vital

empowerment of SMEs (WP1)

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In WP1: empowerment of SMEs Vital Rural Area stimulates and empowers SMEs in regional areas to widen their raison d'etre and commercial perspectives by expanding the scope (diversification) and quality (improved skills) of their businesses, also in the fields of e-business, e-skills and e-learning. Towards new economical prospects and innovations.

* SMEs refer to agricultural, agricultural related, (small) industrial and service oriented small and medium entreprises.

agricultural related SME in Vejen Kommune, DK

project partners in WP1

Norfolk County, Norwich, UK (chair)
NOFA, Buitenpost, NL
Wirtschaftsakademie Schleswig Holstein, Husum, FRG
Vejen Kommune, Vejen, DK
Friese Poort Bedrijfsopleidingen, Leeuwarden, NL

main components in WP1

to fine-tune the needs and potentials of SMEs

to activate SMEs to co-operate with educational institutes

example: to introduce special medium and high level courses on sustainable technology (installation, construction, energy, mechatronics) for employees and teachers/students as a permanent and structural part of a school's curriculum (including international certificates)

to encourage SMEs to develop new commercial products and processes

example: to stimulate SMEs to present their ideas on innovation to a panel of industry champions. Those SMEs that are successful in demonstrating innovation are eligible to tap into a grant set aside to enable the realisation of these innovations or innovative approaches

to facilitate SMEs to find potential successors, especially for lifestyle businesses

example: to identify the value of lifestyle businesses to the (local) economy

to monitor the activities, results and (longlasting) impact of the SME approach

The experiences and results of the pilot activities within WP1 are used to draft a working standard how to stimulate and empower SMEs to innovate. The three working methods of WP1, 2 and 3 will be converted into the rural power pack RPP, a general working method to set up projects on regional development in other regions and in other periods.