Assembly of European Regions

Connecting regions, inspiring Europe since 1985

You are here: Home / Archives for Digitalisation

AER working groups: it’s simple

By

The long-awaited guide for members willing to set up a new working group is finally there!

Working groups are for all AER members

All AER members can participate in working groups. Any AER member can submit a proposal for setting up a working group on a new topic.

It is possible to contribute to the work by:

  1. Sharing needs and topics your region would be interested to work on
  2. Offering expertise, flagging good practices you would like to share with AER members, proposing speakers
  3. Participating in events organised by the Chairs of the Working Groups
  4. Representing AER at thematic events: all AER members can be AER ambassadors!

To do this, contact AER Coordinator for Policy & Knowledge Transfer Johanna Pacevicius with ideas, proposals, requests.

How to propose a new Working Group

1. Identifying partner regions

Any AER member can submit a proposal for setting up a Working Group. A region, which would like to set up a working group should test the idea with other members and find supporting regions, in order to ensure there is a core group of regions that will be interested in dedicating time to exchange on the topic, and to be able to define activities that will be relevant to more than one region

Any AER member wishing to set up a Working Group should therefore find at least three supporting regions, which will contribute to shaping the activities, participate and contribute to the work. Either the AER member is already in contact with regions that could join the new Working Group, or they request the help of the AER Secretariat to contact regions that may be interested.

2. Submitting a proposal to the Executive Board

The region, which would like to set up a working group should develop a draft proposal for the focus of the Working Group and list a few potential activities to be presented to the EB together with supporting regions. The Draft Proposal for setting up the new Working Group, should:

  • mention the topic of the Working Group
  • clarify the focus of the exchange and dissemination of best practices
  • indicate the lead region and the supporting regions
  • propose a few activities which they would like to implement within the first two-years mandate
  • define an objective for the work of the Working Group (what will the activities help to achieve?)

3. The EB establishes the creation of the new Working Group

Once the proposal for setting up a new Working Group has been approved by the EB, an article is published about the new Working Group including information on:

  • the proposed focus
  • objective
  • lead region and supporting regions
  • envisioned activities

Regions interested to join the new Working Group and shape activities are invited to provide inputs by email.

4. Appointing a Chair

A first meeting of the working group will be organised in person or online, to appoint a Chair and agree on joint activities. The meeting will be announced beforehand on the AER website. The meeting will be open to all AER members. During this first meeting, Working Group members will agree on implementation details and responsibilities. Each Working Group decides on its own working structure

Role of the Chair of a Working Group

The Chair is responsible for the leadership of the Working Group and liaising with the Vice-President in charge of the Working Group policy area.

Each Working Group Chair’s region is charged to appoint a seconded officer to act as working group secretariat in liaison with the AER secretariat. The seconded officer is responsible for:

  • Co-organising events and projects in collaboration with the secretariat;
  • Managing the content of the meetings;
  • Drafting speeches and policy contributions;
  • The Chair will take the responsibility for the planning of the Working Group’s activities;

The Chair of the Working Group will inform the Vice-President in charge of the related policy area about the activities organised by the Working Group.
The Vice-President in charge of the related policy area will inform the Chair of the Working Group about upcoming events or EU policy developments, which may be of interest to the Chair and where the findings of the Working Group could be shared
When the Vice-President in charge of the related policy area is invited to external events, they will mention the activities of the working group

Photo by Hello I’m Nik on Unsplash

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Connecting Europe Facility – Digital Programme: new calls & info day

By

The Commission has launched the first calls for proposals under the digital part of the Connecting Europe Facility programme after recently adopting the first Work Programme, which defines the scope and objectives of the EU-supported actions needed to improve Europe’s digital connectivity infrastructures for 3 years. With the launch of the new calls, an Info Day will be held on 19 January!

Connecting Europe Facility – Digital

The digital part of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital) will contribute to the development of projects of common interest relating to the deployment of safe, secure and sustainable high-performance infrastructure, including Gigabit and 5G networks. CEF Digital will also contribute to the increased capacity and resilience of digital backbone infrastructures in all EU territories (in particular the outermost regions), as well to the digitalisation of transport and energy networks.

What are the calls about?

With a planned budget of €258 million, the EU Commission will co-fund actions aiming to equip Europe’s main transport routes and providers of key services in local communities with 5G connectivity, as well as actions to deploy or upgrade backbone networks based on advanced technologies.

Wanting to boost initiatives on digitalisation, CEF Digital recently published new calls for proposals following the adoption of the first Work Programme for the CEF Digital in December 2021. Next to the above-mentioned aims, other particularly relevant actions related to these calls are: 

  • Infrastructure connecting federated cloud services
  • Backbone infrastructures for digital global gateways, such as submarine cables
  • Preparatory actions to set up operational digital platforms for transport and energy infrastructures across the EU.

CEF Digital calls are open to entities, including joint ventures, established in the Member States and overseas countries or territories.

Info Day

Interested applicants for the first CEF Digital calls can learn more about the application, the evaluation and the award processes at the announced online info day.

This info session will be held on 19 January 2022 from 09:30 to 13:30 CET. The event is meant to prepare applicants to draft the best possible proposals.

This link can be used to access the event’s page and the Info Day itself.

The AER Project Unit is willing to support potential applicants and co-applicants interested in one of the new calls, therefore don’t hesitate to contact the AER project Unit.

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Autumn Digest 2021: Funding Opportunities for EU and Non-EU Member Regions

By

Are you in pursuit of some new EU project funding opportunities? Here are some openings worth looking into!

In line with the new Multiannual Financial Framework programme 2021-2027 which aims for more inclusivity and to support green and digital transitions, the AER Project Unit has mapped EU funding opportunities and calls for project proposals that are linked to green issues, digitalisation, and democracy & citizens participation.

