5.4 million euros for digitization in SMEs

A future-oriented and holistic digital qualification in economic, ecological and social terms is to be achieved by means of providing digital practical applications, through demonstrators and experience rooms as well as by presenting digital work tools and processes. Through the transfer of know-how, SMEs should be able to develop more innovative strength, maintain existing market positions and open up further business areas and markets. The German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) has granted the Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Spreeland funding of 5.4 million euros until February 28, 2026.

The Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), the Wildau University of Applied Sciences, the Eberswalde University of Applied Sciences and the Cottbus Chamber of Industry and Commerce are working together as consortium partners. The consortium, led by Professor Dr. Ing. Ulrich Berger, chair of automation technology at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, began work in March. "The funding of the SME Digital Center Spreeland provides us with an excellent opportunity to continue to actively shape the digital transformation in Lusatia and beyond. We remain an important anchor in the region in the association of German SME digital centers and increase our charisma. The proven involvement of the social partners will again play a major role here. People are at the center of the fields of action," says Professor Berger, summarizing the launch of the new center.

The partners already have several years of experience from the former Mittelstand 4.0 Competence Center Cottbus, which ended its work on schedule on February 28, 2023, with a successful balance sheet. The offerings are now being continued and expanded. For example, the digital sample solutions, the demonstrators in the model factories will continue to be available for stationary and mobile use. With their help, a completely digital production chain is presented.

New trends and key topics are to be continuously communicated by the Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Spreeland. Digital logistics, human-robot collaboration, artificial intelligence, smart assistance systems, energy efficiency, 5G, sustainability and digital applications in structural change are just a few buzzwords for small and medium-sized enterprises in the region.

Key topics of the consortium partners are:

• Eberswalde University of Applied Sciences: environmentally friendly, climate-friendly production.
• Wildau University of Applied Sciences: digital production and logistics, energy management, machine data and image processing
• Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg: data science/data science, artificial intelligence, 5G multi-access edge computing, IoT - Internet of Things, chatbot, voicebot
• Cottbus Chamber of Industry and Commerce: Public Relations

Voices of the consortium partners:

Randolf Schmitt, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, responsible consortium leader "The Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg is pleased to continue to support and accompany local companies as a proven partner in the region for digital transformation. We have been able to add individualized formats to our already established offerings in the areas of artificial intelligence, digital assistance systems, automation technology, robotics and IT security. This gives us the right tools to offer customized learning and training events in addition to networking, and to work with partners to develop and implement company-specific solutions."

Prof. Dr. Ing. Jörg Reiff-Stephan, Wildau University of Applied Sciences "We are thrilled that our Brandenburg initiative is getting such great attention and use. We are active for people and institutions to make digitization and artificial intelligence practical and applicable in the workplace. With our formats such as the Mobile Learning Factory (Roadshow), the Open(AI-)Lab and also the Thinking Workshop as well as Call4Training events, we are very happy to be a contact in the region and beyond."

Prof. Dr. Jörn Mallok, Eberswalde University of Applied Sciences for Sustainable Development "As a reliable project and university location in the north of the state of Brandenburg, we are very pleased to actively accompany medium-sized companies on their way to climate-friendly business with the MD Digital Center Spreeland. To this end, we are working with our project partners to develop custom-fit, digitally sustainable solutions that can be implemented immediately at the company level."

The Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Spreeland will soon be communicating its offerings via the website www.digitalzentrum-spreeland, which is currently under construction. The center has a project duration of 01.03.2023 - 28.02.2026 and is one of currently 28 centers of the nationwide initiative "Mittelstand 4.0 - Digital Production and Work Processes" under the umbrella of "Mittelstand-Digital".

What is Mittelstand-Digital? The Mittelstand-Digital network offers comprehensive support for digitization with the Mittelstand-Digital centers, the IT Security in Business initiative and Digital Now. Small and medium-sized enterprises benefit from concrete practical examples and tailored, provider-neutral offers for qualification and IT security. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection enables free use and provides financial subsidies to sustainably drive forward the digital transformation of the entire SME economy in Germany. Further information: www.mittelstand-digital.de

Press contact:

Donald Saischowa
Project Manager
Public Relations
SME Digital Center Spreeland Cottbus | Wildau | Eberswalde Cottbus
IHK Cottbus
Tel.: 0355 365-1502
e-mail: donald.saischowa(at)cottbus.ihk.de