Deadline: December 15, 2025
The Danube Region Programme (DRP) is launching its 3rd targeted Call for Proposals to financially support transnational projects aimed at fostering innovation, sustainability, and social development within the Danube Region.
The programme focuses on specific objectives under programme priorities 1, 2, 3, and 4: SO1.2, SO2.1, SO2.2, SO2.3, SO3.1, SO3.2, and SO4.2. It targets policy integration through project proposals that address key regional challenges and opportunities below EU level and above national level, aiming to influence national, regional, and local policies. The focus is on promoting tangible results via development and implementation of policy frameworks, tools, and pilot initiatives.
The 3rd Call for Proposals offers financial support to transnational projects contributing to the development of a more innovative, sustainable, and more social Danube Region. Available Interreg funds per priority amount to EUR 27,300,000.00 distributed as follows: SO 1.2 with EUR 2,800,000.00, SO 2.1 with EUR 14,500,000.00, SO 2.2 with EUR 5,500,000.00, SO 2.3 with EUR 5,000,000.00, SO 3.1 with EUR 6,000,000.00, SO 3.2 with EUR 3,000,000.00, and SO 4.2 with EUR 4,000,000.00. The DRP has designed this call as a targeted initiative based on a comprehensive analysis to address specific needs and remaining gaps from previously approved projects.
One key objective is advancing AI skills development (SO1.2) to strengthen digital transformation and entrepreneurship by integrating AI and related technologies such as IoT, blockchain, and digital twins into business ecosystems. Projects should foster ethical AI, data literacy, and build cooperation between education, businesses, and policymakers.
Another major focus (SO2.1) supports greening the energy and transport sectors by increasing the uptake of renewable energy solutions, concentrating particularly on small and medium municipalities for energy transition initiatives. Linked to this are climate change adaptation and disaster management (SO2.2), where proposals should target broad territorial cooperation for environmental risk preparedness and transnational coordination, addressing floods, droughts, wildfires, and pollution in the river basin.
Further objectives include sustainable water and sediment management (SO2.3), harmonizing policies between sectors to ensure water quality and quantity amid climate change. Labor market inclusiveness and capacity building (SO3.1) address shifts due to demographic, digital, and green transitions through services coordination and innovative training.
Education and training quality (SO3.2) seeks to strengthen Vocational Education and Training Centres of Excellence (CoVEs) in the Danube Region by supporting strategic and operational approaches to vocational training aligned with regional employment and innovation needs.
Governance capacity (SO4.2) focuses on four thematic areas: tackling territorial peripheralization and promoting balanced development, improving crisis resilience of local governance, innovating citizen participation models to foster democracy, and strengthening capacities to sustain vital value chains amid geopolitical challenges.
Applicants must form transnational partnerships involving at least three partners from different countries in the programme area, with at least one partner in an EU Member State, supporting a cooperative and manageable project scope.
The programme emphasizes cooperation among public institutions, universities, research bodies, SMEs, NGOs, and other stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that drive regional cohesion, competitiveness, and sustainable growth across the Danube Region.
For more information, visit DRP.
