Clusters play a key role in fostering the green and digital transformation of SMEs in the Danube Region, but structured cooperation between clusters and their members remains a challenge. 

Currently there is a lack of an efficient and structured approach to translate the successful cooperation between cluster networks into efficient commercial, technological, or project based cooperation between member SMEs on one hand and, respectively, to scale-up punctual successful partnerships between 2 companies to the level of entire cluster networks. It is thus difficult to measure the impact of clusters and SMEs collaboration green, digital, and resilient value chains in the Danube Region and beyond. Furthermore, relevant information about economic performances of SMEs is difficult to gather, requiring immense effort and time, not being able to provide “real-time” inputs in support of industrial policy measures.

Given the above, 5 Danubian Cluster Associations (Romania, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ukraine) have decided to jointly develop the project “DanubIA Clusters” with the main objective of increasing the level of collaboration between cluster members SMEs and other actors of the quadruple helix in the Danube Region in order to boost their innovation potential and better position them on international strategic value chains. This will be done via an AI empowered cluster cooperation platform aiming:

1) enhancing C2C, C2B, B2C,B2B cooperation between cluster stakeholders in the Danube Region from several points of view: commercial, technology transfer and innovation, participation to international RDI projects;

2) providing useful “real-time” information on the economic competitiveness of Danubian clusters and SMEs;

3) allowing exchange of best practices and fostering individual and institutional learning processes with a particular focus on twin transition processes;

4) strengthen the resilience of Danubian value chains.

Other information can be found here.