Green Transition

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. Among the 6 priorities the European Commission proposed for the years 2019-2024 Climate Action is at their top concern. According to the Commission, “EU policy protects the environment and seeks to minimise risks to climate, human health and biodiversity. The European Green Deal aims to make Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent, in part by developing cleaner sources of energy and green technologies.”

Recovery of coastal and maritime tourism in the Western Mediterranean
Programme: European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)
Deadline: 12 January 2022
Eligibility: EU and eligible non-EU member states
In line with the priorities of the European Commission, this call topic aims to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of the coastal and maritime tourism ecosystem in the Western Mediterranean, as part of a smart and resilient blue economy. Moreover, it aims at preserving the marine and coastal environment and marine cultural heritage and contributing to the attractiveness of coastal areas as a unique asset for competitiveness in the Mediterranean. The action particularly looks at supporting tourism stakeholders to tap into the growing ecotourism niche tourism market and boosting innovation and digitalisation in the tourism sector, thus increasing its contribution to economic growth and jobs in the Mediterranean.

Local Green Deals
Programme: Single Market Programme (SMP)
Deadline: 24 November 2021
Eligibility: EU and eligible non-EU member states
The new The Single Market Programme (SMP) was adopted on 28 April 2021 and provides an integrated package to support and strengthen the governance and functioning of the Single Market. 

The call within this programme contributes to the European Green Deal objectives of climate-neutrality, sustainability, prosperity and inclusiveness and in parallel to develop more sustainable regional or local strategies and resilient business models. The general objective of this topic is to provide support to SMEs, regional and local economic operators to lead the twin green and digital transition and implement actions aiming to direct the local economy towards a sustainable and inclusive pathway, create new jobs, mitigate the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis and accelerate a new, green and fairer recovery. To achieve this, this call will support projects that boost transnational and cross border cooperation among local administrations and local businesses to co-create, co-design and deliver Local Green Deals.

Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction for extreme climate events: from early warning systems to long term adaptation and resilience building
Programme: Horizon Europe
Deadline: 23 November 2021
Eligibility: EU Member States and eligible non-EU countries
The focus of this call is to improve dialogue and cooperation among scientific and technical communities, stakeholders, policy-makers and local communities in the field of extreme climate events and associated events (e.g. forest fires, droughts, floods, heatwaves and storms) and disaster risk reduction. It aims to enhance community engagement for prevention, preparedness, response, recovery and learning to extreme climate events by strengthening knowledge and involvement of volunteers linked to recognised organisations into the planning, design, and implementation of prevention, including building with nature, preparedness, and emergency response activities.

Sustainability and educational aspects for renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies
Programme: Horizon Europe
Deadline: 5 January 2022
Eligibility: EU Member States and eligible non-EU countries
This funding calls for a framework to be established where sustainability and educational aspects for renewable energy and fuel technologies are addressed in the context of the current climate crisis. In this context, and taking into consideration circularity and sustainability, projects should aim to enhance and promote sustainability by addressing social and environmental aspects (air pollution, waste management, job opportunities, wildlife concerns, etc.) of renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies at a global level, thus ensuring the European Green Deal priorities are met.

Technical support to clean energy transition plans and strategies in municipalities and regions
Programme: Programme for Environment and Climate Action (LIFE)
Deadline: 12 January 2022
Eligibility: EU Member States and eligible non-EU countries (associated with LIFE programme)
The call aims to provide local and regional authorities with the necessary capacity to deliver sustainable plans and strategies for the energy transition. To successfully support the achievement of energy and climate targets, transition strategies and plans need to be institutionalised, cross-sectoral and tailored to the level of innovation, ambition and specific geographic context of the involved authorities. Local and regional authorities are a decisive lever for the EU to achieve its carbon neutrality target by 2050. Policy-makers and administrations at all sub-national levels need to commit to and effectively plan the clean energy transition of their respective territory, energy systems and infrastructures at an unprecedented level of ambition and pace with a long-term time horizon.

Community-driven clean energy transition in coal, peat and oil-shale regions
Programme: Programme for Environment and Climate Action (LIFE)
Deadline: 12 January 2022
Eligibility: EU Member States and eligible non-EU countries (associated with LIFE programme)
This call aims to empower coal, peat and oil-shale regions to advance the clean energy transition in their territories by developing and implementing the sustainable energy-related elements of their territorial just transition plans and effectively combining the support provided by the Just Transition Mechanism and/or and other sources of available funding.

Digital Transition

Over the last years, digital technology has played an increasingly important role in the lives of many around the world. This is why the Commission adopted the EU’s digital strategy as one of its top priorities in the upcoming years. The strategy aims to make this transformation work for people and businesses, while helping to achieve its target of a climate-neutral Europe by 2050.

The Commission is determined to make this Europe’s “Digital Decade”. Europe must now strengthen its digital sovereignty and set standards, rather than following those of others – with a clear focus on data, technology, and infrastructure. Under this priority falls Digital Europe (DIGITAL), a new funding programme adopted by the European Commission and will be focused on bringing digital technology to businesses, citizens and public administrations.

Reinforcing digitalisation related know how of local energy ecosystems
Programme: Horizon Europe
Deadline: 5 January 2022
Eligibility: EU Member States and non-EU countries
This call aims to increase the autonomy of local ecosystems to participate in the decentralisation of energy systems and energy transition and the number of participants in flexibility markets. It also wants to cover the gap on knowledge around digitalisation of energy services and contribute to the reskilling & upskilling of individuals and organizations. Furthermore, it will facilitate the creation of a network of parties interested in joining forces for public procurement of energy related digital services.

