4.5 million euros has been allocated to the project
The ‘Regio Deal Zuid- en Oost- Drenthe’ aims to help get children interested in science and technology, support households in making their homes energy efficient, and help residents organise care for each other, amongst other projects. A steering group has allocated over 4.5 million euros to start new projects and to continue or extend existing projects. All of these projects have the broad aim of increasing prosperity in the region, says the Province in a news release.
All projects sit within the field of work, living and welfare, and are being worked on by a mixture of entrepreneurs, care providers, schools and housing associations, and local government.
Henk Jumelet, chairman of the steering committee for the Regio Deal said: “by learning from each other and working together, we can make a difference and build a strong future for this beautiful region ”.
Skills4future
In this project, businesses, educational institutions and the government are working together on future-proofing technical vocational education. It aims to build knowledge sharing and innovation through more active collaboration between institutions, businesses, and agencies.
Youth and technology
The Province wants to introduce young people to developing new technology from an early age. One example it points to is the Fablab Coevorden (a public digital workplace), which introduces children from group 6/7 (ages 10-12) to technology and the application of technology in society. In addition, an Open Science Hub in Exloo is in the works, and aims to be somewhere that technology and science can be made accessible to children. And the successful Fablab in Hardenberg will be expanded to include a mini mobile Fablab.
Living experimental gardens
Over the next four years, each municipality in the region will conduct experiments to improve energy efficiency in homes. This is done in ‘testing grounds’, to experience which approach works best in the part of Drenthe. In addition to testing grounds in Hoogeveen, Borger-Odoorn and Emmen, testing grounds in Aa and Hunze, Coevorden and Hardenberg are now also being funded.
Image: the Provinciehuis in Assen. Image via Wikimedia user Lfblaauw. License here.