What is Interreg Deutschland-Danmark?
Interreg Deutschland-Danmark enhances cross-border cooperation by funding German-Danish projects that strengthen regional development. The programme is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with a total budget of €93.8 million.
Behind Interreg Deutschland-Danmark are 11 programme partners - two Danish regions and nine German districts and cities from Schleswig-Holstein. With 3.6 million people living in the programme region, ongoing development and collaboration are key to creating future opportunities.
A border that connects, not divides
Interreg fosters the growth of the region in the areas of economics, employment, education, tourism and culture by funding cross-border innovative projects that want to create positive change for the German-Danish cooperation.
So far, 32 projects have received funding, helping to create positive change in the region. We believe that continuous development and cooperation can turn national borders from barriers into opportunities.
How we promote Danish-German cooperation
Interreg Deutschland-Danmark funds German-Danish projects and supports partners from idea development to implementation. We offer project consulting and help find suitable partners. Eligible participants include public, semi-public, research, educational, and private institutions. Projects must involve at least one German and one Danish partner and focus on one of our four key areas:
- An innovative region: Innovation, strengthening SMEs, start-ups, and research cooperation (and more).
- A green region: Green Transition, supporting climate-friendly initiatives and sustainable resource use (and more).
- An attractive region: Labor Market & Education, enhancing job opportunities and vocational training (and more).
- A functional region: Culture & Tourism – Promoting cross-border cultural exchange and tourism development (and more).
An example of a projectPRECISE - A freshness sensor to reduce massive food waste!
Tons of meat, fish, and other food products are thrown away because their expiration dates on the packaging has passed. The food goes straight to the garbage! But what if we could truly know when food is still fresh?
In our Interreg project PRECISE, Danish and German researchers are developing an innovative electronic nose – a freshness sensor – that detects the actual freshness of meat and fish. This solution will help prevent tons of food from going to waste.
“Today, households, restaurants, and stores rely on printed expiration dates, which are general estimates. For pork the estimate is around 8 days (+/- 3 days). To be safe, expiration dates are typically set to 5 days, leading to unnecessary food waste”, explains Roana de Oliveira Hansen, project manager.
The sensor is being tested with meat and fish retailers and restaurants in Denmark and Germany. By giving confidence in food freshness, it allows businesses to use products safely instead of discarding them. “Together, we can rethink how we manage food freshness and create a more sustainable future”, adds Roana. --> Visit the project website.
An example of a projectDanGer112: Accidents, fires and other disasters - what to do?
It may seem natural that the emergency response systems in Denmark and Germany work together when help is needed in the border region. But this co-operation is far from a given!
It is the result of a close and coordinated partnership between the emergency services in Southern Denmark and Northern Germany, supported by Interreg Deutschland-Danmark to develop and strengthen their co-operation.
The project addresses two key cross-border tasks:
- One is outdated legislation, regulations and co-operation agreements. Key elements of the legislation that form the basis of cross-border emergency cooperation are up to 37 years old! New agreements are needed to ensure efficient, smooth and result-orientated cross-border cooperation in emergency situations.
- The second key task is to strengthen, develop and anchor the mutual trust that has been built over the years.
Program divisions and tasks
Interreg Deutschland-Danmark consists of three programme units that are responsible for the correct running of the Interreg programme and the support of Interreg projects. The units work closely together, meet regularly and support each other. The administration consists of two units – the managing authority (placed in Germany) and the Interreg-secretariat (placed in Denmark). The third unit is the Interreg-committee which is responsible for controlling the correct implementation of the programme and approving the Interreg-projects.
About the Interreg-Secretariat
The Interreg Deutschland-Danmark secretariat, located in Kruså, Denmark, just 300 meters from the German-Danish border, is the first contact point for project partners and applicants. It provides information on funding opportunities, supports project development, and ensures smooth implementation. Working closely with the managing authority, the secretariat also handles communication and PR.
About the Managing Authority
Based in Kiel, Germany, the managing authority oversees the economic and legal implementation of the programme. It ensures strategic control, verifies project applications and payments, updates key documents, and maintains contact with the EU, national authorities, and the Interreg Committee.
About the Interreg Committee
The Interreg Committee consists of 36 members from Germany and Denmark, including 11 programme partners and representatives from social, environmental, and economic institutions. It makes final funding decisions, monitors programme implementation, and ensures progress toward set goals.