Democracy & Citizens Participation

The European elections of 2019 have shown a record-high turnout and with that demonstrate a new vibrancy of European democracy. Yet, the Commission feels that Europeans need a stronger role in the decision-making process and a more active role in setting their priorities. In that light, in order to protect our democracy from external interference, a joint approach is considered necessary to tackle issues such as disinformation and online hate messages. This makes for democracy and citizens participation to go hand in hand regarding the approach of the Commision for the coming years.

Social Economy Missions for community resilience
Programme: Single Market Programme (SMP)
Deadline: 24 November 2021
Eligibility: EU Member States and eligible non-EU countries
The objective of this call within the new SMP programme is to co-fund projects, which will build resilience and increase the capacity of regional or local public administrations, social economy SMEs and civil society to overcome difficulties and crises. The call will support building local resilience through transnational and inter-regional peer-learning and collaboration in the field of social economy, also, developing social economy local action plans with the cooperation of social economy stakeholders and formulating recommendations to be potentially replicable in other parts of Europe.

Smart solutions for smart rural communities: empowering rural communities and smart villages to innovate for societal change
Programme: Horizon Europe
First deadline: 15 February 2022 
Second deadline: 6 September 2022
Eligibility: EU Member States and non-EU countries
The successful proposal will contribute to fostering a sustainable, balanced and inclusive development of rural areas, supporting the implementation of the European Green Deal, in particular its fair and just transition component, the European digital strategy, the European pillar of social rights and the EU long-term vision for rural areas. It will do so by supporting digital, social and community-led innovations and by equipping rural communities with innovative and smarter solutions that increase access to services, opportunities and adequate innovation ecosystems, including for women, youth and the most vulnerable groups, improve attractiveness and reduce the feeling of being left behind, even in the most remote locations.

Support for information measures relating to the EU Cohesion policy
Programme: DG Regio
Deadline: 11 January 2022
Eligibility: EU Member States
The main aim is to provide support for the production and dissemination of information and content linked to EU Cohesion policy, including inter alia the Just Transition Fund and the recovery plan for Europe, while respecting the complete editorial independence of the actors involved. The specific objectives of this call are to promote and foster a better understanding of the role of Cohesion policy in supporting all EU’s regions and to increase awareness of projects funded by the EU – through Cohesion policy in particular – and of their impact on people’s lives. Moreover, it aims to encourage civic participation in matters related to Cohesion policy and to foster citizens’ participation in setting priorities for the future of this policy.

Assessing the socio-politics of nature-based solutions for more inclusive and resilient communities
Programme: Horizon Europe
Deadline: 15 February 2022
Eligibility: EU Member States and non-EU countries
The objective of this call is to contribute to the EU’s goal of leading just digital, economic and ecological transitions that will leave no one behind, supporting, in particular, European Green Deal priorities such as the biodiversity strategy for 2030. R&I will contribute to developing rural, coastal and urban areas in a sustainable, balanced and inclusive manner thanks to the deployment of nature-based solutions and to a better understanding of the environmental, socio-economic, behavioural and cultural drivers of change. R&I will also further support the empowerment of communities to deploy nature-based solutions to adapt to climate change and turn digital and ecological transitions into increased resilience, well-being and positive long-term prospects, such as jobs for all (including for women, young people and vulnerable groups).

Strengthening European coordination and exchange for innovation uptake towards sustainability, quality, circularity and social inclusion in the built environment as a contribution to the new European Bauhaus (Built4People)
Programme: Horizon Europe
Deadline: 25 January 2022
Eligibility: EU Member States and non-EU countries
In line with the New European Bauhaus, this proposal aims to better acknowledgement and integration of quality architecture and design principles, blending design and sustainability in innovative solutions to improve the sustainability of the built environment, including, if appropriate, cultural heritage, also ensuring compliance with the principles of circular economy, with due consideration of relevant aspects such as style, human-centric inclusivity and accessibility for persons with disabilities.

For more information on EU funding programmes and calls for proposals, please take a look at the funding and tender portal of the European Commission. Additionally, you can find further information by consulting our series of webinars “Unboxing the Multiannual Financial Framework” available on the AER website.

If you require any further information or assistance in finding partners or putting together a project proposal, please do not hesitate to contact the AER Project Unit.

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Mobility as a Service: registrations are open!

By

On 17 June 2021 the Chair of the AER Working Group on Transports and Mobility, Martin Tollén, Östergötland (SE) is organising a webinar on Mobility as a Service, also known as MaaS.

MaaS… I beg your pardon?

There is an increasing demand for innovative services supporting seamless mobility combining on-demand transport modes in conjunction with public transport, leading to the Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) concept:

MaaS is a user-centric, intelligent mobility distribution model, in which users’ needs are met via a single platform and are offered by a service provider, the mobility operator.

Source: http://www.maas4eu.eu/project/

This user-centricity shifts the focus from providers to users, which also means re-evaluating the role of the public sector, defining what matters, what stakeholders want to achieve, who needs to be involved and how. This is why the topic is relevant for all European regions: the issue indeed goes much farther than mobility only. It is linked to regional development, innovation, governance, access to services and territorial cohesion, to name a few.

Mobility & the digital transformation

The digital transformation is central in the concept of MaaS, it both pushes the demand and supports the offer. Users generally expect public services to be as easy to access as any service provided by the Five Tech Giants (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft) or Wallmart for instance. Which means the public sector is also re-inventing how it sees its role, and mobility is no exception to this general trend.

The webinar on MaaS organised on 17 June 2021 will strive to address questions such as:

  • What are the lessons learnt and success factors for MaaS?
  • What is the role of public organisations in the development of concepts and in terms of governance?
  • How should private and public stakeholders cooperate? Who should do what?
  • How to apply a city model of MaaS in rural areas?

