Innovative solutions are often combined with companies operating in the modern technologies industry, highly automated production companies or start-ups launching products and services based on the latest research and discoveries. Meanwhile, the market is dominated by companies offering traditional solutions that do not show, at first glance, the perspective of transformation towards broadly understood innovations. The belief in the lack of development opportunities by implementation of significant changes in traditional businesses is the reason for the stagnation, shrinkage and even the collapse of many SMEs in Europe. Traditional companies are enterprises operating in industries that have been operating on the market for several dozen or even several hundred years, e.g. agriculture, forestry, construction, gastronomy and hotel industry, education, legal or accounting activities, as well as the activities of libraries, archives, museums and various types of transport services. The degree of their modernity and approach to the implementation of innovation often opposes modern industries related to broadly understood digitalisation and based mostly on the latest knowledge, such as IT, IoT, AI, AR, VR, drone industry, telemedicine or even hydroponics in favor of these others, of course. Although effective combinations of innovations with traditional services or products, such as thermoactive clothing, on-line food stores, train simulators or foot scanners in shoe stores are already well known, entrepreneurs' willingness to develop towards new technologies is still small. The reason may be the lack of awareness of existing solutions and technological possibilities. The goal of the project is to develop a strategy for promoting innovation in such business, that could be implemented by business environment organisations.

"<< Objectives >>The project implementation is aimed at strategic strengthening of the educational brand ""GIGAnt Youth Center of Excellence"". With the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, we entered a deep economic recession that will affect the trends in professions for years. This coincides with the climate changes and so-called The European Green Deal. We want to get ready to support youth in these difficult years, making it easier to understand changes and interpret economic knowledge in future career choices.<< Implementation >>""Small-scale partnership"" will be used to carry out extensive, substantive work on a new educational game for youth. The path to the final solution will require analyzes on several levels: existing games, business models, climate change areas with strong links to economic activity. In a creative process, we will transform the collected knowledge into game mechanics, which in the next operation will be tested in the youth environment.<< Results >>We expect two main results: 1. A professional tool for informal youth education - we want to create an educational game combining aspects of the economy of enterprises and business models with the problem of climate change. 2. Permanent and proven international partnership - we want to confirm the high quality of the created partnership and learn to work together in the future. Therefore, we want the project to change institutions and open the perspective of practical education for youth."

<< Objectives >>The TWIN 4.0 main aim is to boost the capacity of manufacturing SMEs for twin transition by equipping them with comprehensive training and thus raise their awareness on the need of this transition.The specific objectives are to:+enable manufacturing SMEs to adopt a sustainable approach towards digitalisation;+create prerequisites for boosting green, digital skills & competencies of manufacturing SMEs’ staff;+strengthen VET–business collaboration with regards to supporting twin transition;<< Implementation >>The project implementation phase is structured in five work packages (WPs): project management; dissemination and exploitation and three WPs focused on the development of the project core results. Each of the result-oriented WPs follows identical stages: 1)Planning stage2)Research and Development stage3)Validation of quality through testing with target groups4)Refinement & Finalization<< Results >>The project objectives are directly linked to the 3 main results that TWIN 4.0 project will aim to produce, as follows:R1: TWIN 4.0 environmental impact audit tool R2: TWIN 4.0 transition training course R3: TWIN 4.0 transition guidelines for VET providersThe expected impact of the TWIN 4.0 results application will be raised awareness and boosted capacity for twin transition of the manufacturing industry.

