The European project DIGIBOOST, co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme (KA220), aims to foster digital entrepreneurship in rural areas, particularly among people with disabilities, through training, empowerment, and the strategic use of digital technologies.
The partner organisations in the project—including Antalya Bilim Universitesi in Türkiye (coordinating partner), COCEMFE Sevilla in Spain, BETI in Lithuania, OZARA doo in Slovenia, PMI Services in Italy, and Atabey Halk Eğitimi Merkezi Müdürlüğü also in Türkiye—have identified a common challenge: the lack of economic and employment opportunities in rural areas, which disproportionately affects vulnerable groups. As a response, DIGIBOOST proposes a strategy of social and economic innovation that promotes the development of resilient communities through entrepreneurship training tailored to the digital and rural context.
Since its launch in 2023, the project has progressed through various phases, including research, focus groups with beneficiaries, and the design of a training curriculum that will underpin future training activities. This curriculum comprises six interrelated modules that address the key competencies for digital entrepreneurship in the European rural context.
Summary of the DIGIBOOST Training Curriculum
The DIGIBOOST training plan responds to the need for comprehensive qualification. The following modules constitute its structure:
Module 1: Introduction to Digital Entrepreneurship
This module provides an in-depth understanding of how digital transformation is redefining business models. It covers key concepts, advantages, challenges, digital business models, and the resources available within the digital entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Module 2: Digital Marketing Competencies
This module equips learners with practical knowledge on online sales strategies, customer relationship management, cybersecurity, ethical use of digital tools, and data analysis, with a particular focus on tools such as CRM systems and e-commerce platforms.
Module 3: Innovative Business Development
It fosters creative thinking and the use of “design thinking” to design and validate sustainable business models. It also focuses on innovation management and integrating sustainability as a core business value.
Module 4: Financial Fundamentals
This module introduces the basics of business financial management: from the legal establishment of a business, pricing strategies, financial planning, and taxation, to risk and insurance management. Intellectual property and data privacy are also addressed.
Module 5: Social Media Management
This module trains participants in planning and implementing effective social media strategies, including content creation, crisis management, metrics analysis, and building engaged digital communities.
Module 6: Sustainable Development and Entrepreneurship in Rural Areas
The final module focuses on the responsible use of local resources, climate change adaptation, the role of family businesses and cooperatives, and alternative financing opportunities such as crowdfunding. It also recognises the importance of social capital in strengthening rural entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Conclusion
DIGIBOOST not only addresses a training need but also promotes the fundamental values of the European Union: inclusion, sustainability, innovation, and social cohesion. The project embodies a commitment to equitable digital transformation, recognising that entrepreneurship should not be limited by geography or personal circumstances. Through its integrated and transnational approach, DIGIBOOST aims to generate lasting impact in European rural communities by empowering people with disabilities to become active agents of economic and social change in their regions.
The next activity scheduled within this project is the second transnational coordination meeting, which will be held on 20 and 21 May 2025 in Kaunas, Lithuania, hosted by project partner BETI.
For more information about DIGIBOOST and upcoming training activities, it is recommended to follow the official channels of the partner organisations and visit the project website https://digi-boost.eu/es/inicio/, where all project outputs and resources will be shared.
