Project aims
Before the project started the main aims were defined as follows:
Main aim of the project is the strengthening of the region by spatial and structural changes. The tools to reach this aim are IC-technologies. Their implementation and use in SMEs shall be enhanced and bring positive results.
In particular the following sub-goals were deducted:
Reducing the urban-rural-disparities with respect to the supply of qualified manpower and workplaces by supporting SMEs to innovate, using modern ICT and providing means for e-learning and qualification. By these means function of the rural and semi-rural areas of being a motor of economic development is supported and new business-fields can be opened.
Based on the knowledge about the present structure and problems of each region ("baseline") analysing available research and solutions for SME´s that can be implemented to improve their economic situation.
Providing strategies and measures by which the competitiveness and economic and technological development of SME´s is improved: Investigation in and reduction of (entrepreneurial) restraints to implement and use modern IC-technologies. Promoting the adoption of available new technologies thus creating new entrepreneurial possibilities.
Formation of a SME support-structure in the shape of a sustainable, vertically integrated, sector-spanning network between SME`s, local authorities, providers of education and transnational partners. The network shall be a physical/technical as well as a logical and help to reduce and compensate spatial and infrastructural disadvantages of SME´s especially in the rural regions. To help enterprises to engage in virtual networks a "Virtual Enterprise" pilot will be integrated.
Durable usage of the network-partnership and its technical installations for all entrepreneurial concerns.
Improving the ability of SME´s to gain access to available knowledge and experiences as well as to results of research and development in order to innovate and increase the competences of enterprises and staff. The technical basis for this is the Internet and modern IC-technologies used for access to regional support structures. The improvement in the abilities of enterprises to innovate will lead to technological change within the regions and by this to spatial and social changes.
Investigation into the needs of SME´s with respect to the ability to innovate, qualification, organisational structures and procedures incl. development of methods for improvement.
Awareness-raising: Improving the knowledge about the possibilities of modern IC-technologies and creation of incentives to use them with the aim to reduce restraints to use the technology; by that bringing new technology into use in the whole region.
Presentation of available ‘best-practice’-solutions for SME´s and their effects on them on a transnational level.
Development and implementation of measures for transfer and integration of these solutions at all partner-regions.
Improvement of the competence of enterprises and employees in using modern IC-technologies with the aim of an intensified, more aimed usage of these technologies for all entrepreneurial concerns.
Fostering the creation of new jobs (resp. securing jobs) by supporting new enterprises (Start-Ups) in using modern IC-technologies.
Finding concrete answers and solutions to avoid and to reduce traffic by using ICT, i.e. by e-learning.
Working out and presenting models to reduce the costs of the information society on the local level.
Presentation and usage of the other advantages of the formed network.
Creation of active demand for IC-technology.