Transport & the digital transformation at EU-level

For the 2021-2027 programming period, digital transformation is in focus and the European Commission has recently launched the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy.

The webinar will also provide an update on the European Commission’s New mobility strategy, the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) policy, and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF2) Digital programme. The information provided will be linked to the Green Deal and the wider topic of digital transformation.

For more information on the event and the draft agenda, please check the event webpage

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

COVID-19: How to effectively communicate the need for change?

By

The Chair of the AER Digital Health Network Donna Hendersson, Scotland (UK) is pleased to invite AER members and partners on 26 May 10:00 – 11:00 CET to participate in a webinar focused on communication and awareness raising strategies for the wider public in the time of COVID-19 as well as training of healthcare professionals remotely.

Change & greater demand for coordinated & integrated care

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a catalyst of change and of greater demand for coordinated and integrated health and social care services, with healthcare professionals and citizens at the centre of this change. This includes the need for effective communication strategies, including both top down and informal strategies via social media, in order to build the necessary knowledge and skills in managing this pandemic. Training and awareness-raising strategies and programmes on communication between professionals and wider public is an emerging trend across health and social care systems in Europe and worldwide. It is therefore vital to encourage countries and regions to share their knowledge and experience in implementing these strategies and programmes.

The webinar is organised jointly with the Scirocco Exchange project and ECHAlliance as part of Scotland’s Digital Health Housing and Care Learning network event which will take place on 26-28 May 2021.

ECHAlliance Integrated Care Thematic Innovation Ecosystem has been set up to facilitate the sharing of good practices, exchanging ideas and gaining new knowledge. In collaboration with the EU Health Programme co-funded project SCIROCCO Exchange and Scottish Digital Health and Care Learning Network, the Ecosystem offers the opportunity to share the experience of Scotland and Lithuania in managing the communication and training strategies in response to COVID-19 crisis. Specifically, this knowledge exchange webinar will feature examples of:

  • Effective communication strategies
  • Training of healthcare professionals on the forms of communication
  • Training of citizens on the forms of communication
  • Healthcare literacy initiatives.

The outcomes of this webinar will inform about the objectives and aspirations of newly established Integrated Care Thematic Innovation Ecosystem and opportunities for collaboration. It will also help to gain the knowledge of other regions and countries in communicating the need for change in response to COVID-19 and accelerate the learning and potential adoption of this knowledge at local and regional levels.

Download the agenda here

Photo by Quino Al on Unsplash

Disclaimer “The content of this Webinar represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.”

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Mobility as a Service: low carbon mobility & improved accessibility

By

For the 2021-2027 programming period, digital transformation is in focus and the European Commission has recently launched the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy. The Chair of the AER Working Group on Transport & Mobility, Martin Tollén from Region Östergötland (SE) is pleased to invite AER members and partners to a webinar focusing on Mobility as a Service (MaaS).

Focus: Mobility as a Service (MaaS)

The aim of the webinar is to share experiences on the topic of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) from urban and rural perspectives, as well as from different geographical contexts.

The webinar will also provide an update on the European Commission’s New mobility strategy, the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) policy, and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF2) Digital programme. The information provided is linked to the Green Deal and the wider topic of digital transformation.

Draft Agenda & Presentations

10:00 Welcome words

Martin Tollén, Chair of the AER Working Group on Transports & Mobility
10:03 Update on transport & the digital transformation at EU-level

Ebba Bjerkander, EU Policy Advisor, Central Sweden European Office

Presentation
10:15 Examples of MaaS implementation in European regions

Moderation: Edwin Mermans, Senior advisor international affairs Province of Noord-Brabant

  • John Kuijs, Strategical advisor mobility Province of Noord-Brabant (NL) Presentation
  • Siri Vasshaug, Project Manager, Nordland (NO) Presentation
  • Jean Pascal Klipfel, Project Manager, Grand Est (FR) Presentation
  • Katarina Jonsson Bratu, Senior Adviser Sustainable Mobility, Östgötatrafiken, Östergötland (SE)
  • Sandra Viktor, Senior Environmental Officer, Linköping municipality (SE) Presentation
  • Eleonora Sottile, Senior Research Fellow presso CRiMM – Research Center On Mobility Models, Sardinia (IT) Presentation
  • Marko Javornik, Founder M8Lab, Ljubljana (SI) Presentation
11:15 Panel debate between regional representatives

  • MaaS, lessons learnt and success factors?
  • The role of public organisations in terms of development of concepts and governance?
  • How to apply a city model of MaaS in rural areas?
11:30  Conclusion

Have an Innovative Learning Practice? Share it at ‘Learning in the Age of Industry 4.0’ Conference!

By

The AER encourages its member regions to take an active part in “Learning in the Age of Industry 4.0.” This annual conference is organised by the European Association for Practitioner Research on Improving Learning (EAPRIL). Submit your proposal by 1st April!

As part of the Skillnet project, AER members have the opportunity to share innovative practices from their region at “Learning in the Age of Industry 4.0” that will take place from 23-26 November in Kufstein (Tyrol, AT).

About the Conference

The conference will provide a space for dialogue “on the opportunities provided through learning in the age of industry 4.0 and digitalisation in education.” Experts will discuss:

  • How digitalisation and new digital technologies can be applied to education and learning;
  • How and why modern technologies and methodologies in the age of industry 4.0 can cross/connect modern didactic concepts as well as types of education;
  • How the development of smart products and digitalisation are changing our societies, particularly in the demand for new job profiles and skills.

Read more about the scope of the conference here!

