Starting signal for the EU project "Creative digital storytelling for the visibility of SMEs". The State Commissioner for Regional Development Braunschweig, Dr. Ulrike Witt, handed over the funding decision of 122,708 euros to the project sponsors at the Ostfalia Medienzentrum. The project is being supported with EU funds via the Zukunftsregion SüdOstNiedersachsen.
The two-year project for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their employees in the city of Salzgitter and the district of Peine aims to strengthen regional innovative capacity. In addition, small and medium-sized enterprises are to become more competitive through digital storytelling.
"The project combines the expertise of the regional business development agencies with that of Ostfalia University in an exemplary way. The focus on practice-oriented research creates a direct win-win situation for science and SMEs. With the EU funds, we are enabling a model transfer of knowledge in the field of communication management," says Dr. Ulrike Witt, State Commissioner.
"Our aim is to enable SMEs and regionally rooted companies to tell their own stories professionally and in a way that is appropriate for the channel. We don't just want to impart knowledge, we want to create a permanent training program that is perfectly tailored to the region through accompanying research," explain project managers Melitta Arz and Meike Henkel from project sponsor wito.
The project is characterized by unique framework conditions throughout Germany. With its "Digital Storytelling" course and state-of-the-art laboratory infrastructure for audio and video production, Ostfalia University offers technical equipment that is unparalleled in Germany.
Harald Rau, research professor for communication management at Ostfalia and responsible for the project, emphasizes the importance of the planned accompanying research in addition to the extraordinary impact in terms of regional knowledge transfer: "We are looking directly into the 'engine room' of the companies, identifying real needs and developing a coherent concept that can be scaled to the entire region of south-eastern Lower Saxony and beyond after the pilot phase."
Following the project launch in spring 2026 and initial acquisition events in the local authorities, the project is divided into two phases:
Year 1 (pilot phase): Implementation of modular workshops on platform logic (Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn), storytelling and mobile video production. Accompanying research to identify specific topics will start in parallel.
Year 2 (evaluation & transfer): The findings from the first year are compared with practice in further workshop rounds. The aim is to finalize the design of a sustainable further training program.
"The EU-funded project supports small and medium-sized enterprises in further developing their digital communication. The collaboration with project staff from Ostfalia, who work together with the companies to develop strategies and implement measures, offers sustainable added value," emphasizes the project manager at WIS, Andrea Weidlich.
At the end of the two-year project period, a scientifically sound and practice-tested qualification solution will have been developed, which will ensure the sustainable transfer of knowledge from Ostfalia University to the regional economy.
Interested companies from the city of Salzgitter and the district of Peine can obtain information about participation opportunities from WIS or wito in the run-up to the launch:
Wirtschafts- und Innovationsförderung Salzgitter GmbH (WIS GmbH), Andrea Weidlich, 05341 / 900 99 60, andrea.weidlichwis-salzgitterde
Wirtschafts- und Tourismusfördergesellschaft Landkreis Peine mbH (wito GmbH): Melitta Arz, 05172/9492-621, m.arzwito-gmbhde Meike Henkel, 05172/9492-623, m.henkelwito-gmbhde