The European integration poses major challenges for SMEs and institutions, which are further exacerbated by demographic change and the digital turn. The acquisition and utilization of knowledge, as well as the urgent need to shape interpersonal relationships respectfully and on an equal footing, taking into account intercultural and sociocultural differences, increase the complexity of social change.
Currently, the focus is on the tri-border region of Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. Since 1 April 2018, two fields of activity have been linked here (see ACC & EEN notes below). It is necessary to take into account the respective circumstances and conditions that affect cross-border cooperation and project work in research and teaching. The participation of the TRAWOS-Institute in these activities consists first of all in (re)linking the structures and mechanisms of the Euroregional scientific exchange, which have been created over many years, with the topics of the TRAWOS-Institute.
Euro-regional and cross-border cooperation in the Euroregion Neiße-Nysa-Nisa was consolidated in 1991 with the establishment of three institutions. On the German side, this work is realised by the Euroregion Neisse e. V. The scientific cooperation in the region is supported by the committee "Academic Coordination Center - ACC". This is an association of the scientific institutions in the Euroregion. While the association, based in Zittau, realizes civil society projects, the ACC promotes scientific exchange between researchers and enables students to participate in scientific conferences. In addition, the "Prize of the Euroregion Neiße-Nisa-Nysa" is awarded annually for cross-border cooperation.
On the economic level, the Polish-German-Czech Cooperation Forum has taken place annually in the Polish Krkonoše Mountains since 1993. Here, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) are supported in the initiation of international company cooperations. This service is offered at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG) by the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) on behalf of the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) for the EU Commission. In addition to the mediation of international company contacts, the service also includes support in the search for suitable EU subsidies, as well as audits to increase the innovative capacity of companies.
The project Jugend bewegt Region - Region bewegt Jugend (JuBREG/YVA) promotes the participation of young people in structural change against the backdrop of the Strukturstärkungsgesetzes Kohleregionen and the Lusatia 20502 development strategy. Through a variety of participation formats, school pupils, students and trainees are encouraged to explore their region so that they identify more strongly with it and develop prospects for staying or returning. A livable region in the D-CZ-PL border triangle is a European one and needs the perspective of young people. That is why the project focuses not only on the Lusatian mining area but also on the Neisse Euroregion, with a view to developing a cross-border understanding of the future in the context of structural change. Participation formats such as Youngster Agency, Future Camps/Productions, Future Guides and Future Congress actively involve the younger generation in shaping the transformation processes. In doing so, they make their own future opportunities visible in a shared living and working space in Lusatia/the border triangle. As a European coal region, Lusatia and the border triangle should also become an attractive model region for sustainability in the economy, society, and culture from the perspective of young people, and thus an expression of a successful Green Deal.