How to Contribute to the Conference

Researchers, experts, policymakers and other practitioners are invited to submit their proposals for contributing to the webinar by April 1st CEST. Final results will be communicated on May 20th and the presenter registration deadline is on September 16th 2021. The proposal should set out the topic (an innovative practice), title, abstract and keywords of your contribution.

The following submission formats are expected:  

  • Presentations and discussions: present research and findings in an in-depth manner
  • Symposia: present research on one topic, often from multiple perspectives, compiling a coherent set of papers for discussion
  • Posters: communicate the main ideas, objectives, results and conclusions of an ongoing research project
  • Workshops: interactive, collaborative session format that demonstrates the practical outcomes of a research project
  • Case studies: present a case from practice.
  • Roundtables: session focuses on unfinished or starting projects

For detailed information on the submission process, consult the general EAPRIL2021 submission guidelines. You are encouraged to contact the AER Project Unit if you would like us to officially support your application.

Submit your proposals via the link. You can also contact our Project Unit at [email protected] to get support for your project.

SUBMIT HERE!

Photo by Josefa nDiaz on Unsplash

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Are you developing a project in the tourism sector? Umbria is keen to join!

By

Are you currently developing a project proposal within the Cosme programme or are you planning to do so? Sviluppumbria, the Development Agency of Umbria (Italy), AER member region, is eager to join as a partner an established consortium and to input with their expertise.

About the call

This COSME action aims to promote entrepreneurship and improve the business environment for SMEs to allow them to realise their full potential in today’s global economy.

In particular, the call for proposals Innovation uptake and digitalisation in the tourism sector (COS-TOURINN-2020-3-04) focuses on supporting the digital transformation of tourism entrepreneurs, particularly SMEs and start-ups, and enhance innovation along the tourism value chain, through the integration of tourism businesses and stakeholders in transnational and inter-regional innovation ecosystems as well as territorial partnerships and cooperation.

About SVILUPPUMBRIA

Sviluppumbria is the regional agency that supports Umbria’s competitiveness and economic growth, one of the AER member regions placed at the heart of Italy.

In particular, Sviluppumbria would like to join a partnership in the framework of COS-TOURINN-2020-3-04 – “Innovation uptake and digitalisation in the tourism sector”, and share experience and know-how for designing a successful project in order to improve the digitalization in the sector of tourism. Umbria is characterized by a combination of large enterprises and clusters of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and can boast a close network in the tourism sector.
Moreover, Sviluppumbria has participated with success in previous European projects in the sector of tourism with the role of lead partner as for the SHARE project – Sustainable approach to Cultural Heritage for the urban Areas Requalification in Europe within the Interreg Europe programme, which aimed at exchanging experiences in cultural heritage policies in urban settings, and developing a sustainable and smart approach to its management.

If you are interested in having the team from SVILUPPUMBRIA on board, don’t hesitate to contact the AER Project Unit by 22 December 2020!

For more information contact:

Agnese Pantaloni, European Projects Coordinator[email protected]

Photo by Sterling Lanier from Unsplash

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Digital Health, Wellbeing and Smart Specialisation

By

On November 18th, the AER Digital Health Network hosted the webinar Digital Health, Wellbeing, and Smart Specialisation.

The webinar was moderated by Donna Henderson, Chair of AER Digital Health Network. It showcased the experiences of two AER in supporting the development of digital solutions that underpin healthy living and foster collaboration between the public sector, universities, civil organisations, entrepreneurs and businesses.

Kenneth Johannesson, Vice President for Health Innovation of the AER Committee on Social Policy and Public Health opened the webinar by stating that new forms of innovation in digitalisation are necessary to offer more proactive, personal, patient well-being oriented and cost-effective care.

The benefits provided by the digitalisation of services, he explained, such as virtual visits, patient portals, electronic medical records, early disease detection, and better management of chronic conditions contribute to increasing patients’ safety and deployong a competitive healthcare system.

What to do?
Place-based approaches and International Collaboration!

Anders Olsson, Manager of Research and Innovation at the Värmland Department of Regional Growth (SE), noted how the model to foster Smart Specialisation Strategies and the collaboration with the University of Karlstad are instrumental for the regional’ innovation system development.

Existing regional assets are tested, managed, developed, and used to create valuable services for users and society:

  • Forest-based bio-economy specialisation derives from the region’s strong production of paper, packaging, and tissue.
  • The competitive position in testing and developing complex IT systems and the funds given for 10 years from the national innovation authority INNOVA are strong assets for the development of the Digitalisation of Welfare services
  • The high-quality steel industry present in the region allows the support of the Advanced Manufacturing & Complex Systems sector

Mr. Olson stressed the importance of the cooperation agreement with the Karlstad Academy for Smart Specialisation which transforms and renews the private and public sector in Värmland and strengthens research and education across the Universities.

In line with the Sustainable Development Goals, the new ambition is a well-developed and safe IT environment where the focus is on the human aspect, through testing services with real users, and designing new and better solutions.


Linda Murray, Director of Strategy at Scottish Enterprise then presented Scotland’s broad innovation ecosystem, which brings together government, universities, institutions, civil societies groups, innovation centres, and small-medium enterprises, as well as some more local actors through a joined-up approach.

The priority in light of the Brexit, she noted, is to foster even more international cross-agency collaborations and sustainable linkages between regional innovation ecosystems to develop an inclusive, fair, sustainable, and self-reliant economy and develop new innovative solutions. 

Scotland has contributed to the work on Smart Specialisation in Europe from an early stage and plays a lead role in 3 pilot projects of the Vanguard initiative – a platform where European partners can work to deliver shared aspirations for smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth.

Ms. Murray stressed the importance of continuing to influence an open environment because Regional innovation ecosystems can and do develop solutions for significant common societal challenges while improving international competitiveness.