<< Background >>For many people, digital working became a reality, especially last year through on-the-job training during the pandemic. Students were home-schooled,companies and offices operated in distance working. However, unemployed (young) people, school leavers at the transition to work, not embedded in a supportive institutional framework, widely missed this capacity building opportunity.They now need to become familiarised with forms of new digital professional life, as dealing with these new digital job realities is assumed by potential employers.<< Objectives >>This project aims to close precisely this gap of digital divide during job onboarding for vulnerable target groups, especially young unemployed people without academic educational backgrounds. Together with partners from Cyprus, Finland, Italy and Czech Republic theAustrian lead FH JOANNEUM, University of Applied Sciences, plans to develop a training program and evaluate its application within the frame of work-related sustainability projects. These projects, having both strong relations to sustainability, digitalisation and innovation, which are defined by the participants during the training under the supervision of partner Fondazione Fenice Onolus are an important part of the training for several reasons: First, in order to practice what they have learned in the course modules, second to support self-management and independent and team work, third as basic sustainability knowledge is now also a must in every job profile – not only because of the Green New Deal wave.<< Implementation >>The activities in the project will be1) Study to get the big picture about the situation in the partner countries2) Development of a training course to make young people fit for the digital job market3) Run the training with at least 40-60 participants4) Conduct five multiplier events to inform our target groups including multipliers5) Dissemination of information and discussions about the project in our national and international networks, offline and online6) Secure long-term use of project results by anchoring them in several ways also beyond the consortium and the partner countries<< Results >>The following major results are planned: 1. A study on (new) digital professional life and the current situation at working places,the needs of employers and employees, available as White Paper 2. Curricula and content for a training program targeted especially at the 18- to 25-year-old unemployed youth consisting of 5 modules: a. Digital Tools b. New forms of work and work organisation c. Personal work life d. Professional social responsibility in social media e. Security aspectsHere we want to add significant resources with this innovative, multi-disciplinary, combined approach, that is – compared to other initiatives - not only focusing on the technical digital skills, but aiming to support a smart and “healthy” digital transformation. Healthy for humans and for the planet, with a view on all relevant aspects: the technology, the context, self-management, legal and ethical and security aspects, sustainability, theory and practice. 3. Implementation in the form of eLearning with links to physical learning (blended learning), suitable for learning at home but also in the context of the workplace. 4. Training program successfully applied by 10–15 young people in four partner countries during 12-16 weeks work-related sustainability projects with a weekly workload of 10–15 hours Dissemination measures such as a website and platform, social media activities, multiplier events (1 per country with approx. 50 participants), networking and publications as well as conference participation will expand the number of young people enrolled in the training at least once by the end of the project to a total of around 300 and other people personally and provenly reached in principle to around 600.

<< Background >>Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are considered one of the main causes of Earth’s climate change. Transport is Europe’s biggest source of CO2, responsible for the emission of over a quarter of all greenhouse gases. Transport emissions have increased by a quarter since 1990 in the EU increasing at its fastest pace since 2001. Mobility policies must play a decisive role in contributing to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the commitments of decarbonization and better air quality. Providing more sustainable forms of mobility can also make an important contribution to mitigating climate change.However, policy focuses have essentially been put on the major urban centres, forgetting mobility between urban and rural areas and mobility within rural areas. Rural areas present specific challenges such as the low density of population (and fast depopulation), the long distances between towns, the ageing of the population, higher poverty rates and in many occasions bad connections with airports /railway /road nodes.Recent studies shows that mobility is behind the high average of CO2 emissions attributed to citizens in rural areas compared with urban residents. This comparison is not only unfair (based on the lack of public transport and inadequate calculating methods), but it is also very dangerous for rural communities that might see how public financing mechanisms based on green indicators will give priority to other areas. An adequate sustainable mobility scenario in rural areas will facilitate the possibility to access work, education or services and can make an important contribution to mitigating climate change and depopulation. Smart mobility strategies and technological tools will help rural communities to design and implement new solutions. Rural mobility can be a key component to other economic, social, tourism or environmental improvements by increasing the connectivity of rural areas.Therefore, It is urgent to act towards a more reliable and efficient mobility in rural areas in Europe.Any initiative for the development, revitalization or organization of the territory must start from a careful programming. The rural development agents are the professional who know the techniques and tools to program, plan and help the community to manage and make its resources profitable. That is why training in sustainable mobility for these professionals is the basis for the implementation of new sustainable mobility models in rural areas. This Project will develop a practical and dynamic training program on mobility solutions and training platform for rural development agents. The training will be available in the e-platform also for the general public. The project will also set the basis for the development of a curriculum for an agent for rural mobility in Europe.