"Danube 2022" – promoting cross-border research cooperation

6th April 2022 — Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and scientific institutions can submit an application for the EUREKA funding programme "Danube 2022" until the 30th June 2022. Ministries and funding agencies from a total of nine countries are working together to promote cross-border research cooperation: Germany, Albania, France, Croatia, Montenegro, Austria, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. In Germany, DLR-PT is the central operational force for the development and implementation of "Danube 2022".

EUREKA supports innovative and market-oriented project ideas

Danube 2022 calls for innovative and market-oriented project ideas from SMEs and scientific institutions. The funding programme offers a particularly high degree of flexibility. There are no thematic restrictions, and the programme is open to projects from all technology areas. In addition, applicants have a great deal of freedom in determining the scope of their cooperation (click here for the "Call").

In order for Germany to be able to fairly and transparently use its funds for this funding programme, the legal national basis must first be created. In Germany, this is done by publishing the detailed funding conditions as a so-called announcement in the Federal Gazette, a procedure which DLR-PT is also centrally involved in. As part of its "International Bureau" (IB) mandate, it prepares all essential documents in coordination with the BMBF for co-signature by the ministry and provides it with the final announcement text. In addition, DLR-PT advises applicants, coordinates the review of applications and advises the BMBF on the selection of projects to be funded. In addition, DLR-PT is responsible for project administration – from the issuing of the funding notification to the achievement of the project goals, i.e. the development of new innovative products and processes.

Supporting European and international research cooperation

DLR-PT also serves as a central point of contact for researchers in other areas of international research cooperation. With its "International Bureau", DLR-PT supports stable international research and educational cooperation between Germany and partners worldwide on behalf of the BMBF. The IB advises German universities, non-university institutions and companies on international research cooperation and offers financial support for establishing new contacts and collaborations. With the German EUREKA office, which is also located at DLR-PT, the project management organisation offers German companies and research institutions support with applications for EUREKA projects. In addition, DLR-PT helps the BMBF with the tasks that the ministry performs within the framework of the European research initiative EUREKA, such as project support or the preparation of network meetings.