How can be achieved an innovative Digital Health ecosystem?

Magnus Bårdén, Process Leader at the innovation cluster DigitalWell Arena, Region Värmland, Sweden, presented the process of how to establish a trusty ecosystem that creates innovative digital health services.

In this context, the Swedish innovation agency VINNOVA started the programme VINNVÄXT which brings together the public sector, stakeholders, and different service research centers, to establish a health arena by creating, developing, and testing innovative digital health services.

We have to test, before we invest!

Mr. Bårdén, explained the importance of using an approach based on user perspective to build competence for innovation on health and wellbeing focused on individual’s need. In this context, the health arena in Värmland concentrates the activities in a smaller community, by testing new, digital, and innovative ways of ensuring an equal, safe, and inclusive health ecosystem.

Let’s shift the balance of care!

Prof George Crooks, CEO, Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre, Glasgow, sets out the approach that refocuses the balance of care and mobilise innovative digital health services, especially in the post-pandemic.

The collaboration with the Scottish government has allowed identifying the key priorities where concentrates more efforts through an innovation process model based on a partnership of collaboration. In this context, joining the forces in co-designing new ways of developing, testing, and sharing innovative digital health services is instrumental to achieve the best outcomes.

Prof Crooks, therefore, presented the Demonstration & Simulation Environment as a best practice from the region, a physical platform where exchange, experience, learn and create new ways to support preventive, co-managed, and predictive care.

The concept behind is to allow citizens to be empowered to access services at their own term and be the point of data integration, to achieve it, solutions need to be flexible to develop digital tools focusing the balance of care to prevention, detection, and independent living.

Watch backClick here
AgendaClick here to download
Contact[email protected]




Photo by LinkedIn Sales Navigator from Pexels

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Join the webinar on “New mobility services: Anticipating skills and job roles”

By

The Assembly of European Regions is glad to contribute to Skillman International Forum by hosting the webinar “New mobility services: Anticipating skills and job roles”, organised within the Skillnet project co-funded by Erasmus+ Programme. The webinar will take place online on the 11th of December, 11:15 – 12:15 CET. 

The event is part of the Skillnet series of 18 webinars designed to bring together experts in different fields linked to vocational education and training (VET), with the purpose of establishing relevant groups of collaboration and partnerships for future EU project proposals.

The webinar will highlight regional examples on the integration of new mobility services and the development of skills and job roles needed in the sector. 

New mobility services are offering solutions to today’s growing challenges in terms of congestion, lack of space, growing population, air quality, noise, social inclusion, health, economic development, and the creation of jobs. These solutions require skilled and adaptable individuals who are able to drive and support change. However, there is a growing skills shortage in the mobility services sector which could seriously delay the development of the services and hurt customers’ expectations. 

Thus it is required to look into new skills for the future workforce but also opportunities realized through reskilling the workforce. In that context, the webinar aims to bridge the gap between the skills and job roles needed for the new mobility services sector and the workforce.  

To this end, the event aims to:

  • Highlight the relevance of EU funding opportunities and European cooperation in bridging the skills’ gap in the new mobility services sector 
  • Share good practices about how regions and local companies can foster the relevant skills in the population
  • Boost a network of cross-sectoral experts interested in the new mobility services that can be applied for future EU funding opportunities.

Important: How to join the webinar?

Only one registration is given for all the events within the Skillman International Forum (SIF). Hence, to join the event, you have to register to Skillman International Forum and participants will be re-directed from the plenary (main room) to the various sessions in the course the event through break-out rooms.

If you cannot attend the whole SIF, you may access the event at least 15 minutes before the beginning of the webinar “New Mobility Services: Anticipating Skills and Job Roles” (starting time: 11:15 am) so that you can be re-directed to the session.

After registration, you will receive the email with the list of separate sessions among which you have to choose 23 AER – PAVILLION d2.

REGISTER HERE

This webinar is organised as part of the SKILLNET series of webinar on EU funding opportunities. SKILLNET is a project funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission aiming to strengthen the Vocational Education and Training (VET) system’s role and capacity to design high-quality VET programmes tailored to current societal needs through enhanced transnational and cross-sectoral partnerships.

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

DigiFest2020: the health innovation festival you shouldn’t miss!

By

The AER Digital Health Network is pleased to invite you to Digital Health & Care Event – DigiFest2020, Scotland’s largest annual digital health and care event is back and for the first time will be delivered virtually!

What’s the Festival about?

Digital health and care solutions have had a year of rapid scale-up and development. Taking time to reflect and learn about how digital solutions in Scotland and internationally have grown and been adopted is the focus of this year’s DigiFest.   

2020 has been a challenging year for everyone and for staff working to innovate and deliver person-centred services. Digital tools, services and approaches have had a higher profile than ever before and are recognised as making a key contribution to delivering health and care services going forward. 

DigiFest2020 will be an opportunity to reflect on our experiences and explore key developments with contributions from Scotland, the wider UK, and international colleagues.  

Details

Date1-11 December 2020
VenueVirtual event via Hopin 
CostFree of charge
HandoutProgramme key themes
Contact[email protected]
Register here!

Your registration will be valid for the whole duration of the festival and you can attend any sessions you wish once the event is live. When you register, you will be prompted to update your profile. This will help you get the most out of the interactive experience. If you’d like to know more about how to attend a virtual event on Hopin, please watch this short tutorial (2 minutes). 

#DigiCare4Scot
@DigiCare4Scot 
@TECScotland 

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Join the Digital Health Network!

By

The Digital Health Network provides a platform for AER regions to learn from each other on this very current topic. It is open to all regions willing to improve their digital health strategies. Regions will share their experiences, knowledge, and resources that support the effective deployment of digital health solutions within their regional healthcare systems. The Digital Health Network is chaired by Scotland.

