1. PA 8 Action Plan Status of implementation 4th Steering Group meeting
13 November 2012 | Stuttgart, Germany

2. 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"

3. 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

4. EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu
Implementation status
Action
Sample Projects
listed in the Action Plan
Respecting WG of PA 8
Status
Output/ Comment
1. Cooperation and transfer of knowledge
Programme for clusters and SME-networks
WG Clusters
Cluster Atlas
Transfer of creative knowledge
WG Innovation & Technology Transfer
Transfer Centres
Strengths in the creative, cultural and tourism industries
WG Competitiveness in Urban Areas
CODCR activities
Cooperation PAs 7, 9
Network for innovative environmental technologies
WG Environment & Energy Efficiency
Set-up of WG under way
Support: implementation of eco-efficient processes in SMEs
2. Improvement of business support
Annual economic forums
WG Chamber Cooperations
Set-up of WG under way
Strengthening of entrepreneurs and SMEs
IEDC - Bled School of Management
SEECEL
Forums
Programmes
3. Training and qualification schemes
Joint programmes for professional/vocational training
WG Vocational Educational Training
Automotive Sector
Project CCI Budapest
EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) |

5. EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) | www.danube-region.eu
Implementation status
Action
Sample Projects
listed in the Action Plan
Respecting WG of PA 8
Status
Output/ Comment
4. "Small Business Act for Europe" -
WG Entrepreneurial Learning
SEECEL activities
5. Competitive-ness of rural and urban areas
SIRA
WG Competitiveness in Rural Areas
Project needs financing
Development of fisheries areas
Not started yet
6. Elimination of cross-border barriers
Seamless Europe
SOLVIT-Centres
Not started yet
7. Framework conditions and infrastructure
Joint/ networked industrial and technology parks in border regions
WG Innovation & Technology Transfer and BSC Ruse
Contacts technology parks
Venture capital for SMEs
BSC Ruse
Proposal on financial instruments for SMEs
EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR) |

6. Conclusion
Implementation of 8 of the 14 sample projects is
under way
4 more activities could start immediately.
Needed: - lead management
- funding
 Details: inputs/ up-dates by PA 8 Working Groups