REGIONALE South Westphalia

The REGIONALE is a structural funding instrument in North Rhine-Westphalia for implementing regional development strategies and structurally effective projects. With the REGIONALE 2025, South Westphalia wants to make targeted use of the opportunities presented by digitalization in order to tackle the challenges of a rural region with a strong industrial base in an exemplary manner and to further develop its qualities in a sustainable and qualitative manner. Focusing on the needs of the people and with the program of the South Westphalia DNA "Digital-Sustainable-Authentic", the region is developing solutions for a sustainable strengthening of the region.

Three fields of action are of particular importance: The field of action "Shaping space" includes projects for smart urban and village development as well as innovative mobility. Socio-cultural coexistence is the focus of the "Strengthening society" field of action. The "Developing the economy and work" field of action focuses on project approaches that are dedicated to regional resources as "treasures" and digitalization as an opportunity for people and companies.

The three fields of action will address the key issues and challenges of the future:

• Designing industrial transformation processes in close cooperation between companies and universities and building up corresponding skills and specializations
• Developing innovative, digitalized processes and instruments that have a broad impact on the economy, universities, administration and citizens and open up new perspectives
• Strengthening sustainability and resource efficiency in economic activity and action, administration and citizens and open up new perspectives
• Strengthening sustainability and resource efficiency in economic activity and in the design of mobility

To this end, the call "REGIONALE South Westphalia - Projects for a digital, sustainable and authentic future in South Westphalia" supports creative ideas and concepts for the following objectives:

• Expanding research and innovation (R&I) infrastructure and capacities for the development of R&I excellence
• Strengthening knowledge and technology transfer between the public and private sectors at regional level
• Developing digital business models, products, services and production processes
• Saving resources and building a circular economy.

The European Union and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia are providing funding totaling around 30.5 million euros for this purpose.