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What this conference is about ?

   The COVID19 pandemic has a strong impact on the economy, society and mental wellbeing of people all over the world. Rural and islands communities and their economies have been affected by the pandemic. The tourism, small business sector services and transport have been hit the most. The continuity and recovery of businesses and public sector services during and after the epidemic take a lot of efforts, resources and time.  The pandemic affected people attitude and perception of life and environment, their abilities to do work and carry our business activities. The pandemic often challenged individual, families and society integrity and values by putting financial, emotional, mental, regulatory pressure on people and society.
The islands and villages economy, people employment and wellbeing are closely connected to global processes affected by COVID19 pandemic such as global economic recession, decline of international tourism, disruption of transport networks, migration, tension in politics and international relationships, radicalization, lack of security and challenged religious and civil society values.
  The COVID19 response requires mobilization of efforts and strong cooperation at local, national and international levels, high level of individual and collective social responsibilities. It requires effective and timely cooperation between science, authorities, civil society organizations, infrastructure operators, businesses, service providers and population.  

Open questions about the future  
        The COVID19 pandemic opens many new questions. How we will continue to live and to work during the next years?  How the pandemic will develop? What will be our main priorities in the future for living and social environments, health, communication and lifestyle? How we will travel, will do business in the new realities? How we will support our physical, emotional and mental wellbeing? What could be the cultural, societal and political implications of the pandemic and how they will affect us? How our culture, national, European, traditional values could help us to survive and to overcome the difficulties and to help us to stay strong together?      

What is the “platform” and  how it can help?
The establishing of integrated platforms projects aiming to cope with impact of COVID19 in different sectors has become a  priority for EU, national and regional authorities (1) .
The platforms are aiming to help to cope with pandemic and its impact on the economy, businesses and society.
They help to find answers for those questions and predict the future developments, to plan our activities . The platforms  help to communicate, to develop new knowledges, to collect and analyse data, to exchange experiences and information, to provide support, education, services, advise on many societal, economic, health related, environmental, legal and other matters.
   The ICT, digital and data-based analytics technologies are playing the key role in the platform’s operations.
   Many of existing platforms are the hubs where science, technology, society, authorities are working together to solve the concrete problems , to provide information and services, to respond to immediate needs of people and organizations.
   The platforms could help to connect rural areas and islands communities, to solve concrete problems, to provide to people the necessary services and information, to support local businesses, to support mental wellbeing.
   The platforms developments and operations require participation and cooperation of civil society, local communities, authorities, businesses and universities.  Platforms projects development requires establishing of a dialog on priorities, cooperation, operations and partnership, financing.   

International and local participation in platforms development. Smart Island Lab.
  The platform development usually needs an expertise that could be acquired only at international level and requires local adaptation to economic, natural, social and political environments which has to be carried out by national and local organizations and experts, NGOs, universities and public authorities.
  The conference invites international participation of organizations from Adriatic and Nordic- Baltic regions and promotes establishing of national interest group and a local Lab in Sothern Croatia for techno-social innovation and COVID19 recovery on islands and in rural areas - Smart Island Lab for Socio-Technological Innovation and Digitalization (SILI)

Nordic-Adriatic cooperation for platform development
   The Nordic and the Adrian seas regions are the two EU  regions with many synergies, common features and interests, they have many interesting complementarities for socio technological innovation and digital platforms development. The sea, islands and rural communities are the important part of economy, culture, natural and business ecosystems of the two regions. The regions tourism is well developed.  The Nordic countries have a world class innovative ICT sector, developed knowledge-based economy, social innovation and Living Labs experiences, culture of openness and neutrality, respect for privacy and human rights, highest happiness index of population, clean environment, developed volunteering culture and civil society, high level of education and public health systems.
  Croatia and the Adriatic region are well recognized tourist destinations that could be an attractive place for knowledge based economy development and new start up in ICT areas and other hi-tech sectors like   health, green energy, intelligent transport systems.  The region provides many opportunities for thematic and recreational tourism development, has rich historical and cultural heritage, strong sense of national identity and traditional religious values. It has geographical proximity to the number of new EU accessing countries on the Balkans.     
   An international dialog between Adriatic and Nordic regions at conference will explore and exploit regional and smart specialization strategy complementarities, will facilitate exchange of ideas, experiences and information, will help to establish new contacts , partnerships and projects cooperation, which in turn could help to develop tourism, education, and attract people and skills to the region.
   The conference invites to present and discuss smart solutions and platforms that could address key problems and challenges of rural communities and islands induced by COVID19 pandemic such as employment, tourism development, local economy, young people motivation and employment, environment, education, health.
 
