Under the motto “überMorgen”, the Digital Social Summit on March 29 focused on transforming abstract digital visions of the future into a clear social digital agenda. The focus was on the following questions: How do we sustainably shape our digital tomorrow today? How do we consolidate the digital processes we have already achieved? Has everyone really been able to make the leap? How do we use digitalization in a meaningful and socially just way for a fair “beyond tomorrow”?
After all, digital change is a great opportunity – and a challenge – for rural areas in particular. In order for everyone to keep pace, local people need the necessary skills. This is why the partners of the aconium GmbH projects COM³ and CORA met at the Digital Social Summit on March 29 to share their creative solutions and improve digital skills in rural areas. COM³ and CORA, two Interreg North Sea Region programs that support citizens, small businesses and administrations in meaningfully integrating digital transformation into existing structures.
The event was moderated by Adélaide Chopard from the aconium regional office in Baden-Württemberg.
Katarina Nordmark, Länsstyrelsen Värmland, Sweden and Laura Kremeike, Amt Hüttener Berge, Germany explained their experiences at the event and how they can work with senior citizens in their regions and make their administration more citizen-friendly.
Liz Price, University of Lincoln, United Kingdom and Bieke Blauwblomme, Intercommunale Leiedal, Belgie, explained how they focus on small businesses and help them to benefit from data and digital technologies.
More about COM³
The COM³ partners are testing creative solutions in 9 pilot regions across the North Sea region to coach and support small, local companies in their digitalization process. They are developing a unique support model in the form of guidance measures, training and coaching solutions. In the future, these solutions will be accessible to all local and regional authorities on an online learning platform.
In the Interreg North Sea project COM³, aconium GmbH leads the strategic communication and coordinates the project management activities together with Intercommunale Leiedal. In addition, aconium GmbH is involved in the development of the project methodology and the COM³ training model in cooperation with the scientific partners. With its many years of experience and its network in the field of digital innovation, aconium GmbH supports the project partner Amt Hüttener Berge in the implementation of the German pilot project and actively promotes the project results at EU level.
More about CORA
The European Interreg project CORA promotes digital infrastructures and services in rural areas. CORA supports local authorities in pilot regions in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany in identifying common challenges and encourages them to share experiences and develop innovative digital solutions. The CORA partners are also developing a model with a comprehensive guide to digitalization in rural areas. In the CORA project, aconium is project developer, project partner, head of the communication work package and transnational project, communication and financial manager in cooperation with the lead partner Intercommunale Leiedal from Belgium.