Integrative Regional Approaches for the Transformation of the Automotive Industry

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Central Europe

Date of latest update: 2025-10-08

Description

Description (EN):

The automotive industry and the overall mobility ecosystem are currently undergoing a transformation due to various external factors, including climate change, emerging technologies, and global competition. This transformation is primarily driven by four key trends: electrification, connectivity, automation, and the platform economy. Established companies are struggling to adapt to these changes and are under increasing pressure. Small and medium-sized enterprises are particularly challenged by the external demands and associated disruptions. Electrification, automation, and connectivity are crucial in achieving sustainability in the industry, while the platform economy, combined with advancements in these three areas, presents significant potential for value creation. The boundaries between these themes are becoming less distinct, emphasizing the need for a holistic perspective. Technology companies are entering the automotive industry with digital ecosystems, indicating a shift in competency requirements. The platform approach has already transformed industries such as retail, communications, and television. However, the automotive industry is still facing significant and radical changes in this regard. Drive2Transform seeks to assist businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in navigating the changes brought about by the transformation of the automotive industry, with the ultimate goal of safeguarding Europe's market dominance. To achieve this ambitious objective, a collaborative, cross-regional strategy will be employed, allowing all regions involved to reap mutual benefits. The pivotal element of this strategy is the Transnational Automotive Open Transformation Platform. It includes: - A transnational transformation readiness model - Regional transformation scenarios for businesses - A portfolio of regional and transnational capacity building measures - Transnational exploitation cases and - Strategies for business support organisations in delivering targeted support to SMEs. The partners of Drive2Transform unite eight Central European countries with a strong industrial background in the automotive industry, have a long-standing experience with supporting businesses and a deep knowledge of the relevant regional actors and their current challenges. Their wide-ranging expertise builds an outstanding basis to fulfil Drive2Transform's ambition to establish innovative transnational initiatives across Europe. Thanks to the strong regional background paired with extensive project experience and a transnational mind-set, companies will receive support for developing urgently needed strategies and services as well as concrete solutions and activities. Through a powerful advisory board distinguished experts from business, science and politics will bring in their expertise, experience and broad networks toughout the different WPs. Furthermore, the dissemination and exploitation of the project is ensured also beyond the participating regions to generate a sustainable transnational impact for a successful transformation of the automotive industry.

Actual Achievements (EN):

Project progress and main achievements (since project start) One of the key achievements so far is the development of the Transformation Readiness Index, designed by TechBase Regensburg GmbH. Based on a Europe-wide survey, this tool allows each project partner to assess the current state of transformation in their region across ten categories – including opportunities, risks, and future perspectives. It provides a structured way to compare regions and enables participating companies to benchmark themselves against their region or the European average. The Index also serves as a starting point to engage local businesses in the Drive2Transform project. Building on this, the partner organisation Biz-up created a three-part workshop format that was implemented uniformly in each project region. In more than 200 participations, future transformation scenarios were first co-developed with regional stakeholders. In a second workshop, concrete ideas were generated and the most promising idea was further refined as a dedicated use case together with local companies and institutions. A highlight was the transnational workshop in Budapest, where regional results were compared and discussed with external experts. Special thanks go to Pannon Business Network for hosting this event. A third major milestone was the launch of a transnational expert group, bringing together 53 professionals from all partner regions across the four thematic areas: electromobility, autonomous driving, connectivity, and platform economy. The official kick-off of this group took place in May 2025. These actions clearly highlight the added value of transnational cooperation: knowledge transfer, comparability, and joint development of practical solutions are at the core of Drive2Transform.

Project outputs: Piloting Regional Transformation Scenario Building for Businesses(EN)
Regional Transformation Scenario Building for Businesses(EN)
Transnational Automotive Open Transformation Platform(EN)
Transformation Capacity Building Action Plan to foster the Automotive Transformation in Central Europe(EN)
Piloting Transformation Capacity Building Package for Businesses, Business Support Organisations and Policy Makers(EN)
Transformation Capacity Building Package for Businesses, Business Support Organisations and Policy Makers (validated)(EN)
Transnational Thematic Use Case Platforms(EN)
Development of Transnational Use Cases(EN)
Transnational Exploitation Plans(EN)
Website: https://www.interreg-central.eu/projects/drive2transform/

