Description
Description (EN): Digital transformation is a part of technological change related to digitalisation and automation in the framework of transition towards the fourth production revolution, which has significant implications, particularly for business competitiveness and employment. However, it also represents an unprecedented opportunity for improved business development, economic growth and changes in the job market. European businesses can build their strengths on advanced digital technologies and seize the range of opportunities that technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, advanced manufacturing, robotics, 3D printing, blockchain technologies and artificial intelligence offer. Clearly, in a near future the digital transformation will foster economic growth and will become a key driver for employment. Therefore, the DigiBEST project aims at helping European regions to shape their policies to better support businesses for challenges of the digital transformation, as well as take full advantage of advanced technologies and innovative business models. The project’s role is to support European companies, especially SMEs, to acknowledge existing opportunities and possibilities for exploiting them to achieve tangible results, as well as to increase their competitiveness, which will result in improved overall economic development and employment. The state of digitisation varies across European countries and regions, and sectors. In addition, there are large disparities between large companies and SMEs. Thus, the project envisages to assist European regions and companies by researching the existing situation and assessing SMEs digital transformation problems and needs, improving policy instruments, exchange of experience and good practices, as well as increasing awareness.
Read more Expected Results (EN): The overall objective of the project is to support and promote SMEs competitiveness through digital transformation of SMEs in rural European territories by proposing solutions to enhance their capacity to use advanced technologies and new innovative business approaches for promoting smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in Europe and its regions.
The sub-objectives of the DigiBEST project are the following:
• Identify drawbacks and possible solutions for more efficient digitalisation of businesses for increasing SMEs competitiveness taking into account key trends of digital transformation;
• Promote exchange and transformation of good practices, knowledge transfer, and policy learning processes between European regions and players;
• Facilitate awareness rising, policy learning and information exchange about digitalization opportunities and modern approaches for increasing business competitiveness;
• Address SMEs competitiveness issue with respect to digital transformation by proposing new solutions;
• Develop solutions for small/micro business organizations, which have specific requirements and are to a much lesser degree represented and supported by policy instruments;
• Boost SMEs competitiveness through digital transformation by proposing solutions and recommendations for creating the right conditions and a level playing field (ecosystems) through improved policy instruments supporting European companies in digital transformation processes.
The above mentioned objectives will be implemented through the project approach and tasks described in part C.4.
Read more Expected Outputs (EN): The project intends to produce the following outputs and results:
1. Regional analysis of the state of business digital transformation and its impact on regional businesses provided by partners (6), including results of the business digital transformation assessment survey and Joint report (1) provided by the Advisory partner.
2. Collection of GP focusing on: 1) transforming regional ecosystems for supporting digitalization; 2) supporting digitalization of SMEs and micro companies; 3) measuring and monitoring digital transformation; 4) awareness rising and learning practices for promoting digital transformation; as well as other relevant good practices. In result, at least 18 (3x6) good practices will be collected and presented on the Interreg Europe website.
3. 6 study visits in partners’ regions and 6 Demonstration Actions (DA) involving at least 20 representatives from partner organizations and at least 60 stakeholders. DA will involve visiting stakeholders, as well as stakeholders from the hosting region providing a possibility to discuss different experiences and approaches, as well as network.
4. 6 regional stakeholders’ Working Groups involving at least 60 SHs, 30 stakeholders’ Discussion Forums in the World Café format after each study visit involving at least 300 participants.
5. 6 Peer Reviews conducted involving 12 external experts, 6 Peer Review reports and one Joint PR report, at least 60 local stakeholders involved in the Peer Review activities and joint working dinner “Digital Hub Gathering”.
6. 6 regional business digital transformation assessment surveys (BDTAT) will be carried out and 6 regional business digitalization road maps (BDRM) will be designed.
7. 6 Action Plans designed and implemented by project partners, including innovative tailor-made solutions for supporting small/micro companies.
8. Methodologies for creating regional analysis, collection of good practices, the joint State of Art Report, study visits and Demonstration Actions, stakeholders’ mapping, co-creation activities, Discussion Forums, Peer Reviews and Peer review reports, on-line digits transformation asessment survey, Action plans and the final policy event provided.
9. 42 press releases followed by at least 42 appearances in media and (800) on social networks; 6 videos to reflect possible improvements after a planned policy change; one project poster in each partners’ institution; one brochure presenting project results distributed to at least 2000 stakeholders; one European level Strategic Policy Forum for Digital Business Ecosystem Transformation at the end of project involving at least 80 participants. The Policy Forum will draw policy recommendations on how to accelerate the digital transformation of European industries and enterprises.
10. 7 partner meetings, 7 Steering Committee meetings, one kick-off meeting, 7 progress & financial reports submitted to the JTS by the Lead partner and 49 partner reports submitted to FLCs.
Read more
Themes
Specific Objective:
Improve the implementation of regional development policies and programmes, in particular programmes for Investment for Growth and Jobs and, where relevant, ETC programmes, supporting SMEs in all stages of their life cycle to develop and achieve growth and engage in innovation
Thematic Objective:
(03) enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs by:
Investment Priority:
(03d) supporting the capacity of SMEs to grow in regional, national and international markets, and to engage in innovation processes
Partners
Lead Partner:
Latvijas Republikas Vides aizsardzības un reģionālās attīstības ministrija
Department:
Electronic Government
Address:
Peldu iela 25, LV - 1494 Riga, Latvia
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.varam.gov.lv/
Total budget:
EUR 410 255.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 348 716.75
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Latvijas Universitāte
-
Name:
Latvijas Universitāte
Department:
Centre for European and Transition Studies
Address:
19 Raina Boulevard, LV - 1586 Riga, Latvia
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.lu.lv
Total budget:
EUR 149 600.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 127 160.00
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SVILUPPO BASILICATA SPA
-
Name:
SVILUPPO BASILICATA SPA
Department:
N/A
Address:
Centro Direzionale Z.I., 85050 Tito Scalo, Italy
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://WWW.SVILUPPOBASILICATA.IT
Total budget:
EUR 204 400.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 173 740.00
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Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH
-
Name:
Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft mbH
Department:
Creative Industries | Entrepreneurship
Address:
Walcherstrasse 11A, 1020 Vienna, Austria
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.aws.at
Total budget:
EUR 224 915.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 191 177.75
-
Comunidade Intermunicipal do Tâmega e Sousa
-
Name:
Comunidade Intermunicipal do Tâmega e Sousa
Department:
N/A
Address:
Avenida José Júlio, 42, 4560-547 Penafiel, Portugal
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.cimtamegaesousa.pt
Total budget:
EUR 149 512.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 127 085.20
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DIPUTACIÓN PROVINCIAL DE GRANADA
-
Name:
DIPUTACIÓN PROVINCIAL DE GRANADA
Department:
Service of Promotion and Consolidation of enterprises
Address:
Edificio CIE Diputación. Avenida de Andalucía s/n, 18015 GRANADA, Spain
Legal status:
public
Website:
http://www.granadaempresas.es
Total budget:
EUR 200 550.00
ERDF budget:
EUR 170 467.50
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Trøndelag fylkeskommune
-
Name:
Trøndelag fylkeskommune
Department:
Plan and Business development, section for Business
Address:
Postboks 2560, 7735 Steinkjer, Norway
Legal status:
public
Website:
https://www.trondelagfylke.no/
Total budget:
EUR 240 110.00
Third-country contribution:
EUR 120 055.00
