RTIT Transfer Project Comes to an End
Project Completed After Two and a Half Years of Successful Collaboration – Knowledge Network Continues to Grow
June 26, 2026
After two and a half years of intensive work, international cooperation, and the joint development of innovative solutions, the RTIT>> Know-how Communities for Accelerating RTI Transfer in the Danube Region project was successfully completed. However, what remains after the project’s conclusion goes far beyond the formal activities and the project’s duration.
During the course of the project, a unique cooperation model was developed that connects knowledge generators with those actors who transform this knowledge into marketable added value. The focus was on materials and materials technology—one of the most strategically important sectors for the development of the Danube region as well as for Europe’s green and digital transformation.
One of the project’s most important outcomes is the adoption of a joint action plan to accelerate the transfer of research, technology, and innovation. This plan was jointly developed by the partners as part of a capacity-building process and through the exchange of experiences, and it establishes a unified direction for development across the entire region.
Over the course of the project, RTIT>> identified, tested, and validated more than 65 different instruments for the transfer of innovation to the business sector. These include methods for promoting collaboration between research and industry, design management approaches, and tools for developing and strengthening knowledge communities. Their greatest added value lies in the fact that they were tested under real-world conditions and can be implemented immediately by organizations.
More than 200 companies from six countries in the Danube region played a special role in this process, participating in various ways in pilot activities and territorial demonstrations. These companies were not only users of the project results but also active partners in testing and further developing the solutions, thereby ensuring their practical applicability.
In addition, three thematic communities were established, focusing on bio-based materials, sustainable materials and technologies, and high-performance materials. It is precisely in these areas that innovations are emerging today that will shape the industries of the future.
One of the most valuable outcomes of RTIT>> is the creation of the Know-how Community Hubs network, which will continue to exist even after the project ends. Through this network, the partners will continue to develop joint initiatives, projects, and activities to sustainably strengthen the innovation ecosystem of the Danube region.
The project’s statistics speak for themselves: 13 partner organizations from eight countries, more than 200 participating companies, three international expert communities, over 65 tested tools, and a lasting network that connects the key players in the innovation ecosystem.
An additional benefit of the project was its strong transnational collaboration, which enabled a genuine transfer of knowledge between partners from different parts of the Danube region. Organizations from countries with well-developed innovation support structures, such as Germany and Austria, contributed their experience in linking research and industry as well as in building innovation ecosystems. Through study visits, joint workshops, and practical collaboration, the partners were able to gain first-hand experience with successful models of innovation promotion and technology transfer and adapt them to the needs of their respective regions.
RTIT>> has thus not only accelerated the transfer of research and innovation but also laid the groundwork for long-term collaboration and a community that continues to transform knowledge into new opportunities for the entire Danube region.
The project was supported by the Interreg Danube Region Program, which is co-financed by the European Union.
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