Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Ländlich Regionen

Project Description 

Strengthening the sustainability and resilience of rural regions

Global megatrends, from climate change to industrial structural change to digitalization, are putting the economy under massive transformation pressure. Companies in rural regions face challenges that differ greatly from those in urban regions, for example in areas such as infrastructure, demographics or medical care. The Mittelstand-Digital Center for Rural Regions focuses precisely on these specific challenges and aims to address them with targeted digital solutions and support SMEs in their digital and green transformation. "With a wide range of support formats and technical demonstrators, a social partnership and people-centered approach, and a strong commitment to sustainability, we want to support SMEs in South Westphalia and other rural regions in becoming resilient and sustainable," explains Dr. Muhamed Kudic, head of the center. The Mittelstand-Digital Center for Rural Regions is part of Mittelstand-Digital. The Mittelstand-Digital Network supports the digitalization of small and medium-sized enterprises and craft businesses with the Federal Ministry for Economic and Climate Protection.

Support for small and medium-sized enterprises

In the field of digital transformation, the Mittelstand 4.0 Competence Center Siegen has developed into an established partner for small and medium-sized enterprises in South Westphalia over the past five years. This successful work now needs to be continued and expanded. The offers of the Mittelstand-Digital Center for Rural Regions are free of charge and are aimed at all SMEs in rural regions, especially companies in industry, crafts, medicine and care as well as forestry. Information, qualification and networking events are intended to empower employees to implement and advance the digital transformation in the company. In addition, technical demonstrators are being developed that make digital innovations tangible and can be used in digitization projects with companies. The center's subject areas include the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in SMEs, data economy and data protection, the green transformation, as well as new digital learning and working environments. In addition, the center supports SMEs with special AI trainers, for example in production or care.