TiCCA4DANU drives systemic, transformative change for climate change adaptation (CCA) in the Danube Macro-Region.

TiCCA4Danu proposes a novel and comprehensive transformative innovation framework to accelerate just climate change adaptation (CCA) at the level of cities and their surrounding administrative regions. In order to address the structural barriers for CCA implementation at the city-region level, TiCCA4Danu proposes a systems-level approach, which requires effective governance changes, introduction of directionality, and a different use of policy instruments favouring discovery and experimentation processes. TiCCA4Danu directly relates to the EU Cities- and Adaptation Mission frameworks and builds on the emerging literature discussing the opportunities and limitations to governing socio-technical change for addressing grand challenges, such as climate change, through novel transformative approaches. At the core of TiCCA4Danu’s methodological approach lies the concept of place-based “Transformative Innovation Policy” (TIP), which postulates a systems-level change perspective in innovation policy. TiCCA4Danu aims at applying the theoretical TIP concept to the city-region level by linking TIP to “Local Green Deals” (LGD), an established instrument for sustainable transformation at the city level, and by complementing the LGDs with a novel approach for transformative CCA at the level of regions. With TIP facilitating wider and inclusive societal transformation, TiCCA4Danu features stronger involvement of vulnerable groups as well as stronger private sector involvement. TiCCA4Danu focuses its activities on four “Anchor Cities” and their surrounding regions in the Danube Region, all constituting different bio-geographical regions, i.e., Coastal, Mountain and Continental.

Objectives: TiCCA4Danu’s general objective is to develop and test an inclusive and systemic approach to just CCA implementation for European city-regions. To achieve this objective, TiCCA4Danu has six specific and measurable strategic objectives:

  • Co-develop and operationalise knowledge for CCA implementation with public authorities and local researchers.
  • Empower public authorities in the Danube Region to implement available CCA solutions with a ready to use comprehensive framework for transformative innovation policy at the city-region level.
  • Further develop existing approaches for citizen engagement, in particular, vulnerable groups, and contribute to the research on barriers to and triggers for behavioural change from citizens and economic sectors.
  • Strengthen the involvement of the private sector, including banks and investors to facilitate the CCA economy and bridge the financing and investment gap.
  • Facilitate knowledge transfer into neighbouring Danube Region countries by establishing work relations with the EUSDR.
  • Facilitate transdisciplinary collaboration and advance the literature and policy debates on mission-oriented TIP for climate-just CCA implementation. Based on scientific collaboration and evidence-based policy experimentation, the project will further develop the existing TIP literature.

Need and (expected) impact: TiCCA4Danu will contribute to the broader impacts detailed in the EU CCA Mission’s Implementation Plan and the underlying 2021 EU CCA Strategy, as well as the Commission Communication on Missions (COM (2023) 457), specifically, “mobilising all actors, such as countries, regional and local authorities, research institutes, industry, investors and citizens to create real and lasting impact and to accelerate their transformation to become climate resilient.” The project includes an exploitation strategy that ensures the long-term legacy of the project. Moreover, TiCCA4Danu’s generated impacts are directly linked to two of the EC’s three Key Strategic Orientations (KSO) of the second Strategic Plan 2025 – 2027: (i) the green transition; and (iii) building a more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe.

Macro-regional dimension: Project activities are located in the Danube Region. In the 2019 Danube CCA Strategy, the “International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River” (ICPDR) highlights the entire Danube Region’s vulnerability to climate impacts, noting “a future increase in extreme weather events is expected for the whole Danube River Basin. The simulations show both, a future increase in the intensity and frequency of dry spells, hot days and heat waves, as well as local and regional increases in heavy rainfall”. The low-pressure system named Boris that triggered downpours from Austria to Romania in September 2024 and lead to some of the worst flooding in nearly three decades in hard-hit areas in the Danube Region serves as a clear indication for the urgency to act. The vulnerability to climate change in the Danube Region is significant and multifaceted, reflecting the diverse socio-economic, environmental and climatic conditions across the countries that comprise the Danube Basin. At the same time, most territories in the Danube Region have limited adaptive capacity. A coordinated and systemic approach that enhances overall adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change in the area is crucial, making it necessary for countries and regions to work together to address shared risks, optimise resource use, and implement effective, comprehensive adaptation measures and policies. TiCCA4Danu will scale its activities by partnering with the EUSDR, which promotes economic, social, and territorial cohesion in the Macro-Region through policy integration in selected fields, including CCA.

Stakeholders involved:

  1. Coordinator: VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH, VDI/VDE-IT, Berlin (DE)
  2. ICLEI European Secretariat GmbH, Freiburg im Breisgau (DE)
  3. Stichting VU, Amsterdam (NL)
  4. Fondazione Centro Euro-Mediterraneosui Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC), Lecce (IT)
  5. Universität Wien, Vienna (AT)
  6. Internationales Institut für Angewandte Systemanalyse (IIASA), Laxenburg (AT)
  7. ANTEJA ECG D.O.O., Ljubljana (SI)
  8. Obshtina Burgas, Burgas (BG)
  9. EDC Debrecen Varos Es Gazdasagfejlesztesi Kozpont Nonprofit Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag (EDC), Debrecen (HU)
  10. Regionalna razvojna agencija za Podravje – Maribor (RRAZPM), Maribor (SI)
  11. Municipiul Suceava, Suceava (RO)
  12. Lucia Seel International Consulting GmbH, Linz (AT)
  13. INFRAS, Zürich (CH)
  14. District government Burgas, Burgas (BG)
  15. Hajdú-Bihar County Government, Debrecen (HU)
  16. North EastRegional Development Agency (ADR), Piatra Neamț (RO)
  17. Odessa Regional State Administration (UA)
  18. Municipality of Uzunköprü (TR)

Budget and Funding: EUR 4 000 000

Contact: Dr. Oliver Ziegler, TiCCA4Danu Coordinator, VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH, Berlin (DE),