Conference objectives:

 The SILA2021 hybrid inter-regional international conference is aiming to discuss COVID post-pandemic recovery of coastal smart regions, islands and rural areas of Croatian Adriatic and Central Baltic sea regions   

by applying and discussing
- smart digital/ICT technologies and digital innovation (hubs) capacities to create digital platforms and electronic services for businesses, authorities,  tourists and local population to help pandemic recovery and to facilitate economic and social developments, national and inter-regional international cooperation
- social innovation methods, projects and initiatives with the participation of islands and regional, rural communities, NGOs and public authorities
- contribution and inputs of scientific research and educational communities to solve complex socioeconomic and digitalization challenges related to post-pandemic recovery, prevention and responses to possible future risks and to economic and social developments of regions involved (conference concept on presented on the picture below)

by connecting local,  regional and international communities 
   The conference is aiming to mobilize local activities, capacities and interests in new technologies, educations, communities and civil society dialogs and active participation in smart islands and village developments and to facilitate interest in learning and international cooperation.
 The conference provides discussion platform and presentation floor for local people, communities and organizations from different parts of EU including Southern Dalmatia/Croatian Adriatic and Southern Finland/Central Baltic  regions to help them to explore the complimentary between local business ecosystems ,  to allow to discuss cooperation, partnerships and new projects to help to reestablishment tourism and local economies to facility post COVID recovery .
  The conference will discuss opportunities and concrete steps in post COVID smart tourism development, green mobility and energy  for  economic recovery of Croatian Adriatic/South Dalmatia  and Central Baltic/ Southern Finland regions  which could benefit from inter-regional exchange of views, experiences , best practices and to leverage from complimentary of smart regions policies and capacities in  ICT, tourism, environmental protection green blue energy, mobility,   public health and education sectors. 

by having modular structure focused on practical implementation and future  follow ups 
 The hybrid conference agenda and thematic topics discussion have scalable modular structure that allow the extension of discussion on line, the  use of tools to ensure the continuity of the communication and participation over longer time and a broader safe international participation including remote areas. 
 The conference will help to shape and to prioritize topics for next larger follow up international events and to facilitate practical developments of new projects, initiatives and centers for the topics

Who should attend?
  Islands and rural communities, NGOs, tourist boards and agencies, operators,  innovation organizations and centers, digital innovations hubs,  regional, national and local authorities ,  SMEs and companies , and all  interested in establishment cooperation, partnerships and new projects, international cooperation on these topics  

Expected outcome of the conference:
  • the possibility for islands, rural communities, NGOs public authorities to get familiar with the new opportunities and best practices in smart tourism, green mobility, energy  and digitization that might contribute  post-pandemic COVID recovery by creation new businesses, establishing safe procedures and introducing new services) the examples, and reference links will be available online after the conference)
  • to collect expressions (locally and internationally) of interests , project development ideas to be discussed. To establish partnership to follow up for new tourist businesses, services, cooperation initiatives, artistic residencies and, social innovation initiatives , NGOs establishing 
  • to develop recommendations, next practical steps, business plans for post COVID smart sustainable tourism development including thematic tourism, schools exchange, volunteering tourism, Eco tourism, Digital Nomads in the rural areas and island involved
  • to establish new marketing channels and cooperation between tours organizers/operators , tourist boards in Baltic and Adriatic regions
  • to discuss complimentary COVID infection prevention measures to strengthen safety of tourist traveling between the regions  
  • to discuss international cooperation opportunities between universities, companies, NGOs and public organization for smart sustainable tourism development based on digital and social innovations and Living Lab experiences 
  • to establish new cooperation and new contacts between organization and people living in coastal areas and on islands at Adriatic and Central Baltic Sea regions 
  • to improve understanding of opportunities and possible cooperation links with Digital Innovation Hubs, companies and SMEs, universities in applying digitization ans digital platforms for post COVID tourism and economic development, new digital services development in rural areas and on islands
  • to get involved in the preparation for new projects and center development
  • it is expected to launch one or several thematic initiatives/projects on COVID tourism recovery (see IMPLEMENTATION sessions in the agenda below)
  • to establish international interest group, multidisciplinary network and forum with the involvement of regions , islands NGOs and authorities, digital hubs and innovation organizations, universities and schools interested in applying innovative smart digital technologies, social innovation and cooperation with scientific community, Living Labs   to facilitate post pandemic recovery, smart sustainable tourism envelopment and improvement of well being of local rural and islands population

 

SILA2021 hybrid conference concept, objectives and topics:
Picture

SILA2021 modular sessions structure (on-line/in-person meetings) :

click on sessions titles or proceed to the main SILA2021 menu  and to view agenda register for sessions
SILA2021 OPENING AND KEY NOTES
EU, regional authorities and organizations, international organization,  scientific and local communities, thematic sectors (tourism, energy, mobility , health ) representatives    
                                               STRATEGIC COOPERATION  TRACKS:                                                                                                                            THEMATIC TOPICS TRACKS:       
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EU and Central Baltic - Southern Dalmatian regions dialog *
EU and Inter-regional Southern Finland and Southern  Dalmatia
Smart Regions and Islands innovation dialog for post-pandemic recovery.

Central Baltic - Adriatic Croatia and Western Balkans cooperation opportunities for blue, green sustainable development. 
Science - society, Lab

  Smart islands and villages conceptualization and science-society dialog on recovery, resilience, well-being, and digitalization.
  System complexity, ICT and human science

Island as socio-technological innovation Lab  *
Tourism *

New forms of tourism.

Digital nomads and remote workers (DNRW) on Islands.

Digital villages, artistic and scientific communities on islands.

DNRW friendly rural island   Mljet. *
 Mobility *

Green Smart Mobility solutions for Islands
   Energy

Energy transition on islands









IMPLEMENTATION AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT:  *   (open to new proposals)
- Tourism
- Mobility
- Smart Island-Village Digital Innovation Center Living Lab
*- in person (hybrid) meetings possibility  is open depending on epidemiological situation in September 2021  (decision to be made 1st- 2nd weeks of  September 2021)
-  the other sessions will be on line

SILA2021 venue: https://ms-bar-restaurant.com/
guests accommodation in surrounding mini hotels and private properties -  for reservation links please see the links at the Location and logistics previous SILA2019 year page