Three priorities were defined. Firstly, the IT-Bridge project's partners wanted to create an internet-based transnational corporate database. Secondly, they wanted to foster the use of other possibilities in the tool-box of information technology in order to promote contacts and business development across the border. Finally, they planned to organise contact conferences and partnership meetings

They therefore decided to build a bridge, an IT-Bridge across the Strait of Öresund, that threads its way between the coasts of Malmö and Copenhagen. The project started in 1997 with the help of the Interreg IIA Initiative. Despite geographical and cultural differences, the participating companies were similar in that they had small operations in semi-rural regions. Seven municipalities from southern Skåne and nine from North Zealand were involved with the towns of Skurup (Sweden) and Slangerup (Denmark) leading the project.

By the beginning of 2000, the project was no longer receiving European funds but the partners decided to continue co-operating. Expenses were to be shared among the participating partners. By March 2001, the IT-Bridge database contained some 29,000 Swedish and Danish companies. Due to the interactive and dynamic structure of the website, the partner companies could update the information pertaining to them on a regular basis.

As expected, the database also helps to foster contacts between companies of both countries. Several bi- and multilateral meetings have been organised which have led to several cross-border collaboration projects and business agreements between Swedish and Danish companies.

Municipality of Skurup
Mr B. Strömgren (Chief Executive), tel. +46 411 53 60 01

//1997

case

Urban Policy > Transport and infrastructure > Technical infrastructure

ICT infrastructure