eRural resilience - Interreg BSR project

📣We started pre-testing the e-bio-business launching solution! Why Are Digital Solutions Essential in the Bioeconomy? The bioeconomy businesses face growing pressure to produce more while using fewer resources and reducing their environmental impact. In this context, the adoption of digital solutions is no longer optional—it is a necessary step to remain competitive and ensure sustainable growth. ✅More Efficient Resource Use Digital technologies such as IoT devices, sensor networks, and drones allow companies to monitor and analyze production processes in real time. For example, smart irrigation systems can optimize water use, reducing waste and increasing crop yields. ✅Data-Driven Decision Making Big data and AI-powered analytics tools help businesses make informed decisions. Machine learning algorithms, for instance, can predict harvesting times or detect early signs of disease outbreaks in livestock farming. ✅Automation of Industrial Processes Automated production lines and robotics improve efficiency and reduce the chances of human error. This is particularly important in the biotech industry, where precision and consistency are critical. ✅ Traceability and Supply Chain Transparency Blockchain technology can create transparent and secure supply chains, allowing all stakeholders to track the origin and journey of products. This increases consumer trust and helps businesses meet regulatory requirements. #eRuralresilience project offers a complex solution for the implementing digital solutions in the bioeconomy. Main elements of the holistic solution are 🔑Methodology for Assessment of e-bio-business supporters 🔑Methodology for supporting e-bio-business launching 🔑Transnational net of knowledge based on two knowledge hubs: Bio-knowledge Hub and Digitalization Hub. The future of bioeconomy businesses depends directly on their ability to harness the potential of digital technology. Both methodologies and HUBs have been developed and created, and 📣in February ProVarde Erhvervsudvikling started pre-testing the e-bio-business launching solution! We are on track and will continue testing throughout 2025! #MadeWithInterreg #InterregBSR #bioeconomy

📣We are ready to pilot project solutions! The year 2025 will start effectively for the eRural resilience - Interreg BSR project – Methodology for Supporting e-bio-Business Launching as the Solution 2 is being prepared and will be finalised in February. The objective of the Solution 2 is to facilitate our target groups – business development organisations and municipalities – process of moving the local businesses into e-bio-businesses, develop new products and accelerate digitalization. ‼️Piloting starts in spring 2025! Also, 9 business support centres or municipalities will test the Methodology for Assessment of e-bio-business promoters as the Solution1 during January – May. Testing process covers ✅self-evaluation, in order to create a baseline for the application of later improvements in the organizations. After the baseline analysis, the methodology will provide ✅tools to identify the gaps of the organization, which requires to be filled to advance into the supporting of e-bio-businesses. 🧐Take a look about the project activities and practical tools for supporting and developing e-bio-businesses here: https://shorturl.at/dduNi #eruralresilience #MadeWithInterreg #InterregBSR Association of Municipalities of Tartu County ProVarde Erhvervsudvikling Valmiera Development Agency RegioVision e.V. Centria University of Applied Sciences Tartu County Development Association Management Digitaleus Into Seinäjoki Oy Estonian University of Life Sciences Tartu Centre for Creative Industries Tartu Biotechnology Park