<< Objectives >>The objectives of this project are: I.Promoting efficient and sustainable rural mobility and the uptake of new mobility strategies and technologies in rural areas (through developing an innovative course and platform on efficient rural mobility for rural development agents)II.Capitalise and promote the use of digital tools and new technologies for mobility in rural areas III.Elaborate on a framework to set the basis of a European curriculum for rural mobility agentsIV.Creation of a cooperative network for the promotion of policies and initiatives for rural mobility Although the long-term beneficiaries of this project are all the citizens from rural areas, the main public objective of this project and of the training are the rural development agents working in municipalities, association of towns, provinces and local action groups.Rural development agents are technicians are a key element to transfer to rural societies the tools and knowledge to use more efficient transport means. These professionals will benefit directly from the training of the project and will acquire new competences and tools for their daily tasks. These agents also asses local decision makers and therefore have a valuable influence for the potential improvement of mobility at local levelLocal and regional authorities are another target group of the project, they will be involved through partners in project validation activities and multiplier events. Project partners currently collaborates actively with different municipalities and regions in the participating countries and have direct access to this stakeholder groupsSecondary target group are VET entities working in mobility issues in rural areas. The training and platform are of open access and can be used by these entities if requested.These target groups will be involved directly in the initial analysis of needs/barriers, and the validation of the training program and tool. They will be the main target of the project dissemination actions.<< Implementation >>The project activities will lead to the project objectives thorugh the following specific work packages of actions:WP1: PROJECT MANAGEMENT / COORDINATION ACTIVITIES will allow the proper implementation of project activities with good quality and in time, as well as the proper justification of costs, transference of money and the delivery of reports to the National Agency.WP2 RURAL MOBILITY TRAINING CONTENTS AND HANDBOOK: It will guarantee the development of up-to-date and quality training based on the identified project modules of knowledge on rural mobility. The content of the courses will include a handbook on good practices that have proven successful in Europe.WP3 Rural Mobility E-PLATFORM: the development of this platform will allow the implementation of the course on line, the exchange and dissemination of content and experiences and of updated resources according to market evolution. In addition, rural development agents and other actors will be encouraged to share content related to their experiences, to serve as a framework for knowledge exchange. WP4 TRAINING WORKSHOP TO VALIDATE THE COURSE AND E-PLATFORM. The objective is a transnationall capacitation to test and improve project results with stakeholders and to validate and ensure the quality and adequacy of the contents and of the e-platform. WP5 CREATION OF A NETWORK FOR THE PROMOTION OF RURAL MOBILITY POCILIES AND THE PROMOTION OF FUTURE EUROPEAN RURAL MOBILITY AGENTS: this project will serve as a starting point for the creation of a stable network of collaboration for rural mobility in Europe though the creation and promotion of a working group for rural mobility and the definition of an action plan for such group Partners will develop a proposal for an EU curriculum for rural mobility agents at the end of the project WP6 DISSEMINATION AND MULTIPLIER EVENTS. The project will implement a set of adhoc actions for dissemination to guarantee a good project impact and the transference and maintenance of project results during and after the project finalization, including the organization of local events in each member country to properly disseminate the outputs and to involve stakeholders<< Results >>Digital and Green skills are essential for the decarbonization of economy. The project will try to cover the specific lack of training in mobility solutions (mainly applied to e-mobility) and digital opportunities for rural agents. The e-mobility industry is moving fast and we need to be ready to apply new knowledge and technologies in our daily life. Therefore, in response to these needs, MobiRural will develop a practical and dynamic training program and training platform for rural development agents working in rural areas. The training will be available in the e-platform also for the general public. The project will also set the basis for the development of a curriculum for European agents for rural mobility.So, the project will have the following Results:A.Training course on mobility for rural areas (Result 1)B.E-platform for the implementation of the training, auto evaluation tool, and the promotion of best practices, exchange of experiences and improvement of policies towards rural mobility (Result 2)But apart from project direct results, the project will also have the following direct outcomes:-A training action to validate the course and the e-platform among selected stakeholders-Handbook with best practices and tools for rural mobility In Europe (capitalisation of previous projects and initiatives)-Setting of a network for the promotion of policies and initiatives for rural mobility (project partners + other interested entities)-Setting the basis for a European Agent for rural mobility (proposal for an EU curriculum)A need analysis has been developed prior to the writing of this proposal and although a deeper study with stakeholders will be implemented at the beginning of the project (questionnaires and interviews), the results of the project will contain:A.The content of the learning courses will contain at least the following modules:1.Compilation of good practices in rural mobility2.Digital tools available to explore the new opportunities created by technological and other forms of innovation.3.Rural shared mobility. Sustainable mobility is vital and therefore there is a need for alternative public transport services to guarantee mobility in rural areas, without a car. So-called flexible transport services or transportation on demand point the way to possible solutions, as innovative practices to encourage creative economically viable solutions that can be effective and efficient while being environmentally friendly.4.No mobility: E-tools for online services (bureaucracy, training, work,…)5.E-mobility solutions: technologies and new opportunities from the industry. 6.E-wastes: strategies for the management of new wastes produced for e-mobility in rural areas7.Policies and regulations for rural mobilities B.All the key materials, documents and media produced within the project will be made available on the E-platform. The platform will contain the course, a basic guide to implement the course, an auto evaluation section and other sections for networking and exchange of experiencesThe partners will accredit the participation of rural development agents in training actions. Participants will receive a certificate of attendance, indicating the content, the duration of the training and the result obtained. Rural development agents will be able to transfer the training received to the general population, who will be able to access the platform (rural development agents usually perform training courses for the general public in their municipalities/counties).At the same time, these rural development agents, after receiving the training, will be empowered to apply mobility solutions in their environment, according to the mobility needs of the specific populations in their field of action. The courses will be developed so that this can be carried out in a structured way so that the results are those required for each group of population.