Fraunhofer Center for International Management and Knowledge Economy IMW
Background
The collaborative project TREC-Danube promotes the internationalization of existing power and environment innovation and research networks in the Danube region. The starting point is the R&D oriented Leipzig Power and Environment Cluster (NEU e.V.), whose members are smaller and medium-sized enterprises, research institutions and local government bodies. During the first stage of the project (2014/15), numerous contacts were established with other power/environment clusters and networks in Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Romania, Bulgaria, the Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova which then joined a newly established transnational partnership network.
Project
TREC - Danube started with a two day launch on the Fraunhofer IMW premises in September 2014.
Within the scope of a first twelve-month stage, the Fraunhofer IMW developed a strategy for the establishment, the continued maintenance and potential expansion of the network. The medium-term intention is to grow the network into a pan-European association.
The second stage of the project (2016/17) focuses on the preparation and acquisition of joint research and development projects together with the network partners. For this purpose, workshops were held in Leipzig and in the target countries. The long-term aim is the establishment of a power/environment network across all climate zones. The Fraunhofer IMW can particularly contribute its many years of experience and expertise with regard to Central and Eastern Europe to the project, and its future involvement will primarily consist of addressing the socio-economic issues that arise from the project.