2024 has come to a close and it is a good time to summarize the results. What were our 🚀 main milestones in 2024? 👉 We created 2 Transnational Knowledge Hubs – Bio-Knowledge Hub led by Centria University of Applied Sciences and Digitalization Hub led by Järvi-Pohjanmaan Yrityspalvelu Oy. Both Hubs consist of sectoral experts who support our target groups – business support organisations and SMEs – with specialized know-how during the capacity building process as well as e-bio-business launching. 👉 Competence Profile for business support organisations designed. It describes required skills and competences that the institutions have to gather in order to cover the required knowledge to support businesses in their transition to e-bio-businesses. 4 main competences were defined: Business and Management, Digital Know-How, Biological Production and Sustainability, Networking. These main competences are divided into 15 sub-competences. 👉 Methodology for Assessment of e-bio-business supporters was developed. The Methodology covers the process to follow in the evaluation of institutions current resources, the identification of necessities, and the proposal of resources to be invested in terms of competences, staff, equipment etc. The process was led by RegioVision GmbH Schwerin The methodology is divided into 5 steps: Step 1: Questionnaires to Management: Principals of organisation/each department respond to structured questionnaires evaluating competencies essential for effective e-bio-business support. Step 2: Questionnaires to Employees: Employees participate in structured questionnaires assessing their proficiency levels across various competencies. Step 3: External Assessment: An external evaluation is conducted to assess the organization’s overall performance and achievements. Step 4: Evaluation Tests and Certifications: To ensure objective assessment, comprehensive tests are formulated for employees. Step 5: Online Self-Assessment Tool 👉 Video database with more than 120 videos has compiled. The process is managed by Management Digitaleus. The database consists of teaching videos, focusing on the knowledge required for business support centres to support rural businesses into e-business and bio-business, incl videos of product development, packaging, selling platforms etc. 👉 Also, Methodology for Supporting e-Bio-Business Launching is in the process. The methodology covers the itinerary /roadmap to facilitate local businesses into e-bio-businesses and development process is leaded by the Business Development Council of Toender Municipality. 📢 We organised jointly the webinar „Insights to the internationalisation of bio-business in Baltic Sea Region” as a part of International Cooperation Day 2024 on September 20, with about 50 international participants. We shared the best networking practices in the bioeconomy around the Baltic Sea. ❗ ❗ ❗ 2025 focus is on testing and piloting both methodologies. #InterregBSR #eruralresilience

📣Methodology for Supporting e-Bio-Business Launching is validated and ready for testing!  The eRural resilience - Interreg BSR project partners gathered on November 21-22 in Kuortane, Finland, to validate the ✅Methodology for Supporting e-Bio-Business Launching (Solution 2) and ✅online tool. Solution 2 has been developed by the Business Development Council of Toender Municipality together with Tartu County Development Association, ProVarde Erhvervsudvikling, Management Digitaleus, Into Seinäjoki Oy and other consortium partners. 📍 The goal of this Methodology is to create an efficient resource for business support centres (BSO) and consultants to identify and assist companies with potential to become e-bio businesses. Users will get the corresponding roadmap to apply to each case according to the answers given to a certain series of questions.  In addition, the online tool for the ✅Methodology for Assessment of e-Bio-Business Supporters (Solution 1) was presented by RegioVision GmbH Schwerin. This Methodology will support the target groups – local authorities and business support organisations – in their evaluation of the coverage of the competences defined in the Competence Profile and will deliver a supporter skill analysis with a proposal of actions.  🆗Next steps of the development of Solution 1 will be testing the methodology at least in 9 business support centres or municipalities of project partner’s areas. During the 2025, Solution 2 will be piloted. Partners will select companies, or individuals, with potential to participate in the pilot. 200 visits are planned shared among the 7 pilot areas. Finally, at least 40 SMEs/individuals will implement the full itineraries with a speed-testing of new bio-products or digitalization. The first day of meeting ended with a guest speaker Mira Valkjärvi from Centria University of Applied Sciences. Mira gave a 💁comprehensive overview and insights to Finnish sustainability work and introduced Circular Economy Road Map of Finland, National Strategy to promote circular economy, Circular Economy Finland (KiSu) which is a hub for circular economy know-how etc. ✔️ Partners also discussed and agreed on the next steps of the activities, including Solution 2 company visits indicators by partner.  ✔️ More info about the project: https://shorturl.at/wno86 ✔️ Consortium meeting in Kuortane was hosted by 💚Finnish partners from Into Seinäjoki Oy, Järvi-Pohjanmaan Yrityspalvelu Oy and Centria University of Applied Sciences. #MadeWithInterreg #eruralresilience #InterregBSR #bioeconomy

