DIH-World is a European-funded project that aims to bridge the "digital innovation hubs divide" by harmonizing and expanding European Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs). Its main objective is to accelerate the adoption of advanced digital technologies by supporting SMEs in building competitive advantages and accessing global markets. By providing DIHs with tools, technologies, knowledge, and investment sources, DIH-World fosters collaboration and prevents a divide in underrepresented regions, enabling local businesses to thrive.
Throughout the 36 months of the project, EURADA was tasked to ideate and organise three batches of a series of event so called "Community Days". The aim of these events was to facilitate knowledge dissemination and networking among DIHs operating in specific regions in order to enhance their presence on their territory. DIHs were invited to open their doors to SMEs, mid-caps, regional stakeholders, and other regional and/or cross-border DIHs during the European DIH Community Days, to invite target audience to visit DIH infrastructure, to familiarise the audience with the technology provided, and to share and interact with local and regional stakeholders. Several events took place in cities and regions where EURADA members are located.
Last 9 and 10 May in Bilbao, DIH World brought together representatives from diverse DIHs to share their remarkable journeys and experiences in propelling digitalization and innovation within their regions. It was a delightful opportunity for learning, networking, and exchanging knowledge.
The panel discussion on the first day buzzed with valuable insights from the panellists, who shared their strategies for driving innovation and digital transformation in their respective DIHs.
Alena Buresova from CVUTstressed the significance of digital and AI maturity assessment for global competitiveness. She emphasized the need to offer high-level solutions to broaden sales beyond developing countries. Alena underscored how digitalization provides a solution for economic crises and the importance of seizing the right time for investments. DIHs offer accessible technologies for SMEs, enabling them to embrace innovation and compete effectively.
José Ferreira, representing UNINOVA, focused on the manufacturing sector in North Portugal. He discussed their collaborative efforts with Productech and Universidade do Minho in building a community and promoting digitalization among SMEs. José acknowledged the challenge of convincing long-established family companies to embrace innovation while still yielding results from traditional practices. He highlighted the power of sharing experiences and industry connections in fostering growth and improvement.
Ger Van den Kerkhof from Flanders Make highlighted their transition from being a regional DIH to a European Digital Innovation Hub. Supported by the Flemish government, their organization focuses on technology and faces challenges in collaboration, internal procedures, service offering clarity, training, and listening to SMEs. Ger emphasized that the EDIH is not just an R&D project but a business-oriented support mechanism.
Ramona Caulea from Luxinnovation delivered an engaging speech on their approach towards innovation in Luxembourg, which involves informing and inspiring through showcases, identifying companies based on their activities. Luxinnavtion's mission is to drive the digital transformation of Luxembourg's industry through networking, innovation skills, and "test before invest" services. With expertise in High-Performance Computing, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence, they showcased their prowess. Their "DIH-on-tour" event proved successful, connecting with companies of all sizes, facilitating the exchange of experiences, and understanding their needs.
The second session of the first day treated us to a captivating training session led by Manuel Seuffert from KEARNEY IMP³ROVE on monetizing DIHs. The theoretical part covered topics such as the importance of monetization, understanding customer needs, building a service portfolio, exploring monetization options, and effective value communication. The interactive sessions delved into portfolio analysis and structuring a service portfolio with the monetization model.
On the second day, INTELLERA led an engaging session discussing the various activities undertaken throughout the project in recent years. Representatives of DIHs had the opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness and usefulness of these actions in their regions, offering valuable insights to shape the future of DIHs in Europe based on their experiences.
In summary, the event was a resounding success, offering attendees unparalleled opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing, and interactive sessions focused on DIH monetization, service acceleration, and the impact of DIH initiatives. EURADA is thrilled to have been a part of this project and to have contributed to the development of European DIHs. Special thanks go to CARSA for organizing this fantastic final conference of the project.
