Increasing Visibility of the Danube Region Wood Industry Transformation Model Toward Industry 4.0 project, through participation in the Carbon Binding Blue Black Sea Congress in the Republic of Moldova

The participation of the Cahul Business Centre, Moldova as a partner in the “Danube Region Wood Industry Transformation Model Toward Industry 4.0” international project, co-financing by the Interreg Danube Transnational Programme on 13th and 14th November 2025, which took place in Cahul municipality, Republic of Moldova, Carbon Binding Blue Black Sea Congress significantly strengthened its visibility and outreach across the wider Black Sea and Danube macro-regions. Bringing together representatives from Moldova, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Turkey, the Congress offered a high-level platform for dialogue between the academic community, the business environment, and public administration institutions—all key actors in accelerating the digital and ecological transition of the regional wood sector.

During the event, project representatives presented the core objectives of the Danube Region Wood Industry Model: supporting the modernization of wood-processing enterprises, fostering the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, enhancing resource efficiency, and promoting sustainable forest-based value chains. By showcasing digital solutions such as smart manufacturing, automation, data-driven process optimization, and traceability tools, the project emphasized the crucial role of innovation for increasing competitiveness in a sector that remains strategically important for the Danube economies.

The Congress created an ideal environment for building new networks and strengthening regional cooperation. Academic institutions showed interest in integrating the project’s findings into research, training programs, and technology transfer initiatives. Business sector representatives, particularly wood processors and technology suppliers, engaged in discussions on practical adoption pathways for digital tools and the potential for cross-border pilot activities. Public administration officials explored how coordinated policies could support the transition toward low-carbon, high-tech production systems, highlighting the relevance of aligning the wood industry’s transformation with broader EU and regional sustainability strategies.

Participation in the Carbon Binding Blue Black Sea Congress also enabled the project team to communicate its relevance beyond the Danube Region. The dialogue with stakeholders from the Black Sea area demonstrated the shared challenges related to environmental pressure, resource management, climate adaptation, and the need to reduce the carbon footprint across industrial activities. Presenting the Danube Region model in this context not only increased its visibility but also positioned it as a transferable, scalable approach that could inspire similar modernization efforts in neighboring regions.

Overall, the event served as a strategic milestone in the project’s dissemination activities. It enhanced recognition of the Danube Region Wood Industry Transformation Model, expanded its network of potential partners, and reinforced the project’s role as a catalyst for innovation, sustainability, and cross-regional collaboration on the pathway toward Industry 4.0.