The European Commission recently announced the selection of European Digital Innovation Hubs across the EU. And EIT Digital has successfully participated in or led eight of the winning consortia.

European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) are one-stop shops supporting companies to respond to digital challenges and become more competitive. They provide access to technical expertise and testing, as well as the possibility to ‘test before invest’, thereby supporting companies to improve business and production processes, products, or services using digital technologies. EDIHs also provide innovation services, such as financing advice, training, and skills development that are central to successful digital transformation.

The Digital Europe programme is foreseen to support between 100-200 hubs in the EU, with at least one hub per Member State. Following a restricted call, the European Commission selected an initial list of 136 EDIHs, who are expected to be operational by the end of 2022. 50% of the funding is provided by the Digital Europe Programme, the other 50% by the Member States and/or their regions.

EIT Digital active in eight successful EDIHs

Earlier this year, EIT Digital joined across Europe 12 consortia that applied for setting up European Digital Innovation Hubs. Eight of the bids were approved by the European Commission and will be launched during the course of 2022.

Two more bids from Italy – EDIH Digitalization and Innovation of Public Services in Trento as well as EDIH Lombardia – received the “seal of excellence” by the European Commission, indicating high-quality proposals, but no EU funding for the time being. The consortia are now working on alternative funding sources to establish the hubs.

“We are excited about this opportunity to support jointly with our Hub partners efforts to stimulate the broad uptake of digital technologies by industry and public sector organisations across Europe,” said EIT Digital’s interim CEO Federico Menna.

EIT Digital will contribute to the activities of the EDIH’s at different levels with the full set of the organisation’s competences – from Acceleration services for startups, organisation of hackathons, and solution scouting to tailored training opportunities via our Professional School and Summer School course portfolio.

Source: EIT Digital I News (https://bit.ly/3i5u2ny)