The project aimed to support civil servants in the use and potential of emerging digital technologies, including virtual reality, augmented reality and the metaverse. The main objectives were to strengthen digital skills within the public sector, contributing to its ongoing digital transition, while promoting innovation and improving accessibility to public services. The project sought to encourage municipalities to explore how these technologies could improve their services, address societal challenges and increase citizen involvement. The consortium achieved this by providing civil servants with the necessary tools to understand the evolving framework of digital and immersive technologies, thus also adapting their level of digital competence in their daily work. One of the objectives was to deconstruct digital resistance by providing clear and reliable information. Embracing change and understanding the different aspects of technologies enabled the creation of a culture of digital responsibility and preparedness.
MEDIUM was developed to address the need for digital transformation of the public sector, particularly considering the growing importance of immersive technologies such as virtual reality and the metaverse. These technologies are expected to become an important tool in the near future and, although they present some challenges and concerns, they are also powerful tools that can be used to promote innovation and social inclusion. However, there is currently still a low level of awareness when it comes to digital skills and, specifically, innovative tools such as virtual reality and the metaverse. The project directly addresses the need to support civil servants in developing the necessary skills to understand and use these technologies in their work, thus fostering more inclusive and participatory processes within their local communities. By training civil servants in the use of immersive technologies and empowering them to co-create innovative solutions that meet local needs and improve citizen participation in decision-making processes, as well as facilitate the use of public services, thus bridging the gap between public institutions and citizens.