DigiCenterNS

Finland: North and East Finland

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

DigiCenterNS supports Pohjois-Savo region companies in their digital transformation journeys by providing services that improve digital skills, foster technology testing and increase networking of companies.

Our Digital Innovation Hub, DigiCenter North Savo, operates at Pohjois-Savo region and helps local companies, mainly small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), in their digitalization development problems focusing on the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and digital services.

The focus areas of Pohjois-Savo region are Digitalisation, ICT in Manufacturing and Energy Technology and Digital transformation in Health industry. Companies in the area are struggling with following topics: digitizing  the  services, understanding  business opportunities  of  digitalisation  while  creating  strategies,  digital  marketing,  and  e-commerce, use  of  online  customer  service  tools and more specific: AI, Internet of Things and robotics, utilizing digital communication channels, learning human behaviour in the context of digitalisation, programming, and information security.

Services:

Technology & Knowledge Transfer Services aim at enhancing the transfer of digital technologies and digital knowhow in Pohjois-Savo region and increase the digitalization-related networking. These services shall strengthen the local research and innovation capacities.
R&D&I Services aim at provide Pohjois-Savo region companies with up-to-date information on features, opportunities and limitation of new digital technologies. Additionally, the goal of DigiCenterNS is to identify and build digital innovation platforms that companies may have access by request.
Funding and Project Preparation Services aim at increasing funding (regional, national, international) applied in Pohjois-Savo region by coaching, supporting and networking companies in the context of digitalization funding

Currently our DigiCenterNS operates with non-profit status and DigiCenterNS coordinators are non-profit organizations.

  Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

Dig-I-Hub Kecskemét

Hungary: South Great Plain

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Dig-I-Hub is committed to open innovation which brings together innovation organisations from various parts of Hungary. The quadruple helix approach is implemented this way not only regionally (in the agglomeration area of Kecskemét) but covers also the national level. Dig-I-Hub is located physically at IQ Kecskemét Industrial Research Kft which is a regional competence centre for construction and manufacturing of metals

 

Regional partners with headquarters Kecskemét include the John von Neumann University (JNU) as regional centre for higher education with specialization in automation and robotics), EU-Mentor Nonprofit Kft  as economic development organisation with regional focus (coordinator of Dig-I-Hub) and Hungarian member of the European Association of Development Agencies. The core team of partners represents this way the research community (JNU), civil society (EU-Mentor) and the industry (IQ Kecskemét).

 

Dig-I-Hub in Kecskemét offers “one-stop-shop” service - in cooperation with partner organisations in Hungary and abroad - for companies that are looking for practical solutions for their problems when new innovative methods and modern (often digital) technologies can increase the efficiency and/or reduce the environmental impact of industrial production.

 

Dig-I-Hub partnership brings together the main players for industrial innovation in Kecskemét with extensive cooperation links to other knowledge centers in Hungary. Objective for next years is to establish an innovation hub for manufacturing and construction on the basis of IQ Kecskemét which is a physical location for open innovation in architecture and construction industry offering prototyping facilities (CNC machines, 3D scanners and printers), vocational training site and technology development services.

 

The medium term vision of Dig-I-Hub is to become the acknowledged regional center for entrepreneurial support in digital transformation of the industry which can provide practical advice and support to the SMEs in the region for their activities in digital technology development. It shall lead to the development of an eco-system for innovation that can promote the innovation culture in the central region of Hungary because knowledge based economic development should not be constrained to the capital region of Budapest. The long term objective is to play an active role in transnational cooperation for innovation in Central Europe as regional center for industrial digitalization and open innovation in selected industrial sectors and also to foster cooperation and open innovation transnationally on European level. Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

DIEX - Digital Experience

Italy: Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

DiEX - Digital EXperience - is the first experiential Digital Innovation Hub developed according to the guidelines of the Italian National Industry 4.0 Plan. DiEX acts as a strategic consultancy partner, but also as prototype developer with its network of academic and technology partners and as a testing facility for digital technologies in a real production environment with both operators and machinery in a line producing a mechanical product, further developed in a smart, connected product.

DiEX is made by a group of qualified subjects able to give a relevant contribution to the digital transformation of firms, through upgrading skills, acting as a testbed for the implementation of new technologies and innovative products thanks to additive manufacturing, Artificial and Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital Twin and a fully operational production facility supporting the introduction of new technologies. DiEX is also a testbed change management journeys, as a group of trained actors performs roleplay activities with participants from the industrial world to enable them to test and overcome the resistance to change in the most efficient and smooth way possible.