Topics

Smart villages, regions and islands
· Smart Villages
· Smart Regions and Cities
· Smart Islands
· The impact of COVID19
· Digital platforms for COVID19 recovery

Smart Culture 
· Culture and historical heritage preservation and traditions.  Digital platforms for culture and historical heritage preservation

Smart thematic tourism
· Smart sectoral rural, islands tourism platforms and experiences (cultural tourism, virtual tourism, business cooperation development based on tourism)

Smart Society
· Smart digital solutions and platforms for societal development
· Social innovation in rural areas and islands, digital tools  
· ICT sector - new employment opportunities for yang people in remote areas and islands, education     ·        
· Societal cohesion and democracy- digital platforms
· Intergeneration dialog, keeping traditional and religious values, religion, the role of ICT   
· Children’s education and recreation, digital tools to improve children education, incl children with disabilities, children recreational camps  

Smart Environment
· Environment – sustainable nature-based solutions, smart national parks

Wellbeing
· Happiness and mental wellbeing, the role of ICT and digital tools
· Social innovation and new economic models and digital tools, living labs

Globalization
· Globalization, peacekeeping and COVID19 recovery
· ICT for peace dialog, reconciliations and peace innovation in digital age, prevention of extremism
· COVID 19 recovery, overcoming the negative economic and cultural impact of globalization  
 
Project meetings: Norwegian EAA Grant projects, ERASMUS, H2020 and ERDF projects


 

About SILA conferences

 The SILA conferences discuss policies and legislations that can help to attract human capital and foreign investments to Croatia,  stimulate economic grow and development of smart islands and regions programs, contribute to sustainable tourism and to develop prosperous modern knowledge based society able to face globalisation challenges and to preserve its national traditions and religious values addressing  at the same time key societal priorities and wellbeing needs of local population.  
  The conferences provide discussion platform for companies, public authorities, universities, NGOs , investors and ordinary people on polices, legislations and concreate projects that they  expect to be implemented in the future to improve businesses, economics, wellbeing, tourism and other sectors by digitalisation and smart technologies.  

SILA conferences aim:
  • to discuss innovative financing models for Smart Islands, Smart Cities and Regions projects
  • to demonstrate to local islands communities what options they might have in developing of their islands
  • to stimulate international clusters cooperation in the domains of smart green energy, smart tourism and health, environment, transport, social cohesion and wellbeing aiming to prepare for the next long-term EU budget for development and innovation 2020 -> to be ready for calls  and to start preparing of several project proposal
  • to start and to provide a discussion platform on Dalmatian island for continuous international dialog on these topics.  

One of the main focus areas are Smart Islands and Regions Labs for Socio-Technological innovation with the participation of academia, local communities and people aiming to improve life, wellbeing and social cohesion.
This topic is very relevant for Croatia, Mediterranean region and several Scandinavian-Baltic countries such as Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Norway and Denmark.
One of the central ideas of this strategy is to develop a multidisciplinary collaboration between key stakeholders and research community (nationally and internationally) to help solving complex problems and challenges of smart regions and islands. It includes regional development, economic growth, infrastructure and services, environment, social cohesion, immigration and the sustainable tourism.
Target audience:
  • Local islands and regions communities 
  • Public authorities and innovation agencies interested to present visions of smart islands, regions and cities developments, interests in cooperation, ongoing projects and initiatives.     
  • Universities and scientists presenting research results, demonstrating applicability and potential of multidisciplinary research in smart solutions developments, providing systematic, holistic, open and ethical approaches.
  • Companies to present strategies, smart solution and to discuss implementation and piloting for concrete topics and regional development priorities challenges    
   The conference invites free participation of representatives of local islands communities’ and NGOs interested to present challenges of islands, their visions of what and how improvements could be made and to participate in discussions.

