CITT · Centrope ICT Technology Transfer Project

The co-operation within the Central European region called Centrope – bordering regions of Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia - should trigger challenges and broaden the circle of experts to build a region that will become a model for European integration process. The project CITT triggers challenges in the ICT sector by providing a strategy to improve technology transfer between the business and research communities within the Centrope region in order to support its growth. The project’s backgrounds are several key elements in the area of research driven sectors which weaken a knowledge driven economy: 1) Lack of relevant information and awareness on the side of policy makers especially on a regional level and therefore limited commitment and/or engagement to implement new policy tools. 2) Centralised system which often do not reflect regional specification. 3) Barriers in the interaction between business and academia. In order to overcome national, institutional and mental problems linked to technology transfer in the area of digital technologies, it is the aim of the project to demonstrate their viability in best practice examples and offering a strategy within defined regional limits which should, however, be able to be up scaled to the benefit of the entire Union. Simultaneously, the project will identify relevant players in ICT industry and R&D which so far have not been categorised in this way. A database containing such information will represent a unique resource valuable to (Central) Europe’s economy. The project partners will provide solutions for improved technology transfer between the research and business communities as well as for mentoring and coaching of the research and business communities (based on mutual approach). Thus, the project tries to overcome increased competition for the same resources in the globalised economy. Experience in the Centrope region has shown that cross-border cooperation provides an ideal impulse for further development of the area and for further strengthening of its position in a global market. Creating of a strategy for a cross-border ICT network will provide support for a dynamic development of the region as the national borders are loosing their significance.