The Joint Danube Macro-regional eDigiStars Strategy was prepared within the project “Building digital entrepreneurial capacities of the elderly through the innovative training system”, funded by the Danube Transnational Programme. The project is implemented through a partnership of 13 partners from 8 different countries from the Danube region, namely Austria, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia and Ukraine. 

The partnership of the eDigiStars project has identified two main challenges in the countries of the Danube region that should be tackled to improve the well-being of the society and increase the competitiveness of the region. First, there is a lack of employees or self-employed entrepreneurs who can provide specific simple digital services for SMEs. The second challenge is linked to the ageing of the population and employability difficulties of the seniors. 

The partnership of eDigiStars project believes that the reintegration of the workforce at the age of 51 or higher can be successfully reached by trainings with special focus. The partnership believes that the unemployed seniors can be turned into digital self-entrepreneurs. Therefore, we aim to address both challenges, the lack of digital employees or self-employed entrepreneurs and employment difficulties of the seniors at the same time.

As a result, the main objective of the project is to develop a sustainable ecosystem which supports older workers to become digital self-employed entrepreneurs or employees. This is going to happen through the development of Tools, piloting and assuring of sustainability of the eDigiStars Innovative system. 

To demonstrate the impact, the project will pilot the eDigiStars System. The pilot will deliver measurable impact in each participating country by empowering or engaging 40 elderlies with employability difficulties, primarily representing MINORITIES, MIGRANTS or other VULNERABLE groups.

The project aims at the adaptation of one selected “digital” course per territory and the development of digital competencies of 160 elderlies within the project.

To reach the overall goal of the project, the partnership consists of 4 employment offices, 3 industry representatives, 4 innovation centers, 2 public administrations, 2 education and training centers, 1 university and 2 institutions working with elderlies have joined forces.

The final version of eDigiStars Strategy plan is ready and you can find it HERE!