Regional aspects of demographic change (DEMOCLUST)

Funding informations

Project duration: 01/2012 – 04/2016

Project code number: FKZ 01HH11069

Funding guideline: Förderschwerpunkts „Innovationsfähigkeit im demografischen Wandel“

Project concept

Initial situation

Our working world is undergoing profound change. For example, the age structure in Germany and comparable industrialised nations has changed fundamentally in recent years, so that more and more employees are leaving the workforce while the number of people entering the workforce is decreasing. This development poses many new challenges, especially for SMEs, such as loss of knowledge, retention of skilled workers and reduction of innovative strength.

Target groups and their benefits

The DEMOCLUST project was aimed at SMEs in the Bavarian cluster of sensor technology in order to use the innovative regional networking structure "cluster" for demography-proof, sustainable human resources development. The companies were sensitised to the demographic problem and supported with the demographic management and "diversity management" of the cluster's demographic consultancy. This enabled them to better exploit the region's potential, use diversity in companies, secure the skills of their skilled workers and strengthen their innovative capacity....

Project goal

The project goal of DEMOCLUST was to use the structure of clusters for sustainable human resources development, taking demographic change into account. The project work focused on establishing a demographic advisory service and thus strengthening regional networking, securing the regional pool of skilled workers and thus strengthening the foundations of innovative strength in the region.

Role of SoWiBeFo

SoWiBeFo coordinated the research and development of the project. SoWiBeFo undertook the needs assessment, assisted in the development of the instruments for the strategic steering of demography management and moderated the development dialogue between the network partners and the practitioners and supporters ("value partners").

For the services developed in the project, Strategische Partnerschaft Sensorik e. V. was rewarded as the "Innovative Network 2014" in the area of regional skilled labour security from the Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales (BMAS).

Products and publications

  • Conducting a needs assessment among the member companies of the Sensor Technology Cluster with regard to the perceived shortage of skilled workers and other problems associated with demographic change; Ducki, A.; Baumann, A.; Krauss, A.; Miosga, M.; Merten, T.; Welter, F. (Hrsg.): Regionale Aspekte des demografischen Wandel. Eine Orientierungshilfe zur Gestaltung demografischer Herausforderungen.
  • Development, establishment and testing of needs-based demography management
  • Conducting a SWOT analysis on the competence development of demographic advisors, formats of cooperation between cluster members in dialogue forums 
  • Development and testing of a model tool kit to secure regional skilled labour (including measures to maintain the skills of experienced skilled workers, recruitment and integration of new skilled workers) and the development of instruments for action planning, implementation and control (including demographic roadmap, balanced scorecard, DiaLogisch practical meeting) 
  • Creation of a learning platform as a knowledge repository for demographic counselling and the multimedia transfer of project results
  • Publication of the project results in a book: Krauss, A.; Fuchs S.; Jungwirth, C. (Hrsg.): DemograWie? Demografiemanagement in einem Hightech-Cluster, Bielefeld: W. Bertelsmann Verlag.

Partnerships

Partners

  • Germany (project coordination): Strategische Partnerschaft Sensorik e. V.
  • Germany: Universität Passau, Lehrstuhl für internationales Management
  • Germany: Hofmann Leiterplatten GmbH
  • Germany: Verein für sozialwissenschaftliche Beratung und Forschung e. V.

Associated Partners

  • Arbeitsagentur Regensburg
  • Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung
  • DGB Kreis Regensburg

We will be happy to provide you with the project results on request. For further information, please contact our Team.