The main partner of DiEX is Lean Experience Factory 4.0 (LEF). In May 2016 in Pordenone, Italy, was opened Lean Experience Factory 4.0, an experiential training laboratory to enable participants from the industrial and academic world to “touch and feel” the digital solutions in a real production environment across the whole value chain, in a consistent, structured and measured environment.

LEF is a real production environment specifically developed to train managers, feeling the most innovative technologies showing a demonstrated impact on the main business drivers, such as productivity, quality and innovation in business models.

DiEX is the empowerment and expansion of this already present, trusted and established reality in the national and local business network. Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

DFKI Human Centric AI Innovation Hub

Germany: Rhineland-Palatinate

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence GmbH (DFKI) was founded in 1988 as a non-profit public-private partnership. It has research facilities in Kaiserslautern, Saarbrücken and Bremen, a project office in Berlin, and branch offices in Osnabrück and St. Wendel. In the field of innovative commercial software technology using Artificial Intelligence, DFKI is the leading research center in Germany.

Based on application oriented basic research, DFKI develops product functions, prototypes and patentable solutions in the field of information and communication technology. Research and development projects are conducted in eighteen research departments and research groups, eight competence centers and eight living labs.

DFKI is actively involved in numerous organizations representing and continuously advancing Germany as an excellent location for cutting-edge research and technology. Far beyond the country’s borders DFKI enjoys an excellent reputation for its academic training of young scientists. DFKI serves as a stepping stone to leading positions in industry and successful careers as founders of spin-off companies. Over the years, more than 130 staff members have been appointed professors at universities in Germany and abroad.

The Innovative Factory Systems (IFS) research department at DFKI, headed by Prof. Dr. Martin Ruskowski, deals with issues surrounding Industrie 4.0 and the factory of the future. We develop scientific approaches and new concepts in research and industry projects before moving on to practical testing in an industrial environment.

In many cases, the research results are transferred for implementation by SmartFactoryKL and its members from industry. The close collaboration between DFKI and SmartFactoryKL is a major key to our success. Both were appointed Mittelstand 4.0-Kompetenzzentrum Kaiserslautern (SME 4.0 Competence Center) by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in 2016.

https://kompetenzzentrum-kaiserslautern.digital/

https://www.facebook.com/komzkl/ Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

Demola-Budapest

Hungary: Budapest

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

At Demola, university students and professors develop product and service demonstrators together with companies and public sector, and create new solutions to real-life problems, business ideas and start-up challenges in multidisciplinary teams. In Demola we are professionals of combining competences into functional teams and facilitating co-creation process. You can use Demola as a way of boosting your product and service development processes with multidisciplinary approach and fresh-minded, committed talents. Co-creation in Demola engages companies and top academics from several fields into a unique ecosystem for building sustainable and cross-domain collaboration. Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

DATAlife

Spain: Galicia

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

DATAlife is the DIH devoted to implementing artificial intelligence, big data and the technologies related, to the value chains of biotech, health, agrifood, sea-based industries and forestry.

DATAlife is organized under a scheme of Non-Profit organization, founded in October 2019

The solutions to the massive economic and social challenges the world faces are often found in the crossroad of different sectors like primary sector, industry and services, plus the deployment of disruptive technologies (Artificial Intelligence, High-Performance Computing, Internet of Things, and so on) and the involvement of the whole society, especially the triple-helix: Academia - Industry - Government.

This kind of challenges that applies globally is also clearly identified in European regions like Galicia, with a share of its economy focused on the primary sector, which has few left chances to remain competitive in the international market arena. It is known, without a doubt, that this competitiveness increase will come through the implementation of digital technologies.

In this process of uptake of digital technologies, artificial intelligence and data analytics appear as disruptive tools to boost companies´ competitiveness, with a remarkable capability of impact in the quality of life and social wellbeing.

On the other hand, Galicia counts with internationally-renowned scientific production in various fields such as biotechnology, healthcare, and smart technologies due to a vibrant University scene.

In this context, DATAlife has the vision of transforming Galicia into a leader European Bioregion, by the creation of a network of knowledge, infrastructure and technology. This network spins around the application of artificial intelligence, data analytics, internet of things, high-performance computing and cybersecurity to bioeconomy, sustainability and health.

