SPARK! and strategic change in Hungary
In Hungary, the Central Transdanubian Regional Innovation Agency (CTRIA) launched the SPARK! programme, which empowered 328 participants through 18 interactive activities. The programme focused on aligning corporate mission with sustainability goals through digital and creative workshops, resulting in 11 DGC solutions and strong cross-sectoral partnerships.
Green media and tourism in Croatia
The Croatian partners (IRI Centar and FEBT Split) engaged 376 participants across 17 activities and co-created 18 DGC solutions – the highest in the entire consortium. The pilot fostered peer-to-peer learning and ran a 6-month traineeship programme, bridging sustainable tourism and green media innovation.
Creative collaboration in Slovakia
The Slovak pilot implemented at the Technical University of Košice (TUKE) emphasised biodiversity and sustainability through co-creation processes. Through 11 activities, 286 participants and 9 DGC outputs, the initiative strengthened the capacities of the cultural and creative industries (CCIs), green tech actors and business support organisations (BSOs) through practical, nature-based innovation workshops.
Data-driven innovation in the Czech Republic
The Czech pilot of BIZGARDEN brought together 175 participants across 10 activities and created 9 DGC solutions focused on sustainable tourism. By connecting students, creatives, and data experts, the pilot highlighted the importance of informed decision-making in the transformation of tourism.
Business development in Austria
The Carinthian BUILD partner achieved the widest reach: 19 activities, 685 participants and 9 DGC solutions. Their flagship programme, build! Up, supported early-stage entrepreneurs through intensive training, peer-to-peer learning and a public demo day.
Sustainable mobility in Italy – IUAV
In Venice, the IUAV University implemented a participatory pilot designed to map bicycle-based mobility, entitled „La Velocittà”. The design-led approach consisted of 7 activities, 182 participants and 6 DGC solutions, bringing together students, designers, SMEs and civil society organisations around sustainable mobility.
Green certification and AI in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region
TEC4I FVG (formerly FINN) implemented 15 activities with 331 participants and co-developed 10 DGC solutions. The pilot covered green certification in tourism, carbon footprint analysis, and artificial intelligence applied in the cultural and creative industries (CCI) – bridging the gap between technology and sustainability.
Storytelling and wine tourism in Germany
The Baden-Württemberg SEZ pilot implemented 7 activities, engaged 112 participants, and created 9 DGC solutions. The focus was on storytelling, green tourism, and creative enterprise; the pilot supported winemakers, SMEs, and the CCIs sector in the transition.
Cycling innovation in Slovenia
The Primorska Technology Park and MAO organised 25 activities, engaged 444 participants, and created 13 DGC solutions. The pilot focused on circular cycle tourism, digital storytelling, and sustainable mobility in the North Primorska region.
Lasting impact through collaborative learning
These pilots have demonstrated that place-based approaches and cross-sectoral partnerships can accelerate the digital and green transition. Whether in planning, storytelling, tourism or technology, every region has tailored the Transforming Capacities model to its own resources and challenges. The pilots now serve as a repeatable model for regional development, laying the foundations for wider, systemic change in Central Europe.