The SME 4.0 Competence Centre eStandards will continue to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their digitalisation projects with eStandards for another two years. The second funding phase from August will focus on new key topics. These include: Sustainability, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and platform economy.
The numerous new measures will be implemented by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) with funding totalling around 5.7 million euros. Particularly in the wake of the coronavirus crisis Digitisation push In small and medium-sized enterprises, supporting digitalisation projects with eStandards is becoming increasingly important. Not least because of this, SMEs will be able to face such crises with greater resilience in the future.
Successful first project term
Over the past three years, the SME 4.0 Competence Centre eStandards has been able to Reach more than 14,000 companies directly. In the open workshops in Cologne, Hagen and Leipzig alone, SMEs can experience digitalisation solutions with eStandards live on site - as a kind of Digitalisation you can touch.
With best practices, fact sheets, the SME toolbox and the eKurier, it has succeeded in raising awareness of digitalisation with eStandards among a total of 11,000 companies. In addition, comprehensive public relations work has achieved a reach of millions. The result: 53 Practical projects for digitalisation with eStandards have so far been accompanied across all sectors.
Additional focus on new technologies
The eStandards competence centre is expanding its range of topics to ensure that small and medium-sized companies are optimally prepared for digitalisation in the future. Right at the forefront: Artificial intelligence. Specially trained AI trainers are deployed at the individual locations for this purpose. In addition to implementation projects, they utilise a wide range of support services, demonstrators and information materials to make companies fit for AI.
Further themed highlights are the Platform economy and the Blockchain technology. The potential of these new technologies for business models for small and medium-sized enterprises is to be analysed and further developed.
Sustainability in vogue
The second major focus is sustainability. This trending topic offers numerous opportunities for SMEs in particular to differentiate and distinguish itself from the competition. Events are planned on the topics of sustainability and digitalisation, and communication will focus on these topics. Technology comparisons, innovative energy concepts and the Use of Green Process Management in implementation projects rounds off the portfolio. In this context New Work and Design Thinking play an important role in product development.
Collaborative projects: even stronger together
In future, more and more Network implementation projects - SMEs and large companies - along the value chain. Particularly in the Secure data exchange via blockchain or when sharing 3D printers, companies will increasingly work together in the future.
„We are delighted with the trust and confirmation of our work. We also take the positive feedback as motivation to expand our wide range of services for the digitalisation of SMEs and make them fit for the future. We can hardly wait to approach more entrepreneurs and support them in taking their digitalisation to the next level, especially in these challenging times.“ Bettina Bartz, Head of the Mittelstand 4.0 Competence Centre eStandards.
All information about the Mittelstand 4.0 competence centre eStandards is available to interested parties from small and medium-sized enterprises on the Website.
Source: Mittelstand 4.0 competence centre eStandards
