Cross-border cooperation for a digitally inclusive society: APOLLO project partners meeting

In July 2026, the Slovenian and Italian partners of the Interreg ASP Project: Apollo came together for a twinning meeting to exchange experiences, share progress, and learn from each other's pilot training activities implemented in both countries. During the meeting, partners presented their ongoing work and key achievements:

• The Municipality of Novo mesto showcased the development of its e-application portal.
• CIK Trebnje presented the training programmes delivered to municipal employees.
• FOŠ introduced its training programme aimed at strengthening the digital skills of local citizens.
• The Municipality of Saluzzo presented the implementation of its pilot activity, concerning the experimentation of the digital animation service for SMEs, supporting workers to access digital welfare services.

Although the pilot activities address different local needs, both the Slovenian and Italian partners reached the same conclusion: successful digital inclusion is not only about technology—it is about people.

Building trust and supporting citizens through human relationships is essential for encouraging the adoption of digital public services. The twinning meeting confirmed and strengthened this shared approach through the exchange of good practices. Both partners highlighted that digital inclusion is most effective when technical expertise is combined with social support. In Saluzzo, this is reflected in a multidisciplinary digital animation model that brings together a digital enabler and a social enhancer.

In Novo mesto, workshops for citizens will be delivered jointly by an IT expert and a psychologist, while vulnerable groups will receive additional support from organisations specialised in working with these target groups. Twinning meetings like this provide an excellent opportunity to exchange good practices, strengthen cross-border cooperation, and jointly develop people-centred solutions that make digital public services more accessible and inclusive for everyone.