Final event

The Danube DNA Project was officially concluded with a successful Final Conference held in Budapest on 13 May, bringing together project partners, business support organizations, innovation stakeholders, and SMEs from across the Danube Region.

Launched to strengthen digital transformation capacities in the Danube Region, the project focused on fostering cooperation among institutions, supporting knowledge transfer, and developing practical solutions tailored to SMEs' needs. Throughout its implementation, the project established a strong collaborative framework to support innovation and digital development across participating countries.

During the final conference, the key project achievements and outcomes were presented, reflecting the results of two years of joint transnational cooperation. Participants had the opportunity to review the complete Danube DNA journey, including the establishment of the Danube DNA Network, implementation of digital readiness assessments, development of a transnational Smart Specialisation Guideline, and creation of knowledge transfer modules designed to enhance capacities for digital transformation.

Particular attention was given to the Danube DNA digital platform, developed as a sustainable environment for future cooperation, networking, and innovation support. In addition, the event highlighted six jointly developed technological solutions designed to help SMEs adopt Industry 4.0 approaches and accelerate their digital transformation.

These solutions were validated through more than 50 pilot actions conducted across several countries and industrial sectors within the Danube Region. The pilot implementation demonstrated its practical applicability, scalability, and relevance for SMEs operating in different environments and sectors.

An accompanying Expo event provided participants with an opportunity to explore the developed solutions firsthand, exchange experiences with project partners and SMEs, and discuss future possibilities for collaboration and wider implementation.

The final event represented an important milestone for the project, confirming the value of transnational cooperation and knowledge exchange in supporting innovation and building a more competitive, resilient, and digitally connected Danube Region.