Mr. Ramsauer, practically everyone knows Silicon Valley. But what is Silicon Vilstal ?
Helmut Ramsauer: We are an innovation platform from Lower Bavaria and our focus is on social innovation. We make digital opportunities in rural regions tangible. We are committed to this in three areas: Firstly, innovation and education – the focus here is on STEM offerings for children and young people. Secondly, we are working on entrepreneurship and have set up our own start-up program. And in the third area, culture and creativity, we show above all that rural regions such as the Vils Valley are an ideal creative space.
Your offers are very much about social innovation. You need to explain the term.
Ramsauer: We are convinced that innovation and change only work if you involve people. That’s why our projects can always be tried out. Experiencing, participating, trying things out – through positive experiences, some people may even come to apply and live new things in their own environment. A good example of this is our experience festival: it conveys specific content in such an exciting, playful way that the participants retain something through the fun. The new German term for this is edutainment – a mixture of knowledge transfer and entertainment.
Dare to look ahead: What significance does digitalization have for rural areas?
Ramsauer: I personally believe that rural regions and municipalities are already like start-ups: fast, agile and with short coordination loops. Digitalization will further strengthen these characteristics. And it will change society’s view of the countryside. Not least the pandemic has made many people aware of the capabilities of rural regions.