Skip to content

Danube Alliance strengthens SME competitiveness in Danube region with VCG

Share Post:

Danube Alliance was established in 2022 as a response to supply chain disruptions due to the most recent global crises: global value chains proved to be vulnerable and ineffective in extreme situations, such as pandemic lockdowns, geopolitical conflicts, extreme weather and other. The project’s primary goal is to increase the supply chain resilience and strengthen SME competitiveness in the Danube region. The new flagship project of the European Danube Region strategy (EUSDR), Priority Area 8, will build on intelligent services and sustainable supply chains based on the experience and knowledge from other Danube projects, such as GoDanuBio and DanuBioValNet.

To support the inclusion of SMEs from the Danube region into more sustainable and resilient value chains, Danube Alliance uses a multi-method approach to understand, analyse and promote the resilience of bio-based value chains. Industry and research experts select value chain use cases with the most economic, social and ecological potential for the Danube region. These are then analysed and modelled in greater detail together with identification of key actors and simulation of data-based scenarios. Building on the analysis results, value chains are adapted to regional needs with the support of the regional stakeholders. The Alliance provides implementation strategies and adopts digital solutions to develop resilient value chains.

Value Chain Generator supports the Danube Alliance in the implementation of resilient bio-based value chains. It uses AI and big data to match companies and clusters from different sectors and suggests new value chains, helping users to transition to circular bioeconomy. The system identifies potential linkages between buyers and suppliers of industrial residual materials and indicates business opportunities, which can help suppliers reduce waste and energy losses, increase their residual material valorisation, making value chains more sustainable, resilient, and lucrative.

Danube Alliance acts as an open collaborative platform and an established partner network including regional developers, clusters, business associations and more. It aims to incorporate regional needs and incubate value chain project ideas to accelerate cohesion within the partner network. Capacity building and skill development enhances the growth of resilient value chains. Digital business modelling enables tailor-made partnerships and identification of funding options. The platform offers visibility to the collaborating companies and other stakeholders by communicating and disseminating activities of the project’s findings. 

The project was first presented in March 2022 at the 3rd EU Macro-regional Strategies (MRS) Week, the biggest Brussels-based event dedicated to connecting key stakeholders from the Ministries of four MRS (EUSBSR, EUSDR, EUSAIR, EUSALP), representatives of EU institutions, research and academia, various sectors, civil society organisation and citizens. It is funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of State and the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism.

If you are interested in participating in the project, you are welcome to contact us or the Danube Alliance office: benedikt.sedlmayr@vdivde-it.de.

Stay Connected

Recent Projects

KOTO Waste Management

Challenge Company KOTO, a prominent player in the waste management sector based in Slovenia, aimed to diversify and enhance its business model by exploring additional

WFG Heilbronn Region

Challenge The WFG Heilbronn is grappling with the challenge of leading and supporting its regional industries toward a green transformation, in line with the European

Business Upper Austria

Challenge: Business Upper Austria is confronted with the expectation to guide and assist regional industries in their green transformation journey, a challenge underscored by the