The four-country border area of Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria forms the heart of one of the most dynamic transnational economic areas of Europe. What is particularly special about the Centrope region is its location, nestled among the established Western European economic centers and the rapidly growing Eastern European markets. Companies have profited from direct investment as well as increased exports since the EU enlargement to the east. Today, participating regions display higher than average economic growth, for example 3.4% in Lower Austria and even up to 8% in Slovakia.

Basic facts about the Centrope region:

• 8 partner regions in 4 EU member states
• 2 national capitals separated by only 50km
• 6.5 million inhabitants – who are also consumers
• 2.8 million highly-qualified skilled workers
• 35 universities, 1000 independent or university-affiliated research centers
• 250,000 students
• dynamic economic growth which exceeds the EU 25 average
• ideal location for service industries and high-tech production
• central transportation hub with 3 international airports, 2 Danube ports and the intersection of Trans-European Network (TEN) corridors
• a region with a common history and a shared appreciation of its cultural and natural heritage which allow its inhabitants to enjoy a quality of life envied around the world.

As a location, Centrope profits from the varying advantages and wide scope of possibilities offered by its diverse areas. Centrope boasts major production facilities in cooperation with small innovative companies, locations with comparatively low wages and taxes within the EU, a high density of R&D activities, and important financial service centers – all of which are easily accessible from anywhere in Europe but yet practically next-door when in the Centrope region. A new class of consumers – including the highly-motivated younger generation in the new EU member states – offers new market opportunities for expanding companies.
The healthy expectations of businesspeople and investors are reflected in the shared challenges for location development and economic policy in the Centrope region.
These include:

• coordinated development of the area: forming an attractive region to work and live
• coordinated traffic and transportation planning: improvement in access to means of transportation for the logistics industry as well as optimization of transportation infrastructure
• coordinated labor market policy: measures to increase the number of qualified skilled workers for the rapidly-growing number of production facilities and lower the level of unemployment, in particular among the long-term unemployed and young adults
• shared innovation policy: increase in innovation quota by exploiting synergy effects in cross-border research collaboration
• coordinated education policy: promotion of an attractive education program
• coordinated EU lobbying: for shared interests and to utilize the European assistance programs.