At Coworking Europe I had the pleasure of exchanging ideas with Pauline Leonard about the Irish Connected Hubs program – an inspiring conversation about coworking, networking, and strategic approaches, which not only revealed a surprising number of parallels but also impressively demonstrated how much we can learn from each other.
The Connected Hubs program is an ambitious government initiative with which Ireland is establishing a nationwide network of shared workspaces and innovation hubs in rural areas. It leverages the opportunities of digital and mobile working to strengthen regional development and stimulate new economic activity in small towns and villages. Under the Connected Hubs brand, exactly 400 workspaces and coworking locations have now been networked – local alternatives to commuting, anchor points for local businesses and startups, and vibrant spaces where social interaction takes place.” Infrastructure, modern workspaces, and community come together.
This model offers valuable insights, especially for coworking spaces in small and medium-sized towns – including here in Germany. It demonstrates how government frameworks can significantly strengthen visibility, professionalization, and networking, and how such hubs can become true drivers of regional development when they are understood as part of local public services. The Connected Hubs program impressively shows how workplaces can become vital centers of exchange, innovation, and social life in rural areas – perfectly in line with what we at CoWorkLand eG are striving for here in Germany with our #MehrWertOrte (Added Value Places) concept.
– Tobias Kremkau