The MFG Innovation Agency from Stuttgart is the leading partner of the consortium of 15 organisations from 7 Danube region countries, participating in the DIGITRANS project. The goal of this project is to encourage small and medium-sized companies to define and apply their own digital business model. The introductory meeting took place on Wednesday, 8 March 2017, in the Kulturhaus in Stuttgart and representatives of Croatian partners, the Faculty of Organization and Informatics Varaždin and the Technology Innovation Centre Međimurje, also participated. In the following months, the partners will develop a methodology for developing digital business models, a system for online learning, suitable educational tools, and carry out various workshops for companies and consultants. The first official presentation of the project to the public happened in the same place on Thursday, 9 March 2017.
Could you recognize the right business model in a simple way and become successful based on its use? What does the term “right business model” even mean? Which business strategy is the best? There are several possibilities for developing innovative business models, such as the design thinking method, Canvas business model, blue-ocean strategy, etc. But which of them is the best? Can any of these methods be used no matter the size of the company or the sector in which the company works?
The DIGITRANS project will answer all these questions. Partners will analyse the most popular approaches, while keeping in mind the special characteristics of the Danube region, and define the method that would be most suitable for the needs of companies and startups in the sectors of creative industry, health, advanced manufacturing, etc.
Could you recognize the right business model in a simple way and become successful based on its use? What does the term “right business model” even mean? Which business strategy is the best? There are several possibilities for developing innovative business models, such as the design thinking method, Canvas business model, blue-ocean strategy, etc. But which of them is the best? Can any of these methods be used no matter the size of the company or the sector in which the company works?
The DIGITRANS project will answer all these questions. Partners will analyse the most popular approaches, while keeping in mind the special characteristics of the Danube region, and define the method that would be most suitable for the needs of companies and startups in the sectors of creative industry, health, advanced manufacturing, etc.
Importance of digitalization on the level of the economy
At the presentation of the project, the leading representatives of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Housing of the state Baden-Württemberg emphasized that it is incredibly important to keep thinking about the digital revolution, which is happening all around us and significantly changes the lifestyle and business of most people. The digital revolution doesn’t only influence manufacturing activities but also other sectors, such as services and trade. It was highlighted that the Ministry is prepared to support companies on their journey to the digital revolution, which is also shown in the great support they gave to preparing the DIGITRANS project.
More than 50 participants gathered at the presentation and they had the opportunity to learn about the initiatives for supporting digital transformation of small and medium-sized companies. Successful cases of digital transformation were presented, for example the complete change of the business model of the publishing house Herder in Freiburg, which was carried out by the CEO Roland Grimmelsmann, and the transformation of Borsi GmbH & Co. KG, which was presented by the information leader Günter Strolz.
More than 50 participants gathered at the presentation and they had the opportunity to learn about the initiatives for supporting digital transformation of small and medium-sized companies. Successful cases of digital transformation were presented, for example the complete change of the business model of the publishing house Herder in Freiburg, which was carried out by the CEO Roland Grimmelsmann, and the transformation of Borsi GmbH & Co. KG, which was presented by the information leader Günter Strolz.
Supporting companies in the digital age
In the following months, partners will define new innovation methods, while tools for implementing these methods will be prepared by the end of the year. Developed methods and tools will first be used in incubators of the seven Danube region countries from which the partner organizations originate. The programme of the planned educational training includes a combination of seminars and workshops with online courses. Educational training for entrepreneurs will take place in the period from May 2018 to June 2019. All documentation will be available to the public at the end of the project.
