Island regions face a number of specific challenges related to their geography and location. Limited accessibility, lack of economic diversity, dependence on imports, limited availability of health, education and public services, brain drain, etc. These factors make islands vulnerable and dependent on mainland support and facilities.

Digitalisation can play a crucial role in addressing these challenges, for example through the potential of online working, economic diversification in digital sectors, development of e-health services and remote learning.

The province of Fryslân (NL) is home to the Wadden Sea islands, where all the challenges above are in play.

We intend to build a partnership of island regions, and regions with islands, to share and apply digital solutions to bring positive change to island societies and economies in the fields of: work, education, health, climate resilience and governance (and possibly other policy dimensions).