Transforming health & care

The digital transformation of health and care requires further action in these areas:

  • citizen’s secure access to and sharing of health data across borders;
  • better data to advance research, disease prevention and personalised health and care;
  • digital tools for citizen empowerment and person-centred care.

Exchange of knowledge & experiences

The exchange of knowledge is crucial to support the implementation and sustainable transformation of digitally enabled health and care services.  The Digital Health Network will:

  • Provide knowledge exchange opportunities for AER regions working to implement digital health.
  • Promote relevant policies to advance the implementation of digital health for all citizens.
  • Share good practices in the use of digital health in response to key health and care challenges for regions. 
  • Recognise the diversity of regions and identify key lessons from their different approaches to digital health.
  • Develop our shared understanding of how digital health can support increased citizen participation in and self-management of their own health and wellbeing.
  • Identify key events, in which members of the Digital Health Network will participate, to promote and raise awareness of the Network’s activities.

Network Activities for 2020-21

After the success of events such as the breakfast seminar on innovation in healthcare design, and the mutual learning event on ‘Digital Transformation in Healthcare: Regional Perspective for Integrated Care’ at Smart City Expo in 2019, The Digital Health Network is organising a series of new activities for 2020-21

The proposed activities being planned for the Network in 2020 – 2021 are outlined in the roadmap below. These activities will be a blend of online and in-person events and will be planned and coordinated with the full participation and support from AER regions.

Proposed knowledge exchange topics for 2020-21

  • Digital health tools in the response to COVID-19: lessons learned from AER regions and plans for the future
    • digital health tools to support recovery and rehabilitation: focus on physical rehabilitation
    • digital health tools to support recovery: focus on mental health and well being
  • Regions experience in citizen participation approaches to deliver sustainable digital health services
  • Capacity building to support the implementation of digital health

For more information on the upcoming activities of the AER Digital Health Network and to join the network, visit the Digital Health Network’s webpage

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Webinar: integrated care in remote and rural areas

By

The AER Digital Health Network is pleased to invite you to a webinar organised on 8 September 2020 14:00-15:00 CET in the context of the Scirocco Exchange project Delivering integrated care in remote and rural areas: Sharing the experience

Acknowledging differences between regions

The significance of integrated care as a means for improving health outcomes, effectiveness and sustainability of health and care systems is widely acknowledged. It is a central element in many on-going or planned healthcare system reforms, however, it is important to recognise that the regions and countries in Europe are experiencing different progress and levels of maturity for integration. This is particularly the case of delivering integrated health and care services in remote and rural areas.

Sharing experiences: Slovenia & the Basque Country

The objective of this webinar is to learn and exchange experience of two European regions Basque country and Slovenia in delivering integrated care services in remote and rural areas. It will be a practical opportunity to discuss what innovative actions and activities should be prioritised in these regions in order to improve their capacities for delivering the integrated care services in these areas. 

A tool to assess the situation in any territory

In addition, the webinar will feature how SCIROCCO Exchange tool* for integrated care as one of the capacity-building tools can help to facilitate learning and understanding of organisational maturity and readiness for integration. The Tool helps users to identify the maturity and local context enabling the adoption of integrated care. The Tool has been validate through EU Health Programme funded project SCIROCCO (www.scirocco-project.eu) and further refined and improved in SCIROCCO Exchange project (www.sciroccoexchange.com). 

The outcomes of this webinar will inform us about the existing opportunities and tools supporting the capacity of health and social care authorities for integrated care.  

* To access SCIROCCO Exchange tool for integrated care: https://scirocco-exchange-tool.inf.ed.ac.uk/en_gb/

Preliminary agenda

14.00 Welcome and Introduction Nessa Barry, Scottish Government
14.05xxxxxxxxxMaturity assessment for integrated care Dr Andrea Pavlickova, Scottish Government
14.15Delivering integrated health and care services in remote and rural areas in the Basque Country Jon Txarramendieta, Kronikgune, Basque Country
14.30Delivering integrated health and care services in remote and rural areas in Slovenia Andreja Rafaelič, Social Protection Institute of the Republic of Slovenia (IRSSV)
14.45Facilitated discussion Nessa Barry, Scottish Government
14.55Conclusive remarks Nessa Barry, Scottish Government Dr Andrea Pavlickova, Scottish Government

Registration

The webinar is open to all and free of charge, please register here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/sciroccoexchange/411924

Photo by Damien DUFOUR Photographie on Unsplash

Disclaimer
“The content of this Webinar represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.”

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

EYE2020: Youth Mobility & COVID-19

By

The European Youth Event (EYE2020) is a major event at the European Parliament (EP) aiming to stimulate and involve active citizenship amongst young Europeans. It takes place every two years, but unfortunately, this year has been postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

In its stead, the European Parliament has organised a special online edition, with a variety of activities in digital format!

On the 26 May 2020, a webinar on the impact of the COVID-19 on youth mobility was held. A very topical issue, considering that since the start of the crisis international mobility exchanges haven been completely stopped. Several mobility programmes have been suspended or have had to strictly adapt to the continuously changing conditions. Eurodyssey, AER’s youth mobility programme has not been exempt from this wave.

Youth mobility was severely disrupted by the borders closures and by governmentally imposed travel bans. The sweeping measures to curb COVID19 left a very low margin to reinvent mobility, however, new forms arise thanks to the myriad opportunities that technology offers us.

The speakers included: Leonie Martin, President of JEF Europe; Miranda Zavrou, Secretary of Events at YEU Cyprus; Floor van Houdt, Head of Unit, DG EAC, European Commission; Daniela Fellinger, Coordinator, Development Committee Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations moderated by Andrea Casamenti, Board Member of the European Youth Forum. They reflected on different approaches to mobility in times of COVID-19 and shared some good examples.

