New EU-Project DIGITRANS – Digital Transformation in the Danube Region offers methodological support for SMEs of the creative industry. More than 50 participants at the kick-off on 8th March in Stuttgart.

The MFG Innovation Agency has launched an EU funded project DIGITRANS whose goal is to support the creative industry in the digital transformation process. The international consortium held a kick-off meeting on 8th March in Stuttgart and presented the project to Baden Württemberg authorities. In the coming months, 17 partners from the Danube Region are going to develop an e-learning platform, training materials and perform training sessions for companies and innovation consultants.

Stuttgart, 9th March 2017 – Some might say, “Identify and employ the right business model and you will be successful on the market”. But is this really true? What is the right business model? Which strategy is the correct one? There are more than a few approaches to develop an innovative digital business model such as design thinking, business model canvas, blue ocean strategy, etc. Which of these is the most appropriate one? Can any of them be used regardless of the company size or the industry?

This is where the DIGITRANS project comes in. The partners will analyse most of the approaches in detail and develop a method to address the specific needs of SMEs and start-ups in creative industries, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, etc. 

Digitisation as an official cross-sectional task

Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Economic Affairs, Employment and Housing Baden-Württemberg, said that in order to remain innovative, we ought to think about digital revolution, which is already happening and fundamentally changing our lives and businesses. It affects not only the industry, but other sectors, such as crafts and services, as well. She emphasised that the Ministry of Economics is keen on supporting SMEs on their way to the digital future. The statement serves to prove that the project is in line with digital@bw digitisation strategy.

The kick-off meeting in Stuttgart’s Literaturhaus had attracted more than 50 participants who learned about initiatives supporting the creative industry. The event was organised by MFG Public Innovation Agency, the leader of consortium of 17 partners from 9 Danube-region countries.

Support for SMEs in digital chance

Roland Grimmelsmann, a CEO of Herder in Freiburg publishing house, said that the needs of SMEs and large companies differ so it is important to identify the right ones out of many possible approaches.

The project’s goal is to support SMEs in introducing their own digital business models. In the coming months the partners will be working on new innovation methods whereas the tools will be ready by the end of the year. They will be used in newly established incubators in the seven countries of the Danube region and will be imparted through blended learning trainings.

The training programme will combine face-to-face seminars and on-line courses using an e-learning platform. The incubator in Baden-Württemberg will be set up in Hermann-Hollerith-Zentrum at the Reutlingen University of Applied Sciences. Trainings for SMEs and innovation consultants will be held between May 2018 and April 2019. The documents will be available publically on the platform at the end of the project. News can be found under #DigitransEU on Twitter.

Further links:
dtp.interreg-danube.eu/digitrans  |  innovation.mfg.de 

About DIGITRANS
The DIGITRANS project – Digital Transformation in the Danube region analyses how innovation methods can promote the development of new business models that are flexible enough to be easily adapted to the constantly changing market conditions. There are more than a few approaches to develop an innovative digital business model such as design thinking, business model canvas, blue ocean strategy, etc. This is where the project comes in. The partners will analyse most of the approaches in detail and develop a method to address the specific needs of SMEs and start-ups. The consortium of 17 partners from 9 different countries will launch an e-learning platform and organise face-to-face trainings for SMEs.

About MFG
MFG Medien- und Filmgesellschaft is an institution of the state of Baden-Württemberg and Südwestrundfunk broadcaster. Its goal is to promote film culture and the film industry and to promote the media and creative industry.  

MFG operates as a statewide centre of excellence. It is a public promoter of culture and economic development and provides targeted support measures to the industry, whenever required. The ‘film promotion’ sector focuses on project funding, whereas the ‘creative’ sector focuses on networking and mediation for the media and creative industry.

MFG works with its shareholders to provide supervision and advice for projects related to digital culture, media competence, open source and online state projects and university cooperation agreements. 

Group work

"Wall of ideas"

Petra Newrly, MFG and Livicu Ciucan-Rusu, AUPM

Official start of DIGITRANS project

DIGITRANS team