VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH has been developing and operating the “Service Center for Industrial Transformation in the Regions - Networking Regional Industry Initiatives” since January 2025. The Cottbus-based Competence Center for Climate Protection in Energy-Intensive Industries (KEI) is actively supporting the project as a technical partner on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, providing methodological and strategic support for its implementation.

The service center is a further development of the “Service and Advice Center for Regional Industrial Initiatives”, which was previously operated by DIHK Services GmbH. In the future, the project will continue to support industrial SMEs in the transformation process with regional services and advice. In addition, an online-based knowledge platform for the transformation of industry will be developed over the next four years. Besides a location analysis of regional conditions for small and medium-sized companies, the development of a coaching program is also planned. This will be aimed at decision-makers and employees and will initially be initiated in Lusatia as a reference region. Subsequently, nationwide implementation is planned. The program is intended to strengthen regional transformation skills.

The official project launch took place at the end of January at the KEI's premises in Cottbus, Brandenburg. In addition to representatives of the BMWK and the KEI, the responsible project management of the VDI/VDI-IT as well as the participating partners Gesellschaft für Wirtschaftliche Strukturforschung mbH, Heinze Akademie GmbH and CBE DIGIDEN AG were also present. Together, the project plan for the coming years was defined and the next steps were agreed upon.

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