Project title: Stimulating entrepreneurial activity through testing business models and setting up successful co-working spaces in rural areas
Project acronym: COWORKING.NET
Programme priority: A more capable and competitive region
Specific objective: 2.1 Ensuring more coherent and equitable access to inclusive and quality education, training and lifelong learning services through the development of accessible infrastructure, including by strengthening resilience for distance and online education and training
Project duration: 1.10.2023-30.9.2026
Total project value: EUR 919.426,50
Funding: The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Interreg Slovenia-Austria Programme.
Partnerji:
- BSC Kranj (SI) – lead partner
- Bistra Ptuj (SI) – project partner
- Marktgemeinde Passail / Municipality of Passail (AT) – projektni partner
- Weizer Energie- Innovationszentrum GmbH (AT) – projektni partner
Project objective:
The overall objective of the project is to test business models and establish successful coworking communities in rural areas. This will include the development of an entrepreneurial support environment, the provision of training and the consequent increase in economic activity, which will contribute to increasing the competitiveness, vitality and resilience of rural areas.
Achieving the objective will have a positive impact on (potential) rural entrepreneurs, local authorities and the general public on both sides of the border.
Project summary:
Through the development of entrepreneurial coworking communities in rural areas, we aim to provide a decentralised entrepreneurial support environment in rural areas, thus keeping young people in rural areas, developing new jobs, especially those with higher added value, and stimulating the dynamism of the rural economy.
Coworking spaces are meeting and social spaces for both existing and start-up businesses, provide educational programmes, promote entrepreneurship, and foster innovation and creativity.
The project will test business models and establish successful coworking communities in rural areas, taking into account the specificities of the environment: target groups, locations, available infrastructure and equipment, and other aspects to ensure the successful and sustainable operation of the coworking space. This will include the development of an entrepreneurial support environment, the provision of training and the consequent increase in economic activity, which will contribute to increasing the competitiveness, vitality and resilience of rural areas.
Project results:
- Testing of business models (5-7 different ones) to be developed or transferred and establishment of coworking communities in at least 7 locations in the cross-border programme area (at least 2 locations in Sp. Podravje);
- Training of staff (coworking managers) to manage and operate rural coworking communities – at least 7 in the cross-border programme area;
- Stakeholder events – at least 20 events in 7 locations;
- Integration in cross-border and international network of coworking communities;
- Development and production of a handbook for coworking managers.
Programme website: http://www.si-at.eu/