Miranda pointed out that one of the very practical problems they faced, when mobility is still possible, is the increased price in flight tickets. In fact, what characterises this period for mobility is the high degree of uncertainty. This uncertainty leads to frustration for many volunteers and participants active in mobility programs, dividing them into two categories: on the one hand, those who want to return home and, on the other hand, those who do not want to give up the experience. So it is important to balance these different needs. She also highlighted the potential of digital tools, as, despite their sceptical first thought in moving workshops in an online mode, in the end, they reached even more people and increased the audience diversity.

Explore the full potential of digital tools!

Daniela stressed out the problem of the administration costs for the managing organisations following the cancellation or postponement of the mobility programmes. Despite projects being suspended, the costs derived from assisting the participants stuck abroad in mobility persist or become even higher. It is therefore important to prevent any cut of the funding available to mitigate such costs. She also expressed the positive impact of the digital tools on their programme “Work Camps” they turned it out to an online version to keep the intercultural exchange. As a result, they got an unexpected amount of responsiveness from different organisations.

Leonie drew attention on the importance of assessing whether the affected project can be turned out in an online version at the very initial step of the activity planning. She also raised concerns about the difficulties in stimulating the European identity in this context.

On this point, Floor briefly presented what the DG for Education and Culture has done to respond to these uncertain scenarios. First of all, they implement the maximum flexibility possible in the framework of the program and the legal normative. For instance, guidance to Erasmus+ National Agencies was issued in order for the actors concerned to invoke the “force majeure” clauses. This also allows to prevent additional costs up and postpone the planned activities by up to 12 months.

Leonie suggested to the organisations in charge of mobility programs to invest in software that can allow further interaction between mobility stakeholders in view of the post-COVID 19 scenarios. Daniela presented a good practice of speedy information exchange as regards the measures implemented in the different countries within the network of the Alliance. She also spotlighted that one of the things they learned from this situation is that uncertainties can lead to creativity. Floor agreed on this point and underlined that young people are widely known for being a source of creativity.

Lessons for the future …

Miranda agreed on the need to learn from the situation and expressed satisfaction for having transformed some threats into learning opportunities. In the future, she suggests adopting a risk management approach to ensure resilience and flexibility when planning activities. It is also very important to exploit the full potential of digital tools by investing in innovative methodologies. Another key point for the post-COVID19 is to consider using more blended activities in mobility in order to better combine online with offline methodologies.

Daniela warned about the pros and cons of online activities. On the positive side, you can include more disadvantaged youth who live in remote areas. By contrast, it is more difficult to keep them motivated and active from the distance.

Floor furthered developped this point stating that it is key to acknowledge that not all young people have universal access to digital tools and devices. The European Commission is working in this direction to allow for wider access to digital platforms.

See below a practical guide with 10 tips for mobility programmes downloadable HERE.

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

AAL Call: Healthy Ageing with the Support of Digital Solutions

By

Have you heard about the latest AAL Call for Healthy Ageing with the Support of Digital Solutions? If not, read this article to learn more!

The call was launched by the Active and Assisted Living (AAL) Programme. It aims to support better quality of life for older people and to strengthen industrial opportunities while ensuring the sustainability of our health systems.

The AAL Programme funds projects that work towards creating market-ready products and services for older people. Each project consists of SMEs, research bodies and end-user organisations.

The current AAL Call is titled “Healthy Ageing with the Support of Digital Solutions”. Applications must be submitted before 24th August 2020 at 17:00 CET. The call aims at supporting innovative, transnational and multi-disciplinary collaborative projects.

Project proposals should demonstrate a clear route to market and added-value for the different types of end-users. The wishes and aspirations of older adults in combination with the demands from the other stakeholders involved – e.g. providers and payers – will have a critical role in shaping useful and attractive AAL solutions with high market potential.

You can find national eligibility criteria here.

Two types are projects can be funded through this AAL Call: “Collaborative Projects” and “Small Collaborative Projects”.

Collaborative Projects must be carried out by consortia composed of at least three organisations from three different countries including an end-user organisation and a business partner. Projects must aim at developing and bringing to market ICT solutions. These solutions must be included in the following AAL domains: Active Living, such as in work & training, for vitality & abilities, in leisure & culture, for information & communication, as well as for Assisted Living, such as in health & care, living & building, mobility & transport, safety & security.

Proposals are expected to be user-driven through co-creation and address a specified challenge. Collaborative Projects will remain the main funding tool for this call. This type of projects has a duration of 12 to 30 months with maximum funding of €2,500,000.

Small Collaborative Projects must last between 6 and 9 months, have a maximum co-funding budget of €300,000, a leaner application and reporting procedures. The main objective of the small collaborative projects is the exploration of new ideas, concepts and approaches for ICT-based solutions for older adults. They should reach out to new stakeholders for inclusion in (future) development of AAL solutions, build strong collaborations with end-user organisations, support community building with new customers and create shared agendas.

You can read the full Call text here and visit the Call page here for further information.

In case you are thinking to apply for this Call, AER Project Unit can liaise you with potential partners that could join your consortium.

In addition, do not miss the opportunity to join the AAL Forum 2021, the annual event for the community of healthy ageing to discuss opportunities in health technology and reflect on the future of ageing well in the digital world. You could even be part of this event by applying to the call for workshops by 26 June 2020.

Photo by Matthew Bennett on Unsplash

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Library

Statutory Documents
AER Strategies
Minutes
Media Kit
Activity Reports
Newsletters
European Regions Map

Join AER!

Become a Member

Job Opportunities

Sign up for our Newsletter

Website map