TiCCA4Danu proposes a novel and comprehensive transformative innovation framework to accelerate just climate change adaptation (CCA) at the level of cities and their surrounding administrative regions. In order to address the structural barriers for CCA implementation at the city-region level, TiCCA4Danu proposes a systems-level approach, which requires effective governance changes, introduction of directionality, and a different use of policy instruments favouring discovery and experimentation processes. TiCCA4Danu directly relates to the EU Cities- and Adaptation Mission frameworks and builds on the emerging literature discussing the opportunities and limitations to governing socio-technical change for addressing grand challenges, such as climate change, through novel transformative approaches. At the core of TiCCA4Danu’s methodological approach lies the concept of place-based “Transformative Innovation Policy” (TIP), which postulates a systems-level change perspective in innovation policy. TiCCA4Danu aims at applying the theoretical TIP concept to the city-region level by linking TIP to “Local Green Deals” (LGD), an established instrument for sustainable transformation at the city level, and by complementing the LGDs with a novel approach for transformative CCA at the level of regions. With TIP facilitating wider and inclusive societal transformation, TiCCA4Danu features stronger involvement of vulnerable groups as well as stronger private sector involvement. TiCCA4Danu focussing its activities on four “Anchor Cities” and their surrounding regions in the Danube Macro Region, all constituting different bio-geographical regions, i.e. Coastal, Mountain and Continental. By establishing a direct link to the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) and by working with the relevant Priority Area Working Groups, TiCCA4Danu will