To achieve this goal, DATAlife deploys a strategic plan made out of the following set of actions:

Catalogue of services. Based on the identified needs of every value chain plus the knowledge of DATAlife´s partners (industry clusters and RTOs with a long track record of serving the ecosystem), a catalogue of services is defined with several initiatives already identified

DATAbeta: a set of services with a focus on collaborative development and enabling technologies that allow DATAlife to permanent validate its catalogue aligning it with the needs of the SMEs.
DATAchallenge: Program of Technological Challenges for each value chain.
DATAmarket: marketplace for visualization of technologies and services available in the region within the technological scope of DATAlife. This tool is also a facilitator of matches, boosting the integration of the ecosystem.
DATAopen: a program to create a Life Science DATA Platform for extraction, analysis and leverage of data with the scope of DATAlife´s value chains.
DATAlife´s catalogue of services is always under analysis and validation to assure its alignment with Galician SMEs´ needs. This way, DATAlife will include services for test-before-invest, shared labs and infrastructures and technology acquisition when needed.

Communication activity. The actions deployed under the communication plan serve as dissemination of DATAlife´s activity but also as a raising-awareness service to promote the digitalization within the ecosystem to assure that every single stakeholder of the community understands the advantages that digital transformation brings.
Network effect. DATAlife´s partners have a unique and strong international network in their respective activity areas, due to their prolonged presence in the international project arena. DATAlife acts as a connector between Galicia and the Galician ecosystem, providing the possibility to be part of international joint projects.
Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DASAI)

Spain: Andalusia

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DASAI) is a Digital Innovation Hub (DIH) focused on performing cutting-edge research, knowledge transference and postgraduate teaching in Artificial Intelligence with outstanding lines of research in Data Science and Computational Intelligence. Our main objective is to offer services to facilitate the integration of the Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Computation Intelligence technologies in industry and SMEs across all sectors, in order to help in the process of adoption of digital technologies in the entire value chain, from research and technology developers to end-users.

DASAI offers services from raising awareness about the importance of the inclusion of the Data Science techniques to revalorize any sector business to supporting the development of best practices in demonstrators and pilots. DASAI provides access to research results, existing technologies, mentoring, specialized workshops, training, technology assessments, access to funding sources, etc. Among others, DASAI offers services to support the inclusion of ICT technologies, mainly Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, including Computational Intelligence, Big Data, Machine Learning and Pre-processing and data prediction, as technologies to contribute to the digitalization of the industry (Virtual Market Agents).

DASAI is promoted and coordinated by the DaSCI Andalusian Research Institute (non-profit academic organization), and it counts with the participation of outstanding partners, both public and private entities, strongly committed to the digitalization of companies, but above all, to the incorporation of the Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Computation Intelligence to help companies to transform, grow and enhance their business possibilities in the digital world. It has been created unifying some of the most relevant organizations in Artificial Intelligence in the region of Andalusia, with the aim of transforming the Andalusian industry ecosystem in a reference of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Science around the world.

To do that, the hub also has the support of some of the most outstanding researchers in our region, seven of them are included in the Highly Cited Researchers list (Clarivate Analytics, see 2018 list in https://hcr.clarivate.com/). These researchers are:

Francisco Herrera, Universidad de Granada (director of DaSCI Institute, https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=HULIk-QAAAAJ&hl=en)
Enrique Herrera-Viedma, Universidad de Granada
Luís Martínez, Universidad de Jaén
Salvador García, Universidad de Granada
Julián Luengo, Universidad de Granada
Sergio Alonso, Universidad de Granada
Javier Cabrerizo, Universidad de Granada
Francisco Chiclana, visiting professor, Universidad de Granada
Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

Danube Digital Innovation Hub

Romania: South-East (Romania)

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The Digital Innovation Hub "DanubeDIH" is a non-governmental, non-profit, and public utility organizations. The IT&C cluster “Lower Danube” Galați, with legal personality, has the orchestrator / administrator role and ensures the general coordination, monitoring of operations and official communication with the European Commission, the Romanian Government, the Romanian Digitization Authority and other parties (relevant EU and national projects , relevant bodies and other related activities), based on the experience gained in coordinating the IT&C Cluster “Lower Danube” Galați.

