/2) Action Plan 1. Improvement of the interdisciplinary cooperation and the transfer of knowledge between companies, science and public administration 2. Improvement of business support Action Plan of PA 8 (1/2) 3. Improvement of high performing training and qualification schemes (vocational educational training) 4. Implementation "Small Business Act for Europe"

Action Plan of PA 8 (2/2) Action Plan 5. Strengthening the competitiveness of rural and urban areas 6. Elimination of cross-border barriers Action Plan of PA 8 (2/2) 7b. Advancement of the infrastructure (i.e. environmental technology, communications infrastructure, technology parks) 7a. Improvement of framework conditions for economic organizations such as chambers, associations and SMEs 5. Verbesserung der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit ländlicher und städtischer Gebiete 6. Beseitigung grenzüberschreitender Barrieren und Engpässe – ‚Seamless Europe for a livable Danube Region’ 7a. Verbesserung der Rahmenbedingungen für KMUs, Kammern und andere Wirtschaftsorganisationen 7b. Verbesserung der Infrastruktur (z.B. Umwelttechnologie, Transport- und Kommunikationsinfrastruktur, Ausstellungszentren, Technologieparks usw.)

Working Groups (WG) of PA 8 Innovation and Technology Transfer Cluster of Excellence Vocational Training/ Entrepreneurial Learning Cooperation of Business Organizations Environmental Technology and Energy Efficiency Competitiveness in Rural and Urban Areas EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu

EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu Working Groups - State of Play WG1: Innovation and Technology Transfer Co-operation with Steinbeis Center: Pilot Project: Establishment of Danube Transfer Centers (DTC) (Romania, Slovakia and Serbia) Bridging Function between industry and research Supports the transfer of technologies and innovation between countries EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu

EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu Development and coperation of the Environmental Technology Network Objectives of the network: Improve sustainably the environmental conditions in the Danube Region Increase market opportunities for environmental technologies Networking of actors from the Danube Region and Baden-Württemberg Support of small and medium-sized companies Network strategy: Intergrate and expand existing networks in Baden-Württemberg Build up reflecting networks in the Danube Region EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu

EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu Network partners : Companies / Enterprise Networks Politics / Ministries Science / Educational Establishments Institutions / Chambers / Associations Organiszations for financial support Events : Network partners events in the Danube Region (2014) IFAT (World´s leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste and raw materials management) in Munich with business cooperation event (05.-09. Mai 2014 ) EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu

EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu Socio-economic Study In order to fulfil the goal of Priority Area 8, a socio-economic assessment of the Danube Region has been commissioned. An interactive, ongoing process with stakeholders in the target region Objectives: analyze potentials and recognize needs and challenges provide the stakeholders with possible advices how to improve the co-operation and networking suggestions on how the resources of the upcoming EU funding period (2014-2020) can be used EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu

EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu Schedule 24./25. 1. Finance Dialogue Belgrade, Discussions with potential stakeholders, and the Automobile cluster in particular. 30./31.1 NCP+PAC Meeting in Brussels 6./7.2 VET Exploratory talks with Hungary and Slovakia with PAC 7 Sts Stefan Chuduba in the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and technology, Promoting dual training in the automobile sector 6./7.2. Stakeholder Seminar "Vocational Education Training" in Bratislava 28. 2. 1.3. Vienna Networking with Interreg project ClusterPoliSEE, Objective is to take over the webplatform in DanuClus from 2015 onwards 7./8.3. Budapest Interreg-Programming, incorporating the study as a supplement to the regional approach 7./8.3. Mixed Commission in Croatia especially concerning environment technology 12.3. ETC Programming BW and BY PAC together with the NCP for Germany in Berlin 4./5. 4. Exchange of experiences with BSA in Stockholm, Agreement on future cooperation 11./12.4. Visegrad, Hungary , Conference Clusters in Europe III, Second political-strategic meeting of the WG Clusters of Excellence, approval of the DanuClus-approach, presentation of preliminary results of the survey of cluster policy/decision makers in the Danube Region 5.-7.5. Stakeholder Seminar "Rural development" in Bucharest/Romania 15.5 5.Steering Group Meeting in Bratislava 15.5 Joint Steering Group-Meeting PAC 7+8+9 in Bratislava 17.4. EUSDR Networking Regional Administrative Council of Tübingen 21.5. ETC + PAC Meeting in Ljubljana 6./7.6 Bucharest, Networking with the Academy of Sciences with regards to cooperation in urban and rural areas and cluster development (Triple Helix) 6./7.6. Stakeholder Seminar "Vocational Education Training", Chamber of Commerce, Vienna 10.6. Kick-off AG Environment technologies and Energy efficiency in Ulm 14./15.6 Vienna, Kick-off meeting of the Working Group of PA 8 "Business Organizations" under the leadership of the Chambers of Commerce in Budapest and Vienna. 21./22.6 ETC+NCP+PAC -meeting in Stuttgart 30.6.-2. July 4-Motors-PAC 7+8-meets 27.28.6. Cluster conference EUSDR with European Region Danube-Vltava “Boosting Innovation Policies with Clusters along the Danube” in Linz, Austria, Kick-off for DanuClus 27./28.6 Stakeholder Seminar on Environment technologies including Energy efficiency, Bucharest. EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu

EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu Important Measures 28. 2. 1.3. Vienna Networking with Interreg project ClusterPoliSEE, Objective is to take over the webplatform in DanuClus from 2015 onwards 4./5. 4. Exchange of experiences with BSA in Stockholm, Agreement on future cooperation 11./12.4. Visegrad, Hungary , Conference Clusters in Europe III, Second political-strategic meeting of the WG Clusters of Excellence, approval of the DanuClus-approach, presentation of preliminary results of the survey of cluster policy/decision makers in the Danube Region 15.5 Joint Steering Group-Meeting PAC 7+8+9 in Bratislava 21./22.6 ETC+NCP+PAC -meeting in Stuttgart 27.28.6. Cluster conference EUSDR with European Region Danube-Vltava “Boosting Innovation Policies with Clusters along the Danube” in Linz, Austria, Kick-off for DanuClus upcoming Annual Forum 28./29.10. Bucharest, Presentation of the PA and DanuClus EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu

EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu Conclusion For a successful implementation of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region the cooperation and networking between all involved institutions is essential. Therefore all stakeholders have to participate actively and care about permanent exchange. EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu

EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu Websites How to get involved - PA 8 website http://www.danube-region.eu/pages/priorities http://groupspaces.com/Competitiveness/ http://eu-donauraumstrategie.de/ Funding opportunities http://www.danube-region.eu/pages/funding-opportunities EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu

Contact Dr. Hans-Peter Herdlitschka Phone: +49 (0)711 123 2413 Email: Hans-Peter.Herdlitschka@mfw.bwl.de Karlheinz Bechtle Phone: +49 (0)711 123 2346 Email: Karlheinz.Bechtle@mfw.bwl.de Ministry of Finance and Economics Baden-Württemberg Theodor-Heuss-Straße 4 D-70174 Stuttgart Internet: www.mfw.baden-wuerttemberg.de