Effective cross-border cooperation in water management is essential for tackling the challenges that arise in managing transboundary rivers. The cooperation between Austria and Slovakia on the Danube River enables both countries to pool their expertise, resources, and data to achieve more effective and comprehensive management of this vital waterway. 

WHAT

The Danube River serves as a vital lifeline for both people and nature in the Vienna-Bratislava region, yet it faces significant challenges. Between Vienna and the Slovakian border, the river is experiencing ongoing bed erosion, while the section between the March estuary and Bratislava is impacted by the backwater effect from the downstream Gabcikovo power plant and increased sediment during floods. These issues threaten the river's ecological health, flood management, shipping, hydropower, and resilience to climate change. Given that water and sediment dynamics cross national borders, effective cross-border cooperation is essential. The DREAM SK-AT project aimed to enhance integrated water management in the Slovak-Austrian border region by improving research infrastructure, fostering collaboration among research institutions, and developing innovative monitoring and modeling tools to ensure the sustainable use of the Danube's resources.

WHO

The project’s lead partner was Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (BOKU) from Austria, renowned for its expertise in water management and hydraulic engineering. The other partners were Slovakia's Výskumný Ústav Vodného Hospodárstva, a leading institution in water research, and the Slovenská Akadémia Vied's Institute of Landscape Ecology, known for its focus on ecological studies.

WHERE

The project was based around the cross-border region between Slovakia and Austria, specifically focusing on the Danube River area between Vienna and Bratislava. This strategic location allowed the project to address shared environmental and management challenges in the river and wetland ecosystems that are critical to both countries.

HOW

The DREAM SK-AT project was part of the 2014-2020 Interreg V A Slovakia – Austria Programme. The total budget was EUR 13,511,287.65, with EUR 8,326,113.47 funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

RESULTS

The DREAM SK-AT project has created significant advancements in research infrastructure, technology, and knowledge exchange, thus contributing to strengthening the management of the Danube's ecological and hydrodynamic processes while also promoting regional innovation and sustainability. 

The results of the DREAM SK-AT project include the establishment and modernization of key research facilities: 

• a new hydraulic engineering laboratory in Vienna,
• an upgraded hydraulic engineering laboratory in Bratislava, and 
• a state-of-the-art Laboratory for Applied Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing at ÚKE SAV.
• comprehensive monitoring network and guidelines for field measurements and modelling, along with a strategic framework for knowledge sharing to enhance collaboration and innovation across the Danube basin.

Find out more on the project's website!