The consortium of the Danube-INCO.NET project gathered in Budapest on 10-11 December for an overall assessment of the work progress, the main results achieved during its first two–year implementation phase and the future challenges.
The CEI is participating in the Danube-INCO.NET project through its Executive Secretariat: this allows for the involvement of CEI Member States in several cooperation activities in support of the advancement of Research & Innovation. It also provides a tight link to the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, addressing 13 CEI Member States.
As leader of the Work Package on energy efficiency, renewable energy and bioeconomy, the CEI presented the activities carried out during 2015, as well as the forthcoming tasks and events scheduled for next year.
Throughout 2015, the CEI has performed a thorough mapping of Danube Region stakeholders who are active in sustainable energy- and bioeconomy-related sectors. This action has brought about a database encompassing more than 550 organisations, such as universities, research institutes, companies, agencies and networks.
Selected stakeholders were involved in three Clustering Workshops organised within the above-mentioned Work Package, meant to encourage the establishment of macro-regional networks and the generation of transnational projects. Such clustering activities will continue in 2016 as well, where the CEI will be involved in the organisation of two large events in Hungary and in Slovakia, the latter in the framework of the EU Presidency.
During the General Assembly in Budapest, the CEI had the chance to present another result achieved within the Danube-INCO.NET project, i.e. the selection of two Pilot Activities that will be implemented in 2016 by a combination of Project Partners and external stakeholders. Both Pilot Activities will address, yet from different angles, the development of bioeconomy in the CEI area, an opportunity for economic growth based on the availability of relevant resources (mainly from the agricultural and forestry sectors).
- Danube-INCO.NET Press Release available here
- For more information: lombardo@cei.int; www.danube-inco.net