You are invited to join us as an author of the paper or a regular attendee with no paper.  Check the details at https://www.smartislandregion.com/registration.html and hurry up with your registration.

Location
The unique location on Mljet island in Saplunara with the best beaches in Croatia and among few best beaches in the world , surrounded by green forest provides opportunity to work and to relax in private atmosphere. The conference organized in unique entirely friendly sustainable setting in a small private hotel which just  few meters from the sea. It provides accommodation in apartments near the sea and attractive recreation opportunities for sports, cultural, environmental and gastro tourism.  
Saplunara, Mljet Island, Croatia - 3 Days
Where science and innovation meet stakeholders and community  to build partnerships and projects for International Smart Island Lab for social and technological innovation and COVID19 recovery platfroms
Reserve your seat today!
SILA conference flyer download
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Svrha konferencije je okupiti znanstvene i inovacijske zajednice, projekte i međunarodne mreže kako bi se predstavili rezultati znanstvenih istraživanja, razmotrili zajednički interesi i nove mogućnosti za zajednički rad na izgradnji novih projekata i partnerstva za pametne otoke i regije.

Ciljevi konferencije SILA:
  • raspravljati o inovativnim modelima financiranja projekata pametnih otoka, pametnih gradova i regija
  • pokazati lokalnim otočkim zajednicama kakve bi mogućnosti mogle imati razvojem svojih otoka
  • poticati suradnju međunarodnih klastera u područjima pametne zelene energije, pametnog turizma i zdravlja, zatim okoliša, prometa, socijalne kohezije i blagostanja s ciljem pripreme za sljedeći dugoročni proračun EU-a za razvoj i inovacije 2020 -> kako bi se bilo spremno za pozive i pripremu nekoliko prijedloga projekata
  • započeti i pružati platformu za raspravu na jednom od dalmatinskih otoka za kontinuirani međunarodni dijalog o tim temama.

Ova je tema vrlo važna za Hrvatsku, regiju Mediterana i nekoliko skandinavsko-baltičkih zemalja, poput Finske, Švedske, Estonije, Norveške i Danske.

Otok Mljet kao jedinstvena lokacija uz vrijeme održavanja same konferencije pružit će vam užitak u netaknutoj prirodi jednog od najljepših mediteranskih otoka.
Conference scope
 
  The conference addresses complex challenges and problems of Smart Islands and Regions where multidisciplinary scientific cooperation, digitalization could provide input to practical implementations of smart socio-technological solutions aiming to solve these problems including the COVID19 recovery digital platfroms and solutions.  

  The conference addresses challenges of sustainability, economic development and growth, digitalization, environment, smart energy,  smart tourism development, immigration, social cohesion. 
 
  It provides a discussions platform for representatives of different clusters and ecosystems involved in smart islands and regions development across of Europe (Balkan, Nordic, Central Europe) to meet and to discuss new cooperation opportunities.
 
  We are putting forward the scientific systematic approach, extensive use of Smart ICT, socio-technological integration, the use of advanced innovation methods and tools such as Living Labs.

  The conference will start dialog on establishing projects and partnership for SILI . 
 
Who should attend and invited?
 
   Island Communities to presetn their challenges visions and expectations

   Public authorities and innovation agencies inetrested to present visons of smart islands, regions and cities developments, interests in cooperation, ongoing projects and initiatives.     

    Universities and scientists presenting research results , demonstrating applicability and potential of multidisciplinary research in smart solitons developments, providing systematic, holistic, open and ethical approaches.

   Companies to present strategies, smart solution and to discuss implementation and piloting for concreate topics and regional development priorities challenges    
   
   The conference invites free participation of representatives of local islands communities’ and NGOs interested to present challenges of islands, their visions of what and how improvements could be made and to participate in discussions




RSVP.
 See you there!