TiCCA4Danu – Transformative Innovation for Climate Change Adaptation in the Danube Region

Horizon Europe RIA, Mission on Climate Change Adaptation

Short description 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 focusses its activities on four “Anchor Cities” and their surrounding regions in the Danube Macro 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 (SOs):   SO1: Co-develop and operationalise knowledge for CCA implementation with public authorities and local researchers. How: Consortium and local research partners will analyse socio-economic fabrics and climate risks of different bio-geographical regions (Ocean, Continental and Mountains) and develop and test transformative adaptation pathways, including nature-based solutions.   SO2: Empower public authorities in the Danube Macro-Region to implement available CCA solutions with a ready to use comprehensive framework for transformative innovation policy at the city-region level. How: We will facilitate policy experimentation in 4 demonstrator territories (including 4 Anchor Cities and their surrounding regions) to develop new knowledge on how to integrate CCA measures into regional innovation processes.   SO3: 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. How: we will apply a systematic, multi-methodological, and interdisciplinary approach to identify the barriers and triggers based on comprehensive and inclusive methodology, procedural justice-proofing of (existing citizen engagement) protocols and guidance on distributive justice for CCA projects.   SO4: Strengthen the involvement of the private sector, including banks and investors to facilitate the CCA economy and bridge the financing and investment gap. How: By applying new digital tools and platforms, including the EIC-awarded Value Chain Generator (VCG), we will empower businesses and investors to capitalise on new CCA opportunities by exploring and developing new value chains.   SO5: Facilitate knowledge transfer into neighbouring Danube countries by establishing work relations with the EUSDR. How: By establishing direct links to the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) and by working with relevant Priority Area Working Groups, we will scale results to the Macro-Regional level. We will test applicability at the European level by connecting to an EU flagship event in Brussels.   SO6: 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, we 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 Macro-Region, an EU-designated area that stretches from the Black Forest (Germany) to the Black Sea (Bulgaria/Romania) and that is home to 115 million inhabitants. 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 EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), which promotes economic, social, and territorial cohesion in the Macro-Region through policy integration in selected fields, including CCA. Stakeholders involved VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH, VDI/VDE-IT, Steinplatz 1, 10623 Berlin, Germany; the Coordinator ICLEI European Secretariat GmbH (ICLEI Europa Sekretariat GmbH), LEOPOLDRING 3, 79098 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany Stichting VU, de Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, Netherlands Fondazione Centro Euro-Mediterraneosui Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC), Via Marco Biagi 5, 73100, Lecce, Italy Universität Wien, Universitätsring 1, 1010 Wien, Austria Internationales Institut für Angewandte Systemanalyse (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, 2361 Laxenburg, Austria, ANTEJA ECG D.O.O., Lambergarjeva 8, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Obshtina Burgas, UL. Aleksandrovska 26, 8000 Burgas, Bulgaria EDC Debrecen Varos Es Gazdasagfejlesztesi Kozpont Nonprofit Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag (EDC), Szechenyi Utca 31, 4031 Debrecen, Hungary Regionalna razvojna agencija za Podravje – Maribor (RRAZPM), Pobreska Cesta 20, 2000 MARIBOR, Slovenia Municipiul Suceava, Bulevardul 1 Mai 5 A, 720224 Suceava, Romania Lucia Seel International Consulting GmbH, Greilstrasse 12, 4020 LINZ, Austria INFRAS, Binzstrasse 23, 8045 Zürich, Switzerland District government Burgas, Tsar Petar 1, Burgas 800, Bulgaria Hajdú-Bihar County Government, Piac utca 54./54 Piac Str., 4024 Debrecen, Hungary North EastRegional Development Agency (ADR), Str. Lt. Drăghescu, nr. 9, 610125 Piatra Neamț, Romania Odessa Regional State Administration, Ukraine Municipality of Uzunköprü, Turkey   Duration 36 months Contact person Dr. Oliver Ziegler TiCCA4Danu Coordinator   VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH Steinplatz 1 10623 Berlin Germany   Tel. +49 30 310078-203 Email: