The DIH addresses the need of the local industry for practical and advanced knowledge about software engineering and digital technologies. The DIH started its activities in 2004. During the years the DIH has constantly renewed its services according to the needs of the local industry. This has led to a unique offering in Belgium. Examples of focus areas of the DIH are: (2008)focus on software variability, flexibility and quality. (2012) additional focus on: smart products. (2013) additional focus on: Software as a Service and cloud technology and go-to market of software products. (2014) additional focus on: data innovation and wearable intelligence (2016) additional focus on: scaling of companies with a digital business model The DIH offers its services to the industry in several ways: innovation projects (both regional and European level), individual consultancy, bootcamps, demonstrators, feasibility studies, masterclasses, events ….. Digital technologies.

Under the umbrella of the simul + InnovationHub (SIH), research institutions, companies and administrations are jointly implementing outstanding innovation projects in the fields of rural areas, the environment, agriculture, forestry and the food industry. The simul + InnovationHub (SIH) is non-profit initiative founded by the SAXON STATE MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND AGRICULTURE.

 

With the simul + InnovationHub new products, processes and technologies in the five subject areas

 

Experimental field 5G in agriculture and forestry
Smart farming and forestry technology
Environmental technologies and sustainability
Nature and climate protection and
Digital villages and smart rural areas

are implemented.

 

EXPERIMENTAL FIELD 5G IN AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

A digital "experimental field 5G in agriculture and forestry" will be created for the upcom-ing 5G cellular standard. Here, new robot technologies and real-time processes, as well as high transmission rates and connectivity for large numbers of users (machines, sensors, Internet of Things), can be developed and tested.

 

SMART FARMING AND FORESTRY TECHNOLOGY

Within the scope of "Smart farming and forestry technology", we want to develop the field swarm project and intelligent robots ready for practical application. One goal is the further development of an electrically driven plantation robot having environment recognition, navigation and path planning features as well as a capability of autonomously performing various operations in vineyards and orchards. At the same time, this will enhance the agri-cultural machinery manufacturing sector in Saxony.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES AND SUSTAINABILITY

In terms of “Environmental technologies and sustainability”, we are facing up to the chal-lenges of soil, water and climate protection. New circular economy technologies will con-tribute to a more efficient use of resources to support sustainable and environmentally friendly management practices in Saxony.

 

NATURE CONSERVATION AND CLIMATE PROTECTION

Improved fertiliser consulting models are planned to help protect water bodies and avoid greenhouse gas emissions. Another goal within the scope of "nature conservation and cli-mate protection" is to investigate the impacts of climate change to develop adapted sus-tainable land use concepts.

DIGITAL VILLAGES AND SMART RURAL REGIONS

The 5G experimental field is used not only for agriculture and forestry, but also allows new digital applications in rural areas to be tested. The proposed services can be useful to open up further potentials for value creation in rural areas and increase the attractiveness of rural regions for people of all age groups. The goal is to develop and establish such digital services and offers at a pilot scale within the scope of "Digital villages and smart rural regions”.

The simul + InnovationHub (SIH) helps agricultural SMEs in Saxony to promote the digitalisation process successfully. The SIH implements mobile communication units, supports the development of requirements for networking in fruit growing as a permanent culture and the implementation of "fruit robots". A mobile communication unit will support the development of the requirements for networking in viticulture as a permanent culture and with steep slopes at the wine growing estates. Implementation of data hubs in animal husbandry and plant growing will increase added value in agricultural SMEs in Saxony. Digital technologies.

SILESIA SMART SYSTEMS (previously Slaskie Centrum Kompetencji Przemysłu 4.0 - Silesian Competence Centre of Industry 4.0) -  platform for cooperation between business support organizations, scientific units and universities, focusing on supporting industrial enterprises in the processes of digital transformation. From 2018 we operated under the name of Silesian Competence Centre of Industry 4.0, which was a pilot phase of our activity. We collected feedback from the market, with special emphasis on SMEs and we decided to expand our initiative and invite further Partners, to cover the areas of support services we had not been able to cover within the two-member consortium. This led us to Silesia Smart Systems initiative, coordinated by Katowice Special Economic Zone. Main areas of specialization: •Automation and robotics (Computer Integrated Manufacturing, AI and machine learning), •Cyber security, •Additive technologies and new materials for 3D printing, •One-stop-shop - horizontal „soft measures”, including training and consulting, which prepare companies for the digital transformation process.   We support industrial companies, which want to undergo the digital transformation, involving the above mentioned technologies, or consider changes to their business model or implementation of smart products involving digital technologies. SILESIA SMART SYSTEMS is now a consortium of complementary entities, cooperating with each other, using the synergy of influence, experience and competence. The consortium includes: 1.Katowicka Specjalna Strefa Ekonomiczna SA (lider) 2.Agencja Rozwoju Regionalnego SA Bielsko-Biała 3.Górnośląska Agencja Przedsiębiorczości i Rozwoju Sp. z o.o 4.FundingBox Accelerator Sp. z o.o. 5.Sieć Badawcza Łukasiewicz - Instytut Technik Innowacyjnych EMAG 6.Sieć Badawcza Łukasiewicz - Instytut Spawalnictwa 7.Sieć Badawcza Łukasiewicz - Instytut Metali Nieżelaznych, 8.Sieć Badawcza Łukasiewicz - Instytut Metalurgii Żelaza 9.Politechnika Śląska Silesia Smart Systems provides the digital transformation process to SMEs and large enterprises within Silesian Voivodeship and neighbouring regions. Silesia Smart Systems delivers services to impact the local ecosystem, technology and business environments. In pursuing its mission, we support digital transformation in industrial enterprises and develop staff competencies in order to reduce production costs, increase productivity, release resources (employees) for tasks of higher value and intensify cooperation with suppliers and customers. Our on-going, statutory non-profit activities include: community building, ecosystem learning, awareness creation, project development (identification of opportunities). We aspire to become recognizable institution in Central Europe and trusted partner for enterprises, who offers them support at various stages of the digital transformation process through the implementation of dedicated advisory services, training and the development and joint implementation of the projects. The foregoing will benefit enterprises as they will become more competitive, organisationally more dynamic players within the framework of international value chains. Digital technologies.

The Siegener Mittelstandsinstitut serves to strengthen medium-sized research and teaching at the University of Siegen and as a platform for small and medium-sized businesses. For this purpose, a close and trusting cooperation with medium-sized companies in the region is maintained. The strategic orientation of SMI is aimed at SME-related research projects Transfer of knowledge between university and enterprise, SME consulting (top down- and bottom-up consulting), Channeling inquiries with SMEs Digital technologies.

Sibiu Smart Systems (SmaS) is a non-profit hub integrating theoretical and application-driven research, infrastructure and services of Connected Intelligence Research Center (INCON) and Hasso Plattner Institute for Knowledge Transfer (HPI). Both INCON and HPI are hosted within the Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu in Romania and provide access to a vast network of international industrial partners and scientific institutions.

SmaS integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cyber-physical social systems (CPSS) research with support activities for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and SMEs, to accelerate the adoption of innovative solutions by industry in the field of engineering cyber-physical systems and advanced human-machine systems (Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, motion and biometric sensors).

SmaS provides the following services to regional SMEs to support their digital transformation:

Knowledge services, comprising activities for training, education and skills development, as well as raising awareness among local and regional companies about capabilities and benefits of AI and CPSS;
Technology services, enabling hands-on experience in the development and deployment of CPSS within the existing research infrastructure (e.g. production prototypes, open-source CPSS-development software);
Networking services, enabling connection to all relevant local and regional stakeholders to match needs and demands with offers and opportunities. Even more, considering previous and ongoing projects (ESI-founded, public-private, Horizon 2020), SmaS provides access to a European network for digitalization solutions.
Digital technologies.

SCS (Secured Communicating Solutions) cluster (www.pole-scs.org), is based in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, in France, and gathers 300 members, including companies (and 70% of SMEs), research centres and educational institutions in the fields of microelectronics, telecommunications and software, and in particular in the IoT, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Security.

As a non-profit organisation with the status of "French Competitiveness cluster" recognised at national level, the aim of SCS cluster is to promote the development of competitive R&D projects between all these players with the support of local communities, in order to design and develop new solutions targeting high-growth markets such as smart cities, smart homes and smart buildings, smart grids, Industry 4.0, or e-health. It also aims to contribute to the creation of an appropriate ecosystem for the overall regional ICT landscape, especially through the development of SMEs.

The cluster represents 60 000 jobs in these fields, 26 multinational companies, 1200 researchers in the public sector and 18 educational institutions training 1500 engineers per year. Digital technologies.

One of the main national initiatives for digitizing industry that Santaka DIH activities are part of is Lithuanian Industry 4.0 platform (2016 – ongoing). The aim of the initiative is to create a sustainable debate platform, to review the Lithuanian strategy for industry development, to propose an improvement to Lithuanian smart specialization strategy and programs for its implementation and to promote Industry 4.0 concept through various dissemination activities.  DIH members are contributing to established working groups. Funding: public-private partnership. The activities of "Skaitmeninių inovacijų centras" are non-profit. Lithuanian Government has identified 7 RIS3 main objectives to follow. SANTANA DIH align the activities with 6 out of 7 priorities. The RIS3 strategies that Santaka DIH is aligned with are as follows (ref. http://sumani2020.lt/en/) Santaka digital innovation hub together with the members and partners provides the full scope of activities and a roadmap for the local companies to improve and be more competitive in nowadays economy. Santaka digital innovation hub supports the local SME’s in various ways, but those are few to mention: Promotes digital transformation by providing relevant information for SME’s: ·         SMEs are particularly slow in integrating digital technologies so our experts brings their competence analysing SME’s and providing them with benefits and possibilities digitally transforming their businesses; Helping and consulting companies and public sector helping to identify the opportunities for digital transformation: ·         there are strong differences in the level of digitalisation across the different sectors and SMEs in different regions in Lithuania and Baltic States. Our experts bring their competence helping find digitalisation synergy between different sectors and companies, integrating their business and manufacturing processes. Audits the existing processes and production lines: ·         certified auditors and engineering experts accordingly to approved methodology assess level of digital integrations and readiness of SMEs and gives feedback on places to make improvements; Provides strategies on how to improve and digitalize: ·         accordingly to evaluation and audit reports we provide roadmaps for digital improving and automatization, robotisation and artificial intelligence integration; Consults on the processes of development: ·         SMEs, startups and mid-caps can get access to technology-testing, financing advice, market intelligence and networking opportunities. Consults on funding opportunities within EU programs or private investors: ·         all digitalisation is impossible without EU grants, private investments and capital raise – our dedicated experts educate, prepare and consult companies on acquiring needed financial resources. Provides opportunity to participate in various programs by helping to write and submit the projects, administering them, look for a potential partner: ·         highly skilled business practitioners in Santaka DIH help SMEs’ teams to find local and regional partners, establish long-lasting relationships jointly participating in various programs, encourages joint projects and bring their skills in efficiently executing projects. Digital technologies.

Santaka Valley DIH is a non-profit association that unites and integrates activities of  the 4 largest research and study institutions of Kaunas : Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences and Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuanian Energy Institute, 2 Large business companies: Achema Group, Kauno Tiltai and Kaunas Science and Technology Park SMEs (http://kaunomtp.lt/inovatyvios-imones/catalog-of-innovations) and Kaunas Clinics at the science and business valley "Santaka".

Santaka Valley DIH is a platform for partnership between business and research. The Hub offers more than 1200 services which align with the RIS3 strategies. It focuses on the Smart Specialisation Platform for Industrial Modernisation (S3P-Industry). These services are provided by researchers and can be used by business and public organizations.

Santaka Valley DIH is accessed as a one-stop shop platform: request for research services is forwarded to technology transfer specialists who not only find researchers according to their competences but also consult regarding optimal service solution.

Santaka Valley DIH services can be used by Lithuanian and foreign companies for scientific research, experimental development and innovation (R&D&I) activities, as well as new product creation. The Hub also helps SMEs to digitize their business by providing state-to-art technological solutions for various sectors.

What is more, the Hub works according to Lithuanian national initiative for digitizing industry, Pramonė 4.0.

https://industrie40.lt/platform-pramone-4-0-structure/ Digital technologies.

Rural Industry Digital Innovation Hub is a strong national development and support center, boosting digital transformation in sparsely populated areas. Typically these regions have strong SME and agricultural profile and many local success stories, which deserve to be highlighted. Too often, however, these entrepreneurs lack public interest, technological awareness, capital and workforce. They deserve up-to-date services for testing, good opportunities for project networks and supportive consultancy services for marketing, personnel training and productization. 

Rural Industry DIH aims at filling this gap, focusing on activities that help surrounding rural areas to grow according to their full potential. Digitalization of businesses is the core of activities, realized in research & innovation, education & training, technical consultation & support, internationalization, novel business models and funding. The actions of Rural Industry DIH are in line with the regional Smart Specialization Strategies, supporting the innovation potential of SMEs in the digital transformation. Oulu Region’s smart specialization strategy recognizes the digitalization as a cross-cutting theme in the support of the chosen spearhead industries. The strategy will be updated in 2020, recognizing better the importance of the development of rural industries, like agriculture and food industry and the responding actions to the climate change.

The digitalization challenges in the area have been identified, and DIH activities are having strong focus on them right from the beginning:

Companies having low digitalization level in current situation and not enough skills and resources to ramp it up alone. Especially SMEs with longer history and more aged leadership are typical cases of this kind. These companies will be helped by training and getting them aqcuainted with possibilities of digital modernization. Laboratories available added with feasibility studies gained in various projects and customer cases are a good help for
Companies needing help for more digital / Industry4.0 enhancements in their processes and products. In particular, there are a lot of SME manufacturing companies in the DIH region, which are lacking the needed expertize for next steps. Often there are punctual needs related to testing, analysis, robotization, new sensor solutions, IoT etc. DIH main actors have strong experience in this area and can provide test-before-invest activities in modern digital manufacturing enviroments in their labs, to help them go through demanding design phases, provide fast prototyping and POC services etc.
Companies needing help for their internal working processes such as e-commerce, agile working methods, quality raising, smart logistics, product information models and other new enhancements typical for the new digital age. Typically these include both working processes and supporting IT systems, both of which must be taken under active development. Many times these companies would be able to provide B2B products and services also in a globalized manner, but they need help for raising the needed skills and digital systems.Helping tools include not only training and consultation, but also networking and internationalization, in close connection with the previous system development processes.

Rural Industry DIH works in 3 neighboring NUTS3 regions, Oulu Region, Central Ostrobothnia and Ostrobothnia. The administrational center of Rural Industry DIH is located in Ylivieska campus in Oulu Region. The ecosystem consists of all administrational key actors of the area. The regional councils of all the three regions are committed to support Rural Industry DIH as well as ELY Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (representing Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland). In addition, all the local sub-regional development agencies are included in the co-operational network.

All three regional competence centers are committed to operate DIH daily work.

Centria University of Applied Sciences acts as a leading partner of the Rural Industry DIH. Besides of having higher education in 3 campuses in the area, it's R&D division has a long record in research projects, having typically running 80 projects with about 6M€ annual budget. Centria has also over 30 years of nationally acclaimed experience in co-operation with rural companies, providing testing, prototyping and consultation services in different business areas with annual volume of 1,5M€. From over 100 people working for Centria R&D, over 40 are solely dedicated to digitalization themes and serving Rural Industry DIH with all their professional ambition.
The University of Oulu Kerttu Saalasti Institute is an international research institute with a mission to provide evidence based knowledge on micro-enterprises and their operating conditions. Our research theme is Operational Excellence of  Micro-Enterprises. Kerttu Saalasti Instituute provides knowledge from the prespectives of Micro-Entrepreneurship as well as Future Manufacturing Technologies and Regional Excellence that enable vitality and growth at the micro-enterprise level. Societal impact of research is our strength.  Kerttu Saalasti Institute provides knowledge to support development of enterprises and communities in order to generate sustainable growth.

Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius acts as a joint institution in Kokkola, carrying out teaching and research under the auspices of the universities of Jyväskylä, Oulu and Vaasa.. The Consortium’s areas of specialization mainly reflect those of its university partners: education, data processing, social sciences and regional studies, business and administration, natural sciences, and materials technology. The University Consortium offers both master’s and doctoral level education. In addition, it engages in scientific research, arranges a wide range of adult education courses, and accepts commissions from individuals and organizations within the region. Thus, its activities may be looked on as a modern attempt to combine the goals of educational, scientific, and regional policy under one roof.

These 3 competence centers share the responsibility of operational activities. All of them are non-profit academic institutions, and the aim of DIH is strictly non-commercial. Consortium behind these three main actors is composed of a comprehensive selection of regional economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, SME service organizations and companies. Together they form a substantial overall capability for strong regional impact. Commercial consortium members having profit organization status are not responsible of any operational work, as they have more a mentor-type role, also representing other commercial SME and MidCap field in the area. That way the needs and challenges of companies will be heard better in Rural Industry DIH.

In addition, the plan is to bind the new Rural Industry DIH immediately to the existing participation / collaboration networks of DIHs such as 5GTNF, Smart Manufacturing DIH and ROBOCOAST. Moreover, the dense ecosystem of international co-operation via S3 Agrifood, ERIAFF, ERRIN, European Industry associations and project consortiums are utilized in order to establish firm European-wide collaboration environment. Digital technologies.

Riga Technical University Information Technology Institute (ITI) is a research and higher education institution with a mission of knowledge and technology transfer to industry in the area of information technology. ITI emphasizes a cross-disciplinary approach with applications in software services, transportation, logistics, and urban development. The ITI is non-profit insititution with a mission to help companies and organization to solve complex digitalization problems and to facilitate knowledge and technology transfer to businesses and society.

The main areas of specialization are enterprise integration including advanced enterprise applications and business process improvement, development of scalable cloud solutions for big data processing, data mining and machine learning including applications in cybersecurity, IoT, intelligent transportation systems and biotechnology,  modelling and optimization of complex systems, development of digital twins as well as digital transformation of organization by using advanced information technologies.

ITI provides companies with cloud-hosted test and development environments for prototyping and implementing advanced ICT solutions. Several Enterprise Resource Planning systems are available to investigate business process improvement possibilities and application integration. Cloud computing infrastructure is available to develop horizontally scalable systems and to implement computationally demanding analytical solutions. ITI’s proprietary horizontally scalable real-time data processing platform BaSeCaaS and capability-driven development methodology are provided for implementing custom context-aware and adaptive real-time big data publishing and processing services according to Kappa and Lambda architecture. HPC equipment is provided for training machine learning models and performing resource intensive simulations. A simulation modelling and digital twin development platform is available for creating models of complex systems and conducting experiments.
ITI organizes events for promoting knowledge and technology transfer to SME including industry days and a conference on digitalization at SME in cooperation with the Latvian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, which is responsible for digitalization in Latvia (http://iti.rtu.lv/en/research/projects/confrerence-promoting-digitaliza…). Digital technologies.