Final conference DRWO4.0

Cluster of Czech Furniture Manufacturers Participated in the Final Conference of the DRWO4.0 Project

On 11–12 March 2026, the Final Conference of the DRWO4.0 project (Danube Region Wood Industry Transformation Model towards Industry 4.0), co-funded by the Interreg Danube Region Programme, took place in Vinkovci, Croatia. The event marked the successful completion of more than two years of cooperation among partners from the Danube Region, dedicated to supporting the digital and green transformation of the wood-processing and furniture industries.

Cluster of Czech Furniture Manufacturers (KČN) was represented by its project managers, accompanied by its associated partner, Mendel University in Brno, and stakeholders from the Czech furniture sector. The conference provided an opportunity to present the project’s main achievements, exchange experiences from the pilot activities, and discuss the future use of the developed tools designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises in adopting Industry 4.0 principles.

Among the project’s key outputs are a digital maturity assessment model for SMEs, a transformation methodology towards Industry 4.0, implementation guidelines for innovation, and a capacity-building framework aimed at strengthening the competencies of companies across the partner countries. An important part of the programme was dedicated to a panel discussion and roundtable focusing on the sustainability of the project results, their integration into regional strategies, and opportunities for further international cooperation.

On the second day of the conference, Monika Perdochová, representative of the Cluster of Czech Furniture Manufacturers, actively participated in the international roundtable discussion on the capitalisation and transferability of the DRWO4.0 project results. The discussion focused on integrating the developed transformation model into regional and national strategies, creating synergies with other European initiatives, and supporting the digital transformation of the forest-based sector across the Danube Region.

Participation in the final conference once again highlighted the importance of international cooperation in fostering innovation, digitalisation, and the sustainable development of the furniture industry. For the Czech Furniture Cluster, the DRWO4.0 project represents a valuable source of knowledge and proven practices that will continue to support Czech companies in strengthening their competitiveness and accelerating the adoption of modern technologies.

Although the DRWO4.0 project has officially come to an end, the partnership established throughout its implementation continues. The project partners expressed their commitment to building on the project’s achievements and are ready to cooperate in future international initiatives supporting innovation, digitalisation, and the sustainable development of the wood-processing and furniture sectors.

Download the press release here