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COEUS

Project overview

COrporate digital responsibility skills in central EUropean Smart specialisation

The digital transformation is putting established ways of doing business to the test. This offers opportunities, but also harbours risks. Companies have to be aware of their digital responsibilities to shape the process of digitalisation and guarantee it serves the best interests of citizens. The COEUS project supports small and medium companies to meet legal requirements and make digital responsibility a normal part of their day-to-day business. The partners test and validate a new programme to upskill and reskill employees with respect to corporate digital responsibility. They also develop a strategy and action plans to increase capacities of public authorities.

1,46m €

Project Budget

80%

of the Budget is funded by ERDF

Layer 1

6

Countries

6

Regions

7

Partners

1

Pilots

Duration

Start date

End date

Project progress

47%

About the project

COEUS tackles the challenge not only of ensuring that digitalisation is achieved in Central Europe (CE), but that it is achieved with social, economic, technological and environmental responsibility. It does so by supporting Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR) skills for traditional and innovative SMEs, with a focus on smart specialisation priorities for digitalisation. COEUS uses transnational cooperation to co-design and co-implement a transnational pilot to test and validate a SME CDR upskilling/reskilling programme. In parallel, the project builds capacities of public authorities and stakeholders to support CDR skill uptake. COEUS is the first transnational project in the programme area to address all areas of the relatively new and complex topic of CDR.

Project partnership

Project partners

Slovenija (SI)

Lead partner

Digital Innovation Hub Slovenia

Address
Dimičeva 13
1000 Ljubljana
Country
Slovenia (SI)
Web
https://dihslovenia.si/

Project partner

Economic development department
Address
Corso Inghilterra 7
10138 Turin
Country
Italy (IT)
Web
http://www.cittametropolitana.torino.it/
Total partner budget
228,359 €
EU-Project Management
Address
Nikolaiplatz 2
8020 Graz
Country
Austria (AT)
Web
https://www.sfg.at/
Total partner budget
253,920 €
Address
Velká Hradební 2800/54
40001 Ústí nad Labem
Country
Czechia (CZ)
Web
icuk.cz
Total partner budget
158,088 €
Address
Dimičeva ulica 13
1000 Ljubljana
Country
Slovenia (SI)
Web
https://www.gzs.si/
Total partner budget
196,000 €
Department of Economy
Address
Grottgera Street 4
20-029 Lublin
Country
Poland (PL)
Web
www.lubelskie.pl
Total partner budget
157,680 €
Computer Science Department
Address
Jurja Križanića 331b
42000 Varaždin
Country
Croatia (HR)
Web
www.unin.hr
Total partner budget
219,856 €

Roadmap

1

CHALLENGE

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are undergoing rapid digital transformation — but often lack the skills, tools, and guidance to do so responsibly. Digitalisation brings new risks: data privacy, cybersecurity threats, algorithmic bias, exclusion of vulnerable users, and environmental impacts. These risks are especially critical in regions where support structures and CDR knowledge are underdeveloped. Without action, the digital transition may increase inequalities and reduce trust in digital innovation.

2

PROJECT IDEA

COEUS promotes Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR) as a practical solution for SMEs to digitalise in an ethical, inclusive, and sustainable way. We co-create a transnational training programme, equip SMEs with tailored CDR skills, and work with regional and national stakeholders to integrate CDR into smart specialisation strategies and digital policy frameworks.

3

HOW WE WORK

We deliver the project in three stages: 1. Developing tools and training - Mapping CDR needs across Central Europe - Co-creating a multilingual training programme and practical resources 2. Pilot implementation - Training CDR trainers and supporting 50+ SMEs across five countries - Delivering local workshops and tailored coaching 3. Long-term integration - Creating 5 regional Action Plans - Publishing a Joint Strategy for CDR in Central Europe - Building a lasting transnational cooperation network

4

THE AIM OF OUR PROJECT

To empower SMEs to embrace digitalisation responsibly, with a focus on ethical data use, inclusion, and sustainability. By increasing the availability of CDR skills and support structures, COEUS aims to embed digital responsibility into the heart of innovation ecosystems and policy agendas across Central Europe.

5

FOLLOW OUR PROJECT

- Browse our outputs including the CDR Handbook, training programme and strategy. - Watch our video series introducing key CDR themes and use cases - Attend our events, webinars, and final conference Connect with our transnational network and join the CDR movement

News

Events

Outputs

COEUS Transnational Cooperation Network

By signing the Partnership Agreement, 12 organisations (including PP and AO) cooperate in the COEUS consortium, using transnational cooperation to improve their policies and measures for CDR skills for traditional and innovative industrial SMEs. COEUS consortium involves organisations of different nature: local/regional public authorities, business support agencies, thematic experts.
Type of output: Strategies and action plans

COEUS SME upskilling/reskilling programme – a solution for SMEs' digital skills in Central Europe

It is a multilingual, digital toolkit for enhancing digital skills in SMEs in CE, including methodology and process development description. It contains guidelines for application (as the trainer selection process).
Type of output: Strategies and action plans
In development

COEUS SME upskilling/reskilling programme – SMEs digital skills boosting for Corporate Digital Responsibility in Central Europe

It includes services, trainers / SMEs selection process, how services will be included in the training. The pilot is co-designed and co-run to: - test, improve and validate the solution from the structural side; - evaluate the suitability/needed adjustments to address CDR and CE specificities; - assess and improve the solution and linked support measures.
Type of output: Strategies and action plans
In development

COEUS Strategy for CDR in Central Europe

Innovative, jointly developed, long-term strategy to boost CDR in CE harnessing digital skills in SMEs. It details conditions, solutions and skills necessary to engage SMEs and stakeholders and evaluate/roll-out the toolkit for digital skills development.
Type of output: Strategies and action plans
In development

COEUS Action Plans for CDR in Central Europe

5 jointly developed Action Plans, with measures already adopted and actions to guarantee continued uptake in the future. Each has a local focus on territorial outputs uptake, but they are jointly designed and developed. PP/AO endorse it and declare intention to continue cooperation after the project, long-term strategy to boost CDR in CE harnessing digital skills in SMEs.
Type of output: Strategies and action plans
In development

Project images

COEUS

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Project Contacts

Project Manager

Ana Pejić
Phone: +386 51 244 407

Finance Manager

Katja Mohar Bastar
Phone: +386 41 268 890

Communication Manager

Žiga Lampe
Phone: +38615898424