About the Project

The Karavanke range forms a cross-border region, which offers natural, cultural, economic, sport and living and work space. Indicators show that it is not an economically viable border area, but on the other hand, considering all the natural advantages of the region, it can be defined as an important natural park between towns. The area is characterized by an extraordinarily rich biodiversity, widespread Natura 2000 sites, many smaller protected sites and other natural assets. All of this attracts great interest for those involved in recreational activities and tourism development, lying as it does close to towns and tourist centres on both sides of the border. Depending on the specific conditions of the landscape, the Karavanke mountain chain is used for forestry, agriculture - above all, pastures - and tourism. The limited possibilities for the exploitation of the area, and the need to maintain a sensitive natural and cultural region, together with the increasing needs of economic development and tourism, present the key problems on both sides of the border; and this is the major reason for the preparation of this project and the collaboration between the partners.

About the Project

In September 2008, BSC, Poslovno podporni center, d.o.o., Kranj (Business Support Centre) and 14 partners from Gorenjska, Koroška and Austrian Carinthia submitted an application for the project »karawanks@future.eu« following the call for proposals to the Operational Programme Slovenia-Austria 2007-2013. In March 2009, we received a positive response to our selected application. On 23rd June 2009, a subsidy contract was signed between the lead partner, BSC, Poslovno podporni center, d.o.o., Kranj, and the managing authority of the Operational Programme Slovenia-Austria 2007-2013 - Government Office for Local Self-Government and Regional Policy.