Launch of the ‘Mittelstand-Digital Centre for Future Culture’ project
A future-proof corporate culture is the foundation for digitalisation and sustainable development in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). That is why the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) is funding the Mittelstand-Digital Centre for Future Culture until February 2025 as part of the ‘Mittelstand-Digital’ initiative. The centre was officially opened from 16 to 20 May 2022 with a ‘Corporate Culture Week’, during which different aspects of a future-proof corporate culture were discussed each day. For all who were unable to attend in person, a recapis available here.
SMEs in the midst of digitalisation and sustainability
Small and medium-sized enterprises are facing two major shifts: digitalisation and sustainability in business practice. Yet it often remains unclear: where should a business start? How can it make the best possible use of its limited resources? And what are the small adjustments that help to develop a corporate culture that is positive for all involved? This is where the Mittelstand-Digital Centre for Future Culture comes in, focusing on the people at the heart of current developments. Trust, innovation and curiosity, collaboration and communication are key elements of a successful future culture. “Small and medium-sized enterprises play a central role in shaping the digital and sustainable transformation. That is why the Mittelstand-Digital Centre for Future Culture supports decision-makers and managers in developing a corporate culture that is open to innovation and fit for the future,” explains Dr Anna Christmann, Commissioner for the Digital Economy and Start-ups at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
Knowledge transfer and exchange – completely free of charge
To support SMEs, the Centre will provide a diverse range of opportunities, multimedia case studies, specialist articles, guides and more. This is intended to facilitate knowledge transfer and exchange between entrepreneurs. Thanks to funding from the BMWK, all opportunities are free of charge for businesses and provider-neutral. The centre is a nationwide consortium with locations in Potsdam, Eberswalde, Dortmund and Dieburg Campus. The consortium partners are the BSP Business & Law School, the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, the Research Institute for Telecommunications and Cooperation, and Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences. The partners represent different aspects of corporate culture: change, sustainability, trust and communication.
What is Mittelstand-Digital?
The Mittelstand-Digital network, together with the Mittelstand-Digital Centres, the ‘IT Security in Business’ initiative and ‘Digital Jetzt’, offers comprehensive support for digitalisation. Small and medium-sized enterprises benefit from concrete practical examples and tailor-made, vendor-neutral opportunities for skills development and IT security. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action enables free access to these opportunities and provides financial grants. Further information can be found at www.mittelstand-digital.de.
An article by Isabelle Bickham