Thematic information

Transport and mobility SME and entrepreneurship Climate change and biodiversity

Priority: (VI-B_CE_1) Cooperating for a smarter central Europe

Priority specific objective: RSO1.1. Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO1 A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity

Type of intervention: 028 Technology transfer and cooperation between enterprises, research centres and higher education sector

Partners (9)

Lead Partner: R-Tech GmbH

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999688500

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE216839078

Department: Cluster Mobility & Logistics

Address: Franz-Mayer-Straße, 93053 Regensburg, Germany

Department address: Franz-Mayer-Straße, 93053 Regensburg, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: https://www.rtech.de

Total budget: EUR 304 780.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 243 824.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 60 956.00

Contractors:

Name: Häring Hällfritzsch Partner
VAT registration or tax identification number: DE147512118

Slovenská asociácia pre elektromobilitu

Name: Slovenská asociácia pre elektromobilitu

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 918774689

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SK2023534854 | 45738408 | ID Number (EN)

Address: Špitálska, 81108 Bratislava, Slovakia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: https://www.seva.sk/en/

Total budget: EUR 153 615.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 122 892.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 30 723.00

Gospodarska zbornica Slovenije

Name: Gospodarska zbornica Slovenije

Department: Project Office and Electronic and Electrical Engineering Association

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999780165

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI73354376

Address: Dimičeva ulica , 1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia

Department address: Dimičeva ulica , 1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.gzs.si

Total budget: EUR 197 505.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 158 004.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 39 501.00

Katowicka Specjalna Strefa Ekonomiczna SA

Name: Katowicka Specjalna Strefa Ekonomiczna SA

Department: Silesia Automotive & Advanced Manufacturing Cluster

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 912725769

Partner’s ID if not PIC: PL9541300712

Address: Wojewódzka , 40 026 Katowice , Poland

Department address: Ul. Rybnicka, 44100 Gliwice, Poland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.silesia-automotive.pl/

Total budget: EUR 154 280.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 123 424.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 30 856.00

NOI S.p.A

Name: NOI S.p.A

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT02595720216

Address: Alessandro Volta Street , 39100 Bolzano, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.noi.bz.it

Total budget: EUR 210 805.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 168 644.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 42 161.00

Pannon Gazdasági Hálózat Egyesület

Name: Pannon Gazdasági Hálózat Egyesület

Department: PBN Szombathely

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999783269

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HU18984303

Address: Gesztenyefa u., 9027 Gyor, Hungary

Department address: Zanati u., 9700 Szombathely, Hungary

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.pbn.hu

Total budget: EUR 179 550.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 143 640.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 35 910.00

Hochschule Pforzheim

Name: Hochschule Pforzheim

Department: IoS³ - Institut of Smart Systems und Services

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE811470663

Address: Tiefenbronner Straße , 75175 Pforzheim, Germany

Department address: Tiefenbronner Straße , 75175 Pforzheim, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.hs-pforzheim.de/en/

Total budget: EUR 196 840.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 157 472.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 39 368.00

Regionální rozvojová agentura Plzeňského kraje, o.p.s.

Name: Regionální rozvojová agentura Plzeňského kraje, o.p.s.

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 909635446

Partner’s ID if not PIC: CZ25245091

Address: Riegrova, 301 11 Plzeň, Czech Republic

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.rra-pk.cz/

Total budget: EUR 160 930.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 128 744.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 32 186.00

Business Upper Austria – OÖ Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH

Name: Business Upper Austria – OÖ Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH

Department: Cluster & Cooperation (Automotive Cluster)

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 998776991

Partner’s ID if not PIC: ATU37311609

Address: Hafenstraße , 4020 Linz, Austria

Department address: Hafenstraße , 4020 Linz, Austria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.biz-up.at

Total budget: EUR 223 440.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 178 752.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 44 688.00

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

SEVA – Slovak Electric Vehicle Association

Integrative Regional Approaches for the Transformation of the Automotive Industry

Partners and Projects info

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia

Integrative Regional Approaches for the Transformation of the Automotive Industry

Partners and Projects info

Katowice Special Economic Zone SA

Integrative Regional Approaches for the Transformation of the Automotive Industry

