The digital revolution has transformed the way people play, access information, communicate and learn. To meet these challenges this project aims at helping VET providors to use technology in new and innovative ways to support SMEs in digital transborder entrepreneurship readiness. At the same time, we explore possibilities to find new pedagogical ways to tackle 21st century challenges, promote peer learning across education systems transnationally and catalyse the development of indispensable transversal competencies i.e. problem solving, collaboration and creativity). The EU will increase its support for digital transformation in the coming years, as illustrated by the recent proposal for the Digital Europe programme (for 2021-2027) – which would be the first ever funding programme dedicated solely to supporting digital transformation in the EU. Relevant to the European cooperation on vocational education and training (VET), “it has been further enhanced by the Bruges Communiqué and the Riga Conclusions. EU institutions, Member states, candidate and European Economic Area countries, social partners and European VET providers have agreed on a set of deliverables for the period 2015-2020, which amongst others is to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship.” However, the majority of SMEs kept strugling with the difficulties of adjust to a new world situation. In the same way, the SMEs sector was one of the most affected sector with a drastic reduction of its activities and a huge financial impact. But if the pandemic situation has shown the lack of flexibility and readiness of the entrepreneurial ecosystem to react fast, it also open an opportunity to boost cross sectoral collaborations and improve the innovation processes inside companies Objectives The aim of the project is to raise awareness on effective of digital transborder entrepreneurship among employees of chambers of commerce, regional development agencies, local authorities and centres for entrepreneurship development, but also VET teachers, trainers and mentors. To achieve the aim, 2 intellectual outputs will be produced: IO1: Guide on Digital transborder Entrepreneurship strategies in business environment The DigiER training chapters consist of the following proposed chapters, which are perceived as the most contemporary training module titles to date: 1. Cultural differences in negotiating, signing and respecting contracts among EU countries; 2. Digital tax systems in Europe; 3. AR for eCommerce; 4. eCommerce Marketing Automation; 5. Effective cashless payment methods for business in European countries; IO2 DigiER mobile application for entrepreneurs DigiER mobile app will ensure personalized training pathways by initially testing the knowledge and awareness of digital transborder entrepreneurship among entrepreneurs and startupers. The DigiER mobile application will also elaborate a personalised strategy for the entrepreneurs and startupers to be able to address the weak points and empower its approach to digital transborder entrepreneurship. Target Groups Direct target group are: employees of chambers of commerce, regional development agencies, local authorities and centres for entrepreneurship development, VET teachers, trainers and mentors. Indirect target group are: SMEs, entrepreneurs and start uppers. The Erasmus+ Results Platform was consulted in order to see if similar initiatives were undertaken (or are ongoing). As it was expected, there are many projects that tackle the entrepreneurship aspects from different perspectives. This is in line with the current trends on the labour market. What was easy to see is that some of other initiatives are either general or directed to a completely different target group. The project is able to offer innovative way for start-ups providing and development. Project will develop tools to offer new information, new knowledge, which will be transferred by ICT tools. Methods proposed by DigiER project are innovative – we would like to equip the people with knowledge, skills and help them to be able to gather the competences in start-ups detailed issues. Project partners have experience in start-up management, collaborate with SMEs and cooperate with chambers of commerce. In fact the DigiER Consortium is built up by three chambers of commerce, two SMEs, and one non-profit association working with the target groups. The project results will be developed, tested, exploited and sustained by key actors and among representatives of the Consortium.
The project aims to raise awareness of the effectiveness of digital cross-border entrepreneurship among the employees of chambers of commerce, the regional development agencies, the local authorities and business development centers, but also the teachers, the trainers and the mentors of vocational education and training. The project offers the innovative methods of training new skills and the transfer of knowledge in the creation and development of cross-border business. Indeed, the digital revolution has changed the way people access information, communicate and work. To address these challenges, the project aims to help VET providers use technology in a new and innovative way to support SMEs in the new cross-border digital reality.
The project and the innovative solutions that have been developed within the framework of the project have been created with the SME sector in mind, with the aim of strengthening cross-border business. Indeed, digitalization is one of the most important factors influencing today's market. Thus, the project promotes the good practices in the implementation of solutions that facilitate the presence of SMEs in the digital domain and e-commerce in the European market. The development of technological competence promotes the dynamic expansion of SMEs. For many entrepreneurs, however, it can be a difficult test of strength in the terms of digital adaptation. Often the decision to digitally transformation is a market "to be or not to be." The lack of knowledge and skills can result in the reduction of business and the financial losses. The results of the project are aimed at the raising of competence in the digital cross-border entrepreneurship. Thus, they can increase the chances of survival in a changing economic reality. The solutions themselves have transnational application and can be applied to all sectors of the economy. The legitimacy of the implementation of the topic is confirmed by studies that indicate the lack of the educational support for SMEs and start-ups in the subject area. The project therefore responds to real needs.