Short Description

Many small and medium-sized enterprises in the automotive and supplier industries lack a clearly defined transformation strategy, and there is a shortage of expertise in digitalization, automation, robotics, and cybersecurity. At the same time, test environments, research capacity, and skilled workers are distributed very unevenly across Central European border regions. Existing regional programs fall short in addressing these issues.

CROSS-IN, therefore, is not starting from scratch. The project transfers proven results from five completed Interreg projects to new regions and new subject areas, adapts them to cross-border ecosystems, and tests them in pilot applications. The guiding principle: Transfer proven solutions; strengthen border regions.

The project is funded under the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Program with co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund. It has a total budget of over 1.2 million euros. The lead partner is the Cluster Mobility & Logistics (TechBase Regensburg GmbH).

Six partners from five Central European countries are participating in the project. They cover the entire innovation chain — from cluster management and support for small and medium-sized enterprises to technology development and applied research.

The official project start date is October 1, 2026. The project will run for 24 months and end on September 30, 2028.

Focal points

CROSS-IN supports companies, economic development organizations, and the public sector in five Central European regions in viewing automation not as a standalone project, but as part of their transformation strategy. The focus is on four key areas:

  • Automation – automated and autonomous systems in manufacturing and mobility
  • Robotics – robot-assisted handling and human-robot collaboration in manufacturing
  • Cybersecurity – IT and OT security in products and production
  • Circular Economy – circular production and closed-loop material cycles

Two cross-cutting themes run through all four areas: creative transformation methods — Design Thinking, LEGO® Serious Play, co-creation formats — and human-centered innovation.

In CROSS-IN, transformation is treated as a technical, organizational, and cultural process.

The central element is the CROSS-IN Transformation Platform. It brings together all of the project’s tools and makes them accessible beyond the project’s duration. At its core is the Transformation Readiness Index 2.0, which companies can use to assess their status in the four thematic areas and derive concrete next steps from that assessment.

Project partners

Involved in the project are:

 

CROSS-IN services & activities

The CROSS-IN Transformation Platform brings together all of the project’s offerings:

  • Transformation Readiness Index 2.0 – Self-assessment of the level of automation and innovation across the four thematic areas
  • Regional and transnational scenario workshops to identify short-, medium-, and long-term development paths for the regions
  • Training opportunities for businesses, as well as a dedicated training program for economic development organizations and policymakers
  • Creative peer-learning formats, study visits, and twinning activities across national borders
  • Company Clinics – customized transformation consulting for individual companies
  • Thematic expert groups that develop cross-border use cases for new value chains
  • An international CROSS-IN Conference featuring matchmaking, webinars, and success stories from the pilot projects
  • A transnational action plan, a policy paper for policymakers, and a memorandum of understanding to ensure sustainability

Click here to visit the project website.

Social media account of CROSS-IN:

  • LinkedIn

You can find the press release on the project launch here.

Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE

The project is supported by the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme with the co-financing from the European Regional Developement Fund.

 

Contact

Uwe Pfeil
Cluster manager
Tel. +49 941 604889 55
uwe.pfeiltechbase.de