Partners and Projects info

NOI S.p.A

Integrative Regional Approaches for the Transformation of the Automotive Industry

Partners and Projects info

Pannon Gazdasági Hálózat Egyesület

Integrative Regional Approaches for the Transformation of the Automotive Industry

Partners and Projects info

Pforzheim University

Integrative Regional Approaches for the Transformation of the Automotive Industry

Partners and Projects info

Regional Development Agency of the Pilsen Region

Integrative Regional Approaches for the Transformation of the Automotive Industry

Partners and Projects info

Business Upper Austria

Integrative Regional Approaches for the Transformation of the Automotive Industry

Partners and Projects info

R-Tech GmbH

Integrative Regional Approaches for the Transformation of the Automotive Industry

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Integrative Regional Approaches for the Transformation of the Automotive Industry

Project acronym: Drive2Transform

Project ID: CE0200679

Project start date: 2024-06-01

Project end date: 2026-11-30

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

RECIPROCITY (Horizon 2020) (EN) | RECIPROCITY deals with the topic of smart mobility. The aim of the project is to identify innovative mobility concepts for rural, peri-urban and inner-city areas and to replicate them elsewhere. R-Tech manages the activities of the consortium of ten partners (including also Biz-up) from all over Europe. As R-Tech is also the lead partner in this project, extremely helpful synergies can be expected. On the one hand, RECIPROCITY focuses on a variety of replication methodologies and measures that can be applied within the framework of Drive2Tranform in order to scale the benefits, and on the other hand, the results of the analyses and the stakeholders in various European regions flow into Drive2Transform and v.v. as eg. RECIPROCITY partner OKAN University is also engaged in Drive2Transform advisory board. This platform creates great synergy potential, especially in the area of green mobility. (EN), European Digital Innovation Hub (Digital Europe Programme, DIGITAL)
(EN) | Synergies with the project Drive2Transform can be expected in the support of IT projects using Artificial Intelligence in the field of Smart logistics and mobility as a service. For example lead partner R-Tech is involved in the Eastern Bavarian Digital Innovation Hub Ostbayern and NOI AG is project leader of the European Digital Innovation Hub initiative for the region of South Tyrol. Drive2Transform will differ from the EDIH in the sectoral orientation by addressing the automotive supply chain, the mobility as a service provider and the smart logistic value chain. All involved regions show a high share of enterprises in those sectors. (EN), Enterprise Europe Network (EN) | Whenever possible EEN will be used to involve regions outside the program area. Biz-Up, NOI and CCIS will support in engaging EEN as members of the network. The project Drive2Transform will differ from the EEN in its interregional Central Europe focus. All involved regions show a high share of enterprises in the Automotive supply chain with a strong necessity to transform the economic structure. (EN), Vanguard Initiative – 3D Printing Pilot (EN) | Time to market becomes crucial for enterprises using increasingly rapid prototyping in the product development process. South Tyrol is participating at this European grassroot initiative demonstrating the regional competences in additive manufacturing and looking for cooperations opportunities in Europe. Synergies with Drive2Transform may arise when speaking about additive manufacturing technologies in te automotive supply chain. (EN), AVENUE – Autonomous Vehicles to Evolve to a New Urban Experience, (Horizon 2020) (EN) | AVENUE aims to design and carry out full scale demonstrations of urban transport automation by deploying, for the first time worldwide, fleets of autonomous mini-buses in low to medium demand areas of 4 European demonstrator cities: Geneva, Lyon, Copenhagen and Luxembourg, and 3 replicator cities. Drive2Transform will have direct access to research results and network of European researchers in the relevant domain. (EN), REMOBILISE (Cosme) (EN) | The cluster project REMOBILISE, R-Tech is partner of, aims to strengthen the included business support organizations, to provide professional services to their ecosystems and cities, notably their SMEs, and to generate cross-sectorial European value chains in the mobility sector. Due to the mobility focus, it is thematically a good complement to Drive2Transform, which leads to useful synergy effects. On the one hand, the learning on the topics of safe and sustainable urban mobility can be integrated into the project, which offers added thematic value especially in the transformation scenarios in the area of the demand side, and on the other hand, the network on the topic of mobility can be used. REMOBILISE partner Mobinov (Portugal), Zone Cluster (Hungary) and Rai Automotive Industry NL (Netherlands) have for example also joined the advisory board to exploit Drive2Transform to other regions outside central Europe. (EN), GreenSME (Horizon Europe) (EN) | The vision of the project greenSME is to strengthen SME capacity for advanced technologies adoption to become competitive and climate neutral, maximising the benefits for all parts of society, starting from the upskilling, and reskilling of workers toward a sustainable EU manufacturing industry, with greater adaptability and resilience. This project follows a wider focus to several sectors. It can be an additional value for the automotive companies targeted within the Drive2transform project in terms of not only adopting to changes in the automotive sector but also to trends related to Green Deal and green transition. (EN), CEE Green Transport Initiative (EN) | The CEE Green Transport Initiative, a cooperation platform that aims to advance the development of zero-emission road transport in CEE, meaning the electrification of road transport. This platform can be used in the project for the exchange of knowledge with the CEE partners in order to generate thematic added value, especially in the field of electrification. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 781 745.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 425 396.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 425 396.00. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Transformation Readiness Model
Map of Development Opportunities, Technology and Skills Gaps in Each Project Region
Peer Reviewed Transnational Benchmarking Reports
Stakeholder-based Scenario Reports
Transformation Scenarios Models
Regional Level Roadmaps
Transnational Level Roadmaps
Transnational Automotive Open Transformation Platform
Transformation Capacity Building Package for Businesses
Transformation Capacity Building Package for Businesses – Implementation report
Transformation Capacity Building Package for Business Support Organisations
Capacity Building Activities for Business Support Organisations - Implementation Report
Transformation Capacity Building Package for Policy Makers
Transformation Capacity Building Action Plan to foster Automotive Transformation in Central Europe
Capacity Building Activities for Policy Makers - Implementation Report
Validated Transformation Capacity Building Packages
Policy paper on the capacities needed for the transformation of automotive industry
Central Europe Conference Electrification & Automation & Connectivity
Central Europe Conference Platform Economy
Kick-off Transnational Expert Groups
Thematic and Strategic Use Case Framework
Potential Use Case Models
Transnational Use Case Strategy Report
Regional Exploitation Plans
Transnational Exploitation Plans
Replication Manual

