ITKAM is the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Germany and Programme Enabler Manager for EU DigiTOUR. Sonia Barani and Matilde Paganini are definitely the soul of ITKAM European Project Management. Two smiling faces and a great deal of commitment and passion awaited me during the interview.
Let’s meet them!
How long have you been working on ITKAM? Can you tell us more about your role?
Matilde: I’ve been working for ITKAM as a Project Assistant for one and half years. ITKAM is a German-registered non-profit bilateral association and has three offices in Germany, Frankfurt am Main (Headquarter) Berlin and Leipzig (Regional Offices) as well as representative offices in Italy and Austria. I work from the Berlin office, while Sonia from the Leipzig office. My role is to strengthen economic relations between Italy and Germany and I’m focusing mainly on tourism, food, and education related to European Projects.
Sonia: I’ve been working at ITKAM for 5 years now as Project Manager for European Projects. As Matilde told you, as a non-profit organization based in Germany with representations in Italy and Austria, ITKAM is eligible as a German, Italian, and Austrian partner within various European funding programs. ITKAM has been helping Italian and German businesses to develop for over 110 years. We are accredited by MIUR (ministry of the Italian government for the national education system, the Italian universities and research) and we offer mobility opportunities such as Erasmus scholarships and internships. COSME and Erasmus projects are definitely a priority for ITKAM. My main areas are sustainability, tourism, and digitalization, as these are all important areas for growth and development. COSME and Erasmus projects are a priority for ITKAM.
What do you enjoy about working at ITKAM and what is the essence of your action?
Matilde: I enjoy the variety of responsibilities and the chance to work on different projects. I also appreciate the diversity of our team and the friendly working environment. A typical day involves checking the status of different ongoing projects and providing feedback to stakeholders. I communicate with people and companies directly and act as the first point of contact to meet their needs.
Sonia: I enjoy working with partners who come from different backgrounds and bring new perspectives to the table. It's exciting to move from one topic to the other and learn about different business opportunities. Over these 5 years, I've found that good communication with partners is essential to success. As a coordinator and partner, it's important to have strong coordination skills to ensure that projects run smoothly. We also prioritize training and coaching to ensure that we are always improving and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies.
How does ITKAM support startups in the tourism industry and which kind of businesses are you in contact with?
Matilde: We provide financial support, knowledge, and access to funding opportunities to help startups develop their ideas further. We also offer expert mentoring to integrate technology into their daily lives and enhance their potential.
Sonia: The startups applying are businesses in the tourism industry that have already begun using technology in some way, such as travel agencies. Additionally, there are startups that have developed an idea and need further development and financial assistance to bring their ideas to life.
What kind of business development services does ITKAM offer?
Matilde: For years, we have been both a consolidated partner and consortium coordinators for projects and initiatives in the field of European cooperation.
Sonia: We provide a comprehensive approach to business development, starting from the product to the market, and we help clients with their customer approach and internationalization. Our networking and mentoring programs are some of the services that we offer to help businesses grow.
Can you tell us something about EUDigiTOUR?
Matilde: EU Digitour is my first European project focusing on tourism digitalization. Currently, I’m involved in other initiatives aimed at increasing tourism in rural areas. This European Project is something special because it brings together different countries and organizations to work towards a common goal.
Sonia: As Matilde said, it fosters cooperation across borders, which can lead to new ideas and innovative solutions. Additionally, EU DigiTOUR provides funding opportunities, which can help businesses and organizations to develop and grow. Overall, the European Projects and EUDigiTOUR are a unique and valuable initiative that promotes collaboration, innovation, and progress.
Thank you for your time, Matilde and Sonia!
THE EU DigiTOUR Project 2021-2024
info@eudigitour.eu
Co-funded by the COSME Programme
of the European Union
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