Research projectCompleted projects
DA-Space Open innovations for enhancing entrepreneurial skills and public-private partnership in the Danube River region
The Danube region is highly fragmented and has significant differences between regions. Here are some of the most developed and some of the poorest regions in the EU. In many Danube countries, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the engine of growth. For example, they contribute to 70% of GDP only in Romania.
Category
Completed projects
Program
Interreg – Danube Transnational Programme
Number
DA-Space
Coordinator
City of Ulm, Germany
Duration
01.01.2017 - 30.06.2019
Funding
Interreg – Danube Transnational Programme
About the project
The Danube region is highly fragmented and exhibits significant disparities between its sub-regions. It contains some of the most developed and some of the least developed regions in the EU. In many Danube countries, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the engine of growth. For instance, they contribute 70% of GDP in Romania alone. At the same time, they struggle with an unfair business environment and a lack of infrastructure to support small enterprises, which prevents them from internationalizing their businesses. Furthermore, unemployment rates in some Danube countries remain very high (Croatia 15.1%, Slovakia 10.3%, Bulgaria 7.4%), while the share of highly educated people is lower than the EU-28 average. This scenario forces the most talented young people to emigrate. Additionally, the lack of an entrepreneurial culture within the traditional education model significantly affects the ability of Danube regions to create new enterprises with growth potential.
The DA-SPACE project aims to address these challenges by developing an open innovation laboratory where SMEs, Local Authorities (LA), and civil society can jointly lay the foundations for innovation alongside young talents. Within this framework, collaboration among various stakeholders at national and transnational levels will lead to new solutions and enhance the entrepreneurial skills of all participants.
DA-SPACE addresses the missing link between the good ideas of young innovators and the creation of sustainable businesses. In the open innovation laboratory, these talents will find support, mentors, and education to turn their ideas into real innovations. Together with experts from industry and service sectors, concrete business models will be created and implemented in new or existing SMEs. Fostering entrepreneurship among young people aims to address a number of challenges on today's European market. DA-SPACE will promote a sustainable innovative ecosystem in the Danube River region by developing a network of innovation stakeholders, including universities, small and medium-sized enterprises, public authorities, and the business sector, which can positively impact the local context and serve as an example for future initiatives.
DA-SPACE web site: http://www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/da-space
DA-SPACE Bulgaria web site: http://mf.tu-sofia.bg/da-space
The DA-SPACE project aims to address these challenges by developing an open innovation laboratory where SMEs, Local Authorities (LA), and civil society can jointly lay the foundations for innovation alongside young talents. Within this framework, collaboration among various stakeholders at national and transnational levels will lead to new solutions and enhance the entrepreneurial skills of all participants.
DA-SPACE addresses the missing link between the good ideas of young innovators and the creation of sustainable businesses. In the open innovation laboratory, these talents will find support, mentors, and education to turn their ideas into real innovations. Together with experts from industry and service sectors, concrete business models will be created and implemented in new or existing SMEs. Fostering entrepreneurship among young people aims to address a number of challenges on today's European market. DA-SPACE will promote a sustainable innovative ecosystem in the Danube River region by developing a network of innovation stakeholders, including universities, small and medium-sized enterprises, public authorities, and the business sector, which can positively impact the local context and serve as an example for future initiatives.
DA-SPACE web site: http://www.interreg-danube.eu/approved-projects/da-space
DA-SPACE Bulgaria web site: http://mf.tu-sofia.bg/da-space