Forest-based industries have the potential to become the engine for sustainable and competitive bio economy in the Danube Region, but, unfortunately they suffer from significant disparities, low level of internationalization, lack of cooperation, weak innovation culture, etc.
Therefore, FORESDA was built-up in order to support the transformation of traditional forest-based industries.
Through its activities, FORESDA will transform the traditional forest-based areas into innovative, modern areas, develop innovation-friendly ecosystems aiming to improve or reconfigure the existing value chains; improve innovation culture in SME’s,  and  also strengthen collaboration in the quadruple helix and implement new ways of collaboration in the Danube area. Its objectives will strongly support knowledge transfer, collaboration and innovation towards a more resource and energy efficient and environmentally sustainable Danube region.
In order to achieve the planned outputs and results, the project will:
•    link the forest-based sector with other relevant sectors
•    reach a high number of SME’s and further organizations acting as catalysts for innovation processes
•    connect different stakeholders within and between cross-sectorial value chains
•    idea generation and capacity building
•    Implement Pilot Innovation Environments, sustainable Collaborative Networks
FORESDA, thanks to its transnational approach will have a significant input in:
•    Modernising the sector, and making it more attractive
•    Developing entrepreneurship
•    Making wooden projects more competitive
•    Bringing back manufacturing to Europe with competitive high-quality products
The main results will be:
•    increased effectiveness of collaborative research and innovation activities, leading to the emergence of new cross-sectoral value chains primarily in the areas smart and sustainable construction and furniture, innovative bio-based products and materials and energy efficiency;
•    enhanced innovation management capacities in relevant intermediary organisations such as clusters;
•    A durable transnational approach and strategy for the development of the forest-based sector.