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EuropeanGreenDeal The transformation of the automotive industry is strongly driven by the digital and green transitions as they are highlighted in the EU Green Deal, especially with respect to the Research and Innovation action.
This is also linked to the European legislation aiming for reducing strongly light vehicle emissions from 2021 to 2030 by 55%.
TerritorialAgenda2030 The transformation of the automotive industry as fostered by Drive2Transform shall contribute to maintain strong and sustainable local economies in the regions dependent on the automotive sector.
This a goal shared with the Territorial Agenda 2030.
EUStrategyDanubeRegion The partners from Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia are part of the EUSDR region.
One of the main objectives of Drive2Transform is to contribute to maintain the competitiveness of the SMEs (and large enterprises) from the automotive sectors by means of improved cooperation and support services, as well as policy frameworks.
Those objectives fit with PA8 8 Competitiveness of Enterprises’ of the EUSDR.
EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion Poland is part of the EUSBSR and is represented in the consortium by the partner KSSE SAAM.
One of the main objectives of the Drive2Transfrom project is to increase the capacity of regional ecosystems to support innovation in the automotive sector, which contributes to the PA Innovation of the EUSBSR.
EUStrategyAlpineRegion The partners from Italy, Slovenia, Austria and Germany are part of the EUSALP region.
One of the main objectives of the Drive2Transfrom project is to increase the capacity of regional ecosystems to support innovation in the automotive sector, which contributes to the EUSALP strategy and more specifically for the action group on research and innovation.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO84) Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects : 1.0
(RCO116) Jointly developed solutions: 1.0
(RCO87) Organisations cooperating across borders: 9.0

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR

EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSBSR Degree of compliance:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSALP

EUSALP Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSALP Degree of compliance:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSDR

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Central Europe

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-10-08

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

100 / 100 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

1 013 / 1 011 (100.2%)

Notes on the data

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Integrative Regional Approaches for the Transformation of the Automotive Industry

Description

Thematic information

Partners (9)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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