Best practices

Supporting the digital transformation of SMEs in Saxony-Anhalt

Users: Industry | Theme: Reskilling and Upskilling | Action: Professional Training | Beneficiaries: SMEs

Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Magdeburg

digitalzentrum-magdeburg.de

Stefan Voigt, Director

Funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Magdeburg supports SMEs in Saxony-Anhalt with digital transformation through the Mittelstand-Digital initiative. Knowledge exchange and best practice sharing are key aspects to the digitalisation of SMEs and Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Magdeburg offer a digitalisation check-up tool to assess digital maturity, workshops and seminars, as well as hands-on implementation projects to support SME digital initiatives. Due to this SMEs are able develop competitive products, innovative business models, and efficient processes, ensuring long-term digital success.
 

The challenge?

SMEs face barriers to digital transformation, including limited time, resources, and funding. Many struggle to prioritise innovation while managing daily operations.
 
Additionally, restricted communication channels and limited reach beyond Saxony-Anhalt hinder knowledge exchange and best practice sharing. This slows digital adoption and isolates SMEs from industry advancements.

Our solution

The Mittelstand-Digital initiative offers free resources such as check-ups, expert talks, workshops, eLearning, and blended learning to help SMEs adopt digital technologies.
SMEs receive up to three mobile consultations, mini projects, and convoy support for hands-on guidance in implementing digital solutions.
The initiative includes “digitisation tasting” workshops, webinars, and deep-dive workshops tailored to different technical levels.
Support is delivered through lectures on digitalisation, practical case studies, and hands-on demonstrators to ensure SMEs gain both knowledge and experience.

Outcomes

+300

+8,000

Events held

since the (re)launch of

Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Magdeburg.

Participants reached

at the events that have

been held.

Key takeaways

  1. Offer a structured event series: Instead of standalone workshops, provide a series of interconnected events that give SMEs deeper insights into digital transformation. Participants can choose sessions based on their needs and availability.
  2. Leverage industry multipliers: Collaborate with business associations and influencers to expand outreach and increase SME engagement.
  3. Tap into trending technologies: Use the AI and ChatGPT hype to showcase real-world applications of digital transformation, offering concrete use cases for SMEs.
  4. Improve visibility and access: Optimise search engine results and clearly provide contact information to ensure SMEs can easily find and connect with support services.
Learn more here

Case Summary–

Context: Fit4internet is a non-profit initiative aimed at enhancing digital literacy across Austria. By using the Digital Competence Framework (DigComp AT), which identifies key components of digital competencies and aligns with European standards, Fit4internet helps individuals showcase their digital skills. The Fit4internet platform offers a way to track and prove digital competencies, helping with employability and ensuring that the Austrian workforce has the necessary ICT skills to meet market demands. Through the digital skills profile platform, the initiative supports both individual growth and the development of a digitally capable society. 

Challenge: The challenge faced is managing proof of competencies acquired through various learning methods, including formal education, non-formal training, and informal certifications, which can lead to inconsistent records.  Securing sustainable funding to support the continuous development of new digital competencies, ensuring that programs remain up-to-date with evolving market needs. The second main challenge was fostering broad participation and engagement, especially among groups who may lack access to digital tools or education.

Identified Approach / Solution: The Fit4internet platform provides a centralised, user-friendly system to manage and showcase digital competencies, aligning with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). Through this platform, individuals can track and showcase their digital skills, making it easier for employers, educators, and organisations to assess their talent.

The platform allows users to create an e-portfolio that showcases their digital skills, with the option to share it through a link or as a PDF. This portfolio highlights the digital competencies that a user has acquired, linked to their certificates. These certificates can be formal, non-formal, or informal.

The platform also supports the generation of a digital skills profile that showcases the user’s acquired skills. Users earn digital badges as a visual representation of their skills. This allows them to continue with their learning journey, while showing off their competencies to others.

Outcomes:

 

 

 

Key takeaways:

Fit4internet engage multiple stakeholders from academia, industry, and policy to develop holistic and relevant digital competency frameworks. They also use widely applied frameworks to measure skills gaps, enabling better planning for individuals and institutions. By doing this they improve reinsertion rates into the labor force by addressing individuals digital skill gaps and aligning them with market needs. This benefits companies by providing clear insights into the skillsets that are being developed and that are available in the workforce.