A new EU project to diminish urban-rural digital inequalities via XG, last-mile connectivity and edge computing solutions.

XGain fosters a sustainable, balanced, and inclusive development of rural, coastal and urban areas by facilitating access to relevant stakeholders to a comprehensive inventory of smart XG, last-mile connectivity and edge computing solutions, and of related assessment methods. The XGain’s project overall objective is to deliver a Knowledge Facilitation Tool, facilitating business model development, supporting decision-making in the selection of an ecosystem of technologies, consisting of connectivity options and edge processing solutions, by following a multi-actor and practitioner-oriented approach, and by coherently assessing their socio-economic and techno-environmental effects.

Providing access to connectivity and computing solutions to rural, coastal and urban areas
Accessibility and connectivity are key issues to mitigate this erosion of socio-territorial cohesion. However, identifying a common solution for equipping rural communities with increased access to services, opportunities and adequate innovation ecosystems ensuring that no one left behind is a challenging task, mainly due to the diversity of challenges and needs of different locations. In this respect, XGain fosters a sustainable, balanced and inclusive development of rural, coastal and urban areas by facilitating access to relevant stakeholders, such as municipalities, policymakers, farmers, foresters and their associations, to a comprehensive inventory of smart XG, last-mile connectivity and edge computing solutions, and of related assessment methods.

Objectives

XGain’s core ambition is to gather all the necessary pieces of the puzzle called “Rural Digital Connectivity” into a Knowledge Facilitation Tool (Digital Platform). With an easy to use web-based interface, interested stakeholders will have the ability to select “pieces of their puzzle” (requirements). Options like sector of interest (e.g. Agriculture), service (e.g. Precision Farming), location needs (e.g. connectivity range) and scale (farm/community/regional), will be compiled as inputs and processed. In a consistent, efficient and effective way, XGain’s Knowledge Facilitation Tool, will utilize user’s inputs and based on the Knowledge “Gains” will provide recommendations for the “best-fit” technological solutions that are both cost-effective and environmentally friendly taking into consideration local-social aspects. Finally, XGain will identify existing and develop alternative business models adapted to real-life/real-needs conditions.

 All in all, XGain’s platform is intended to provide the best digital connectivity solutions to all stakeholders in an ad-hoc way by answering all of their questions and hesitations.

The XGain consortium with 17 partner is led by the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems in Athens (ICCS). ZSI leads the workpackage "Interactive Definition of User-oriented Requirements" and contributes to further WPs.

At a glance - Key facts and figures

• Instrument: Horizon Europe
• Total costs:  €4.886.149,00
• Duration: 3 years, 2022-2025
• Consortium: A total of 17 partners from 12 European countries

Team:

• Richard Anar, MA
• M.A. Gorazd A. Weiss (project leader)
• Magª. Pamela Bartar, MAS
• Armin Bund, BA
• Fiorda Llukmani, MSc MA
• MMag. Johannes Waldmueller, Dr.

Section: Research Policy & Development

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Tags: agriculture, co-creation, digital divide, digitalisation, rural development, social innovation