The transformation of the automotive industry poses major challenges, particularly for small and medium-sized companies in the supplier sector and the automotive trade. In order to provide this target group with orientation in the midst of change and knowledge for strategic decision-making, an advice center was set up within the Transformationswissen BW project.
The advice center is located at e-mobil BW GmbH, the State Agency for New Mobility Solutions and Automotive Baden-Württemberg. Its task is to facilitate access to existing target group-specific support services. For this, the advice center is currently working with more than 40 partners whose services in the areas of qualification, networking and knowledge transfer are clearly presented at the web platform www.transformationswissen-bw.de.
In personal meetings, the advice center team looks at the individual situations of the companies and explains the relevant developments and trends as well as suitable funding options.
Events with regional partners as part of the "Automotive in Bewegung" series and the various short studies that are published in the "Wissen Kompakt" series contribute to the building and transfer of knowledge in the industry. In addition, the advice center supports the regional transformation networks in Baden-Württemberg and creates synergies.
The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism also supported small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with individual consulting with the "Transformation Automotive Industry" consulting voucher. Due to the high demand, the funding was increased by around one million euros at the beginning of the year and the application deadline was extended until May 31, 2024. After this deadline expired, the great success of the funding program launched in January 2021 became apparent: A total of around 800 applications were submitted by around 500 companies. Over 80% of the applications were submitted by companies with fewer than 250 employees. Around half of the applications were submitted by companies in the manufacturing sector, and around a quarter by companies in the automotive industry.
