Žiga Vavpotič of the Ypsilon institute told the press that Simbioz@ has become a Slovenian brand, which could connect the world and help in the promotion of the country.

According to Vavpotič, the most intensive talks are taking place with organisations from Germany, Israel, Austria and China. A summer workshop modelled after Simbioz@ was held in China in the summer, and it was very well received, he added.

Vavpotič said that the participants of the project can join the Simbioz@ club to be eligible for discounts for computer equipment and other items.

The project is currently looking for partners and funds for a book and a film about Simbioz@, he said, adding that public broadcaster RTV Slovenija is helping the institute set up a web portal for the elderly.

Simbioz@ is to be registered as a social enterprise, which means that it will have both the commercial and social component. This initiative is aimed at creating as many jobs for young people as possible, Vavpotič said.

Project manager Ana Pleško added that the institute is in talks with 200 Slovenian schools in which it plans to organise IT literacy workshops for older people twice a year.

Three years into the project, Simbioz@ has seen a total of 10,000 young volunteers help around 15,000 participants learn to cope with computers and the internet at workshops at over 300 locations around the country.