DanubeDIH acts coherently with the analysis of local needs and correspondingly with the realization of the 4 functions of the Digital Innovation Center:

• Support for investment identification

• Training and support in acquiring digital skills

• Testing before making investments

• Creating an ecosystem for innovation and networking

Main Objectives:

1. Providing digital transformation services, including testing and experimentation facilities;

2. Transfer of expertise and know-how between European regions, strengthening the links between innovation centers and companies in different regions;

3. Providing thematic services to governments, public sector organizations, SMEs and mid-caps, in particular, services related to artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, high performance computing and cyber security;

4. Providing support for the development of advanced digital skills .;

5. Supporting industries in the ICT sector by organizing various training and development activities in the field of digital innovation, such as: specific courses, seminars and workshops for entrepreneurs and companies in the ICT sector who want to develop, workshops to improve the knowledge level in the following fields: intellectual property, international investments, investment phases, return of capital / investment, “elevator pitch”. These activities include, but are not limited to: investment identification support, training and support in acquiring digital skills, pre-investment testing, creating an ecosystem for innovation and networking.

6. Providing complementary services, with non-profit objectives, aimed at supporting the process of digital transformation at European companies (especially SMEs and mid-cap companies) level

7. Capitalizing on the potential of information technology and communications and its application in the public sector (administration, education, health) and the private sector (enterprises, citizens)

8. Organizing digitization programs and RDI dedicated to strategic economic sectors with high growth potential at city and regional level, respectively in the areas identified as a priority in the Smart Specialization Strategy of the South-East Development Region: Engineering and shipping , Garment industry, Agri-food and fishing industry, Biotechnologies, Eco-technologies, Tourism, ICT, High Tech, Nanotechnologies and Advanced Materials;

9. Increasing the research - development - innovation (RDI) capacity, stimulating cooperation between RDI institutes and companies, as well as increasing the access of companies in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT) to RDI;

10. Capitalizing on the potential of information and communication technologies (ICT) and their application in the public sector (administration, education, health) and the private sector (enterprises, society in general);

11. Identifying and promoting initiatives that generate innovative products and services, through investment projects, both public and private, as well as proposals for modernization/ improvement of strategies, policies and action plans in the field of ICT;

12. Supporting entrepreneurship and SMEs in the region with information and communication technology (ICT) tools help ;

13. Supporting and encouraging projects aimed at digital innovation, taking into account the context of a new economy (digital economy) and the need to adapt entrepreneurs to it, in line with the European Commission's Green Deal for 2021-2026;

14. Attracting resources (investments, risk funds) for the development of ICT sector;

15. Creating mechanisms for the collaborative approach of large-scale international projects; " Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

Danish Technological Institute, Robot Technology

Denmark: South Denmark

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The Danish Technological Institute (DTI) develops, applies and transfers technology to industry and society.

DTI’s main activities in robotics are located in Odense in the Centre for Robot Technology where we are actively involved in many robotics projects in primarily manufacturing, service, construction, food, health and agricultural robotics.

Our focus is innovation - applying new research results and robot technologies to create the robot solutions in the markets of tomorrow.

DTI is a leading European robotics innovator with a staff of more than 40 robotic experts within industry and service. We provide individual consultancy, actual working industrial solutions, courses for both blue- and white-collar workers covering various aspects of robotics, and networking opportunities, as well as performing applied research and development. Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics, and Cybernetics

Czechia: Prague

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Digital Innovation Hub of the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics, and Cybernetics Czech Technical University in Prague, in close collaboration with the National Centre for Industry 4.0, provides the Czech industry with research capacities and know-how transfer.

Digital Innovation Hub of the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics, and Cybernetics Czech Technical University in Prague serves as a one-stop-shop that helps companies and public institutions to become more competitive by implementing digital technologies.

The National Centre for Industry 4.0  at CIIRC was founded with the aim to contribute to the implementation of Industry 4.0 principles in the Czech Republic with emphasis on small and medium size enterprises and to spread awareness about the Industry 4.0 and Society 4.0 concepts. It serves as an important source of information about technological solutions and the impact of technological advancement on society and provides close cooperation between academic and industrial departments in areas of concern with aim to stimulate exchange of experience and best practices. It helps design, develop, connect and effectively operate a network of testbeds for Industry 4.0 located at CTU in Prague, Technical Universtiy in Brno and other institutions. It also supports know-how transfer into industry including innovative forms of start-ups and managed innovations.

In the first phase the Centre has been established as an independent financial and operating unit under the auspices of Czech Center for Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics at CTU. The Centre is using the key infrastructure of Industry 4.0 Testbed in CTU. A similar or compatible infrastructure will be later on created at Technical University in Brno and other universities.

  Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology