SWITCHgear 2030

Through this project, a modern “Future Workspace” is created where people can work in a renewable environment. It will be a node point in Kremsmünster where various models will be tested.

The project’s vision is to create a national node point in Kremsmünster for future-orientated and joint working in a renewable environment which also protects resources. For this purpose, a vacant building in the community centre is reconstructed into a modern “Future Workspace”. Together with coworking partners in Linz, Amstetten, Klagenfurt and Kirchdorf, it is possible to establish a national coworking network.

The result is a resilient (self-)organization and the effectiveness of the community and the project. The meritocratic steering model gets tested and therefore the project team expects valuable impulses for successful community building and renewable housekeeping in Traunviertel, the foothills of the Alps. In the process, new strategic principles for the local developing strategy of the LEADER region should be gathered by including important stakeholders from the LEADER region Traunviertel. Moreover, conclusions should be drawn for an effective control of complex researching projects and for similar projects in other communities and regions.

At the same time, the development of renewable energy is forced: The revitalized building is Prosumer (Producer and Consumer at once). A local energy community is built and electricity and heat can be exchanged among the members. Accordingly, the use of renewable energy is forced and simultaneously the power grids are relieved.

Furthermore, the piloting and testing of two circular economy communities is planned: one pioneering community and one end-user sharing community. The aim is to return pollution as a secondary raw material back into the production process.