Since June, aconium GmbH has been involved in a new project in the Interreg North Sea region. COM³ (Building COMpetencies for COMpetitive COMpanies) is about supporting municipalities and districts in the introduction and use of new technologies. The focus of the project is on rural regions.
What is COM³ about?
Businesses in rural areas are slower to respond to change, insecure about technological change and therefore often unable to adapt to rapidly evolving technologies. To overcome these hurdles, COM³ is developing a unique model to enable rural districts and municipalities to create a dynamic business environment in which digital technologies are used.
A COM³ training and coaching model will link technology hubs, companies and mapping initiatives. Together with measures and training on regulatory, financial and security aspects, the model provides the necessary structures to support small businesses. The COM³ partners will test the jointly developed solutions in seven countries in the North Sea region. In addition to Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the UK are also involved.
The project partners are jointly creating a roadmap and a platform for the digitalisation of rural businesses and networking them across borders. The objectives of the COM³ project are
- increasing the use of technologies – such as open data solutions or digital applications in industry and tourism – in rural businesses by 15 percent and
- increasing the share of information and communication technology in the local and regional gross domestic product in the pilot regions.
The role of aconium GmbH
aconium developed the project and manages it together with Intercommunale Leiedal. As a project partner, aconium GmbH is responsible for the transnational project, financial and communication management of the entire partnership at COM³. The official project start is planned for October 2019 and the project will run until the end of 2022.