📣AI in Marketing – Insights from Seinäjoki  On November 27th, Into Seinäjoki Oy and eRural resilience - Interreg BSR project hosted the "Tekoälyä markkinointiin" (AI in Marketing) event in Seinäjoki, drawing an impressive crowd of 180 participants. The buzz around this timely topic was undeniable, and the discussions were nothing short of inspiring. 🎙️ Keynote Lotta Backlund - AI, communications, and entertainment professional - shed light on how AI can integrate into our workflows by taking on one of three roles: 1️ Colleague 2️ Assistant 3️ Subcontractor While AI isn’t ready to be the boss (yet!), it can be a game-changer for routine tasks, freeing up time for creativity and strategic development. Lotta also introduced the concept of ❗️“AI shame”—the hesitation to use AI due to uncertainty or lack of know-how—and encouraged everyone to adopt a more AI-positive mindset and explore the opportunities it offers. 💡 Real-World Applications Local marketing agencies shared concrete examples of how AI is already being utilized in client projects. These tools aren't replacing creativity; they’re augmenting it. Humans remain essential for dreaming up bold ideas and executing them with unique flair. Importantly, effective AI use still requires expertise and alignment with a brand’s voice and identity. 🌍 Sustainability Matters A valuable takeaway was the reminder that AI is not a toy—it demands significant energy to process vast amounts of data. Using AI wisely and purposefully ensures we’re not only boosting efficiency but also respecting our planet. Here’s to embracing the opportunities AI brings, with a balance of curiosity, creativity, and responsibility! 🚀 #AI #Marketing #Innovation #Sustainability #MadeWithInterreg #eRuralresilience

🍀What are the scientific possibilities for entrepreneurs to develop bio-businesses? On 5th November eRural resilience - Interreg BSR project Estonian partners - Tartu County Development Association and Association of Municipalities of Tartu County - held a community support group meeting with a visit to 🧐science labs in Estonian University of Life Sciences.  We started off with a visit to laboratories- 🍅laboratory of bioeconomy technologies led by Timo Kikas and the 🌳forest pathology and forest genetics laboratory led by Rein Drenkhan. 💁♂️The event gave the opportunity for local stakeholders and community support group members to get familiar with the scientific backround of the development of new knowledges and technologies in biotechnology. 💁For example, if entrepreneur has questions like: how to restore a park or an old mansion; is it possible to grow 🍇grapes in your own garden; should you plant birch-trees in a fallow field; how to restore an old mill inherited from your Grandpa; is the pond behind the sauna at our farm suitable for breeding carps etc, the University’s researches are ready 🆗to help the farmer, entrepreneur or local government. Our meeting continued with the introduction of eRural resilience - Interreg BSR project progresses and outcomes to our community support group. We also validated ✔️ the Solution 1 and ✔️ the outcome of Solution 2 and shared thoughts and initiatives of the support and development of the regional bioeconomy sector. We also agreed on who would be the local eRural agents from our local community support group, who would contribute on evaluating the methodologies developed in this project in the future. ✅The Association of Municipalities of Tartu County in cooperation with the Tartu County Development Association launched the initiative to create a sectoral cross-county network of bio-entrepreneurship, in which we include organizations of the support structure of entrepreneurship, local municipalities and sectoral competence centers. A joint sectoral information space enables all parties to be aware of each other's sectoral initiatives, to contribute good thoughts and new ideas to new joint projects. ✅The Estonian University of Life Sciences is a centre for research and development in Estonia in agriculture, forestry, animal science, veterinary science, rural life and economy, food science, biodiversity, nature protection, renewable natural resources and environmentally friendly technologies. #eRuralresilience #InterregBSR #MadeWithInterreg #Tartumaa #bioeconomy

🌍International cooperation and sustainable growth in Kuortane! eRural resilience - Interreg BSR project partners meet in Kuortane 🏂Olympic Training Center to discuss the project's next steps and future measures. 🏞️ Inspiring nature and the challenging journey in ❄️snowy Finland gave the participants a lot of new energy and fresh thoughts for the next steps of the project. The heart of the project is to increase the vitality of the rural area - through better services, new business opportunities and digitalization. 🌱 During the project: ✅ we test sustainable business and digitization solutions in cooperation with local companies ✅ We support the creation of new business solutions in the partner regions ✅ We support the competence development of business service organisations At the meeting, methodology for business launching in the bio-business was validated and new cross-border networks were built, which lead rural business towards a sustainable future. 🌟 Let's build a stronger rural life together - even in the middle of a snowstorm! ❄️💪 #eRuralresilience #InterregBSR #MadeWithInterreg #MadeWithNetwork

