Multiplic@

Multiplic@ Project

Developed within the EQUAL Community Initiative, funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), and co-financed by the Principality of Asturias Regional Government, Multiplic@ project is aimed to support the adaptation of enterprises and workers to the structural changes regarding the application of the new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the business sector and to economic activities.

The project main goal is to involve Asturian enterprises in e-business, especially those suffering the consequences of the ‘digital gap’: small, traditional, rural and women-managed enterprises.

Multiplic@ goals have been determined by the experience achieved with the development of previous projects, like the EQUAL SI-Local, which detected enterprises lacks and necessities and focused its activities in stimulating their connection to the Internet.

Connectivity and equipment improvement continue being a real necessity for this kind of enterprises, but nowadays the priority is focused on the successful integration of the ICTs in business processes in order to increase enterprises competitivity and business opportunities through their involvement in e-business initiatives tailored to their needs.

Nowadays, Multiplic@ actions contribute to enhance the Principality of Asturias Regional Government second-generation projects focus on integration of ICT-based solutions in SMEs, tailored to enterprises specific needs, demands, model of business and activity, in order to increase competitiveness and e-business opportunities in their areas of activity.

Multiplic@ promotes as well a more specialized use of the ICTs and contributes to design the necessary methodologies and strategies to implement measures which will support the adaptation and involvement of enterprises and workers in e-business.

In summary, Multiplic@ Project main goals are the following:

Promoting and supporting the involvement of regional SMEs and micro-enterprises in e-business.
Getting business associations to act as e-business driving forces among their members.
Providing workers training and skills on ICTs to improve business management as well as competitiveness and employment.
Designing methodologies and strategies to implement measures leading to the achievement of the previous goals by enterprises from traditional sectors within the regional economy.
Enhancing the competitiveness of regional SMEs and micro-enterprises through integration of ICTs.
Promoting the involvement of women in the Information Society through the acquisition of necessary e-business skills to deal with enterprises mana gement and organisation issues.

Multiplic@ Project aims to interact with the following sectors and target groups:

Enterprises managed by women.
Enterprises and organizations working in Social Economy (farming cooperatives).
Enterprises facing the consolidation phase in rural areas.
Professionals from the timber industry, sawmills and timber yard facilities.
SMEs from the food and agricultural sector.
SMEs from the hotel trade.