1. Danube Transnational Programme Marius V. Niculae Project Officer
9th Meeting of the Steering Group of PA8
10 December 2015, Budapest (Hungary)

2. Programme mission and framework
Contribute to a higher degree of territorial cohesion
Act as policy driver towards positive change
Develop policy frameworks, tools, services and concrete pilot investments

3. Programme budget Budget lines Amount in EUR ERDF 202,095,405.00 IPA
19,829,192.00
Total EU support
221,924,597.00
National co-financing
41,065,242.00
Total Programme budget
262,989,839.00
ENI (to be confirmed)
5,000, ?

4. 1. Specific Objective 1.1
S.O. 1.1 Improve framework conditions for innovation
Funding of transnational projects:
ERDF ,00 EUR
IPA ,00 EUR
No ENI funds available for the first call

5. 1. Specific Objective 1.1 Needs and challanges for cooperation
Important disparities in terms of resources allocated for RD&I in the DTP area
Uneven framework conditions affecting the innovation sector and resulting in different level of performance of the local stakeholders
Major difficulties in transforming scientific results into marketable products
Weak quadruple helix linkages
Not enough emphasis on social innovation and eco-innovation
Modest flows of information and knowledge transfer

6. 1. Specific Objective 1.2 Needs and challanges for cooperation
Important disparities in terms of human and financial resources allocated for RD&I
Weak cross-disciplinary links resulting in different levels of knowledge and innovative skills of the local stakeholders
Not enough emphasis on social innovation and eco-innovation
Low level of employment in knowledge intensive sectors affecting the dissemination of innovative actions and results
Different adaptability levels of labour force to innovative learning systems

7. Synergies with PA8 WG – Innovation and Technology Transfer
WG – Cluster of excellence
WG – Cooperation of Business organisations
WG - Environmental Technologies and Energy Efficiency
WG – Competitiveness in rural and urban areas
WG – Innovative vocational education and training
WG – Entrepreneurial learning

8. Calls for proposals First call for proposal:
2-step approach (Expression of Interest – Application Form)
Budget available: 76 MEUR of ERDF and 7.5 MEUR of IPA
1st step launched on and closed on
2nd step only for pre-selected proposals starting April 2016
Starting of the projects foreseen for end of 2016
Second call for proposal:
Foreseen for the end of 2016

9. Expected contributions of DTP projects to the EUSDR
Applicants are expected to describe the link to the relevant EUSDR Priority Area(s) and the concrete contribution to the implementation of the Priority Area(s), as well as the contribution toward achievement of the EUSDR current targets and/or corresponding actions, as described in the official list of targets and actions (
The applicant is also advised to check the websites of the specific Priority Areas in order to better understand how the proposal can contribute to the EUSDR (

10. Danube Transnational Programme
DTP support interventions with transnational character and result‐oriented approach
Deliver concrete and measurable outputs and results, in response to well identified transnational challenges affecting the programme area
Transnational relevance of the topic / theme
Integrated territorial approach
Deliver durable outputs and results (target group and ownership)
Quality partnership of the project
Efficient in terms of mobilised resources

11. Danube Transnational Programme
Expected projects:
Result oriented approach
Clear and coherent intervention logic
Link of the project intervention logic to the programme one
Involvement of the relevant stakeholders in the partnership (multilevel governance)
Experienced applicant
Clear understanding and strong contribution to the selected Specific Objective
Clear contribution to a EUSDR PA and its related targets/actions

12. Hints for developing a successful project
Idea first, financing instrument after
Always keep an eye on the result-oriented approach and focus on the change
Base your work on a solid understanding of DTP core-documents
Link your project to clear needs / challenges of the Danube Region and to strategies such as EUSDR and EU2020
Build a consistent project intervention logic matching the programme intervention logic
Choose “the” right partnership for achieving your objectives and transnational impact
Have a look around: capitalise previous work, build synergies with on- going initiatives, avoid overlaps with other SOs or further funding instruments

13. www.interreg-danube.eu marius.niculae@interreg-danube.eu Priority 1
Marius-Valentin NICULAE
Project Officer
Joint Secretariat | Danube Transnational Programme
Honvéd utca – 1055 Budapest, Hungary
Tel: