The Regiodeal Waddeneilanden (Wadden Islands Region Deal) is an investment programme for the 5 Wadden Islands to broaden their economic base and build resilient, vital communities.

The Regiodeal is governed and implemented jointly by the 5 Wadden island and the provinces Fryslân and Noord-Holland. Fryslân Province covers most of the Wadden territory and includes the 4 islands Schiermonnikoog, Ameland, Terschelling and Vlieland, while Texel is located in Noord-Holland.

The Regiodeal was approved in February 2023 by the national authorities and will be operational until the end of 2027. It has a budget of over 36m€, funded by Provinces (9m€) and Island municipalities (9m€) with State co-funding (18m€).

The Regiodeal programme has 5 thematic pillars. Each pillar includes distinct ambitions based on digitalisation:

1. Housing and well-being, incl:
• Optimise social services, smart care concepts, eHealth applications

2. Future-proof entrepreneurship & development, incl:
• Broaden the economy by facilitate remote working and digital business;
• Education ‘close-to-home’ with digital solutions to increase options and reduce cost

3. Optimise access and connections, incl:
• Optimise digital accessibility; 5G pilots e.g. on self-driving vehicles and real-time visitor data

4. Sustainable energy, incl:
• Smart systems to balance energy supply & demand

5. Circular economy
• Smart applications to reduce materials use and match supply and demand for water and secondary resources

The aim of this PI is to strengthen the regional science, technology and innovation system, to facilitate technology transfer and the collaboration between knowledge-generating agents and companies, as well as facilitating the development and consolidation of innovative SMEs. The types of actions provided in this priority (1A Digital and Smart Transition) are consistent with what is intended to be established in the Smart Specialization Strategy of the Balearic Islands (RIS3), and are distributed under three objectives:

1) The development and improvement of research and innovation capacities and the assimilation of advanced technologies
2) Harnessing the benefits of digitization for citizens, businesses, research organizations and public administrations. This objective is particularly relevant to DIGITAL ISLANDS as it deals with the digitization and technological modernization of SMEs
3) The reinforcement of sustainable growth and the competitiveness of SMEs and the creation of employment in them, also through productive investments

The implementation of this PI foresees, among others, a digital transformation of the Balearics economic sectors, the development of innovative projects by R&D centres and companies, and the sustainable growth of SMEs, through internationalization and their access to financing.

The Madeira Regional Programme 2021-2027 is the new ERDF Program managed by Policy Authority of the Regional Government of Madeira - Regional Development Institute (IDR) and recently approved.

In the context of DIGITAL ISLANDS, we will focus on the topic of Digital Transformation, specifically on initiatives involving Digital Transformation for the Environment, Sustainability and Circular Economy.

PRIORITIES / STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
POLICY OBJECTIVE 1: Madeira + SMARTER AND COMPETITIVE

Specific Objective 1.1: Develop and strengthen research and innovation capacities and the adoption of advanced technologies.
Specific Objective 1.2: Harnessing the benefits of digitization for citizens, companies, research entities and public authorities.

We would also link specific objective 1 and 2 through Digitalization:

POLICY OBJECTIVE 2: MADEIRA + GREENER
Specific Objective 2.6 Promote the transition to a circular and resource-efficient economy

Aiming for the twin transition with a greener Region, careful in adapting to climate change, preserving the environment and energy transition, in line with the objectives of the Green Deal and also of the Fit for 55 Package, in which Digital Innovation will be crucial.

Programme Réunion ERDF-ESF+ 2021-2027 is the Investment for Jobs and Growth programme for Réunion.
Investment Priority 2 is dedicated to: Reaping the benefits of digitisation for citizens, companies, research organisations and public authorities.

The Priority Investment 2 defines three main objectives:
- stimulate the development of e-services (both public and private),
- increase the digitisation rate of very small companies (74% of local companies have no employees) and
- support regional resilience in emergency / crisis situations.

To that end, 17,7 M€ will be invested in the 21-27 period to support 4 main types of actions:
- The digital transformation of public services
- The development of new e-health services
- The promotion of digital tools and solutions toward very small companies
- The reduction of digital illiteracy and digital divide in an aging and social vulnerable population.

Such investment is expected by 2029 to generate 119 000 individual users of new services developed by local companies (representing 14% of the population) and 181 914 users of public services (21%).

The Schéma Directeur Territorial d'Aménagement Numérique (SDTAN, 2021) is the masterplan for digital development of the Department of Mayotte. It is the unique document that sets the guidelines for digital development in Mayotte.

A SDTAN constitutes a common frame of reference for public actors: it makes it possible to define a strategy and an appropriate approach, bringing together public actions at all levels. This scheme will also ensure the complementarity of public and private initiatives.
There are 6 main objectives to our policy instrument:

1. Complete the connection network so that it is resilient (e.g.: Build a submarine cable linking the two islands Grande-Terre and Petite-Terre.)
2. Develop Fibre-to-the-Home (FttH) in Mayotte by connecting nearly 100% of homes (80000).
3. Promote the deployment of mobile networks on the territory of Mayotte
4. Strengthen the security of international connections by promoting Mayotte connection solutions by submarine cable connections.
5. Develop digital uses and services: Carry out a Development Strategy for Digital Uses and Services (SDUSN).
6. Implementing a public assets management policy: Create a Geographic Information System and an observatory of the digital development of Mayotte; integrate a “digital reflex” into development projects in Mayotte and develop the coordination of works.


In DIGITAL ISLANDS we will focus in particular on objective 5: developing digital uses and services.

The IT strategy for the Åland Islands was formulated in 2018 by the government in Åland and applies to all aspects of public administration in Åland.

The Legislative Assembly and the Government of Åland jointly committed in 2014 to strive towards a fully sustainable development on Åland by 2051. The public sector plays a central role in achieving sustainability for Åland, and therefore, the IT strategy is based on the vision outlined in the Development and sustainability agenda for Åland (www.barkraft.ax). Three sustainable development goals guide the IT strategy:

• Everyone feels confident and has real opportunities to participate in society
• Attractiveness for residents, visitors and businesses
• Sustainable and conscious consumption and production patterns.

The IT strategy for Åland encompasses all areas within the public sector. It serves as a steering document and decision support for digitisation development for all public authorities, provincial and municipal.

It sets out how IT-related decisions must contribute to the Åland sustainable development objectives and defines a common level of ambition for IT capacity in the public sector. This covers digitisation efforts of public authorities as well as digitisation initiatives by authorities in cooperation with different socio-economic actors in the region.

Throughout the DIGITAL ISLANDS project, we will specifically work towards finding solutions to various challenges in healthcare, education, and tourism.

The Development Plan of Cres-Lošinj Archipelago until 2027 is a medium-term act of strategic planning, aimed at directing economic growth and improving the quality of life in accordance with a sustainable development. The holders of the Development Plan are the Town of Cres and the Town of Mali Lošinj.
The Development Plan includes an analysis of the situation, vision and strategic framework with key indicators for monitoring, implementation, term and financial plan.
The Plan includes 4 priorities

1. High quality of life for children and young people
2. Islands of sustainable economy and desirable working environment
3. Smart and green islands
4. Quality of life for all residents

These priorities are elaborated in 11 particular objectives and 41 measures.

The aim of the Development Plan is to define the overall development goals of the archipelago and propose measures for their achievement. The Plan identifies digitalisation as a cross-cutting issue that offers possible ways for realising its development objectives.

In addition to this cross-cutting approach to digitisation, the Plan includes three measures directly related to the digitalisation. One envisages investments in the digital infrastructure as a prerequisite for digitalisation of all sectors and aspects of life. A second one is focused on general promotion of the digital literacy of people and businesses. A third measure aims to improve quality of service and infrastructure of healthcare through telemedicine.

Based on identified needs, effectively addressing structural weaknesses and exploiting the significant potential and benefits, the main goal of the South Aegean Regional OP 2021-2027 is to "strengthen and diversify the Region’s productive system by adopting a strategy of diversification of the tourism product, to ensure sustainable development and resource sustainability and to strengthen spatial and social cohesion for the benefit of its inhabitants and visitors".

To achieve its development vision, the South Aegean Regional OP 2021-2027, adopts as Strategic Objectives:
•Strengthening and diversifying the production system
•Effective management of environment and resources
•Improving regional connectivity and mobility
•Strengthening social cohesion and the labour market
•Strengthening spatial cohesion and alleviating intra-regional inequalities.

Digitisation is firmly embedded in the programme, especially in:
Priority: 1. A more competitive and smarter Europe
Spec. Obj. 1.2. Reaping the benefits of digitization for citizens, companies, research & public authorities.
A.1.2 Development of digital applications in culture and tourism
A.1.3 Development and implementation of telemedicine methods and remote care/support solutions for vulnerable and geographically isolated groups
A.1.4 Development and enrichment of digital services to citizens and businesses by local government organizations and chambers
A 1.5 Strengthening investments for the digital transformation of Businesses

The Operational Program Azores 2030 is the new ERDF Operational Programme for Jobs and Growth of Azores Region for 2021-2027. It is managed by the Regional Government of Azores.

The OP covers a broad range of thematic objectives for smart economic growth, for the promotion of skilled employment, social cohesion, mobility, environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

The OP identifies digitisation as a pilar that can reinforce public services, education and public and private entities.
Digitisation is integrated specifically in the following OP priorities:

Policy Objective 1. “Promoting economic development, research, innovation and digitalisation”
• 1.2 Digitisation. This includes supporting digitisation for citizens, businesses, research organisations and public authorities; qualification and training to support productivity, knowledge transmission and social cohesion; cyber security skills; strengthening digital connectivity, access to technology, infrastructures in a context of insularity and territorial fragmentation.

Policy Objective 4. “Promoting Social Cohesion Strategies”
• 4.2 Access to education, training and lifelong learning - emphasises the need to develop the educational system and implement distance learning options.
• 4.5 Access to health care - targets the reinforcement and digitalisation of health care services in response to the territorial challenges of the islands.