📣eRural resilience - Interreg BSR project was presented at the Natural Product Days in Oulu!!! 🌲 An inspiring few days in Oulu at the Natural Products Days! 🌲 The Finnish Natural Products Days was eye-opening to see the passion among the entrepreneurs in this field.  ✅Many have successfully turned their passion into profitable businesses, though for some, part-time entrepreneurship remains the norm—sometimes by choice, sometimes by necessity. But one thing is clear: there’s serious growth potential here! This year’s event showcased mostly ⛺️Northern Finland’s entrepreneurs, whose natural products industry holds unique opportunities, especially through tourism. While locals might not pay for guided mushroom-picking, foreign visitors would surely enjoy and pay for such well-packaged experiences. And after savoring local mushrooms and berries in Northern Finnish restaurants, many tourists want to bring these flavors home. With the right online store or even requests to their own local stores, this could be an ongoing market! The Arctic Food Lab is set to play a major role in the Oulu 2026 European Capital of Culture year, and it’s great to see Oulu and surrounding communities spotlighting food as a key theme. 🙋♀️eRural resilience - Interreg BSR project also had its own stand, where we enjoyed insightful discussions with participants on topics like digital skills, business management, networking, and product development—key issues in the daily lives of nature entrepreneurs.  📣“I believe many of the entrepreneurs could take their business to the next level with modest investments. The key competencies that we defined in the beginning of the project feel even more relevant now, after I had these discussions and heard all the presentations”, concludes eRural resilience project Manager Hanna Holtinkoski from Into Seinäjoki Oy. The traditional national event of the natural product industry took place 13.- 14.11 in Oulu, North Ostrobothnia.  Webpage here: Oulu 2024 – aitoluonto.fi #NaturalProducts #Entrepreneurship #Oulu2026 #Tourism #FinnishNature #SustainableBusiness #eRuralresilience

🗺️ Private label - an unique opportunity for bio-entrepreneur for differentiation! Last week eRural resilience - Interreg BSR project Polish partners Creativity Works Europe and Bieliny Commune attended Future Private Label trade show at Targi Kielce S.A.  Participants from fourteen countries were presenting innovative products and the latest trends in the private label industry. Both partners of eRural resilience - Interreg BSR project participated in talks about ✅„The role and tasks of independent consultants in business processes” and ✅„Promotion of private label products by emphasizing their nutritional values”. The event gave an opportunity to 🌐increase the network and capacity to support local enterpreneurs.  📣Karolina Bijoch, Project Manager at Creativity Works Europe says: „It is important for us to follow all the trends and constantly raise our competencies, which is necesssary to be able to promote the transition to bio-businesses and e-businesses”. #FuturePrivateLabels Expo is Poland’s only event solely focussed on private labels. #eruralresilience #MadeWithInterreg #interregbsr #bioeconomy

❓ What are the Key Competencies Needed by Business Support Organizations to Assist Rural Companies in the E-Bio Sector? ✅ An international expert group of eRural resilience - Interreg BSR project jointly developed and validated a competency profile to strengthen local business support organizations in the Baltic Sea region, enhancing their ability to assist companies interested in implementing e-bio business solutions. The integration of digital and green transitions offers promising solutions, allowing rural communities to use renewable biological resources to create high-value bio-products (e.g., food, feed, or bio-based products). For success, rural businesses need robust e-business capabilities and bio-products that appeal globally. To equip rural authorities and business centers with comprehensive tools to foster e-bio-businesses in rural areas, eRural resilience project consortium developed a 📝 Competency Profile and describe the required skills and competencies that the institutions have to gather in order to support the businesses in their transition to bio-businesses and e-businesses. The eRural resilience Competency Profile aims to capture and describe these e-bio-business supporters’ specific 15 sub-competencies organised in 4 main competences: ✔️ 1: Business and Management is directed at the broader professional environment, implementing strategic plans for e-bio-business supporters, encompassing goal setting, market analysis, and formulation of strategies. ✔️ 2: Digital know-how looks at the competencies needed to be effectively updated on the latest digital technologies and elevate the digital proficiency of the workforce. ✔️ 3: Biological Production and Sustainability is dedicated to the integration of sustainability and biological principles into the e-bio-businesses’ operations, supply chains, and marketing strategies to enhance their environmental and social responsibility. ✔️ 4: Networking addresses the importance of networking competencies to effectively assist clients. The use of the competence profile for self-assessment can help organizations pinpoint areas where their skills and capabilities need enhancement. This can lead to targeted training and development, improved effectiveness in supporting e-bio-businesses, and a more strategic approach to addressing skill gaps. Ultimately, this process can strengthen the organization’s overall ability to drive sustainable business growth in rural areas. Take a look: eRural resilience - Interreg BSR project