Is Your Region Worth Your Love? Soft Digitalisation, Regional Attraction and Engagement - 12WS21561

The workshop will examine the elements of regional attraction from the point of view of "soft digitalisation" and participation, especially in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

How does digital transition enable better services and quality of living? How can different actors be included in development processes? Practical case studies will be presented to inspire interaction and seek possible cooperation opportunities.

The Next2Met project, which brings together the workshop organisers, combines regional attraction, soft digital measures and citizen participation in a way that encourages urban-rural symbiosis. In digital transition, a lot is talked about technology – networks, infrastructure, open data, IoT, virtual reality, software… but what is the aim and end purpose of these technologies? How do they radiate into peoples' lives and to the business environment? What factors contribute to the "brand" of the region? 

In the shadow of COVID-19, what is the meaning of "locality" and "multilocality"; how do people perceive the place where they live and how would they participate in the decisions affecting their surroundings? The workshop will address these questions and will interest regional authorities, business, academia and third sector actors alike.

The session is planned as follows:

• Introduction and ice-breaking questions for participants 

• 4 speakers' presentations: short teasers/elevator pitches 

• Poll for participants and reactions from the speakers

• 3 video testimonials

• Reaction from the speakers 

• Interactive debate with participants and speakers, including project representatives

  providing peer feedback

• Wrap-up and follow-up activities