The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is an Independent Research & Technology Organisation (RTO) with the objective of bridging the gap between academia and industry and inspire Great British Manufacturing.  . The MTC develops and proves innovative manufacturing processes and technologies in an agile, low risk environment, in partnership with industry, academia and other institutions. MTC operates of some of the most advanced manufacturing equipment in the world, and have a large number of high skilled engineers, many of whom are leading experts within their field of work. Digital technologies.

MITC was established in 2011 after the manufacturing industry of the Mälardalen region expressed a desire to work more structured and long-term focused with competence development and academic collaboration. A collaboration platform was set up consisting of Mälardalen University as the competence base. Today around 20 people from the University and industry are actively involved in MITCs operations. MITC is a not-for-profit organisation that provides services to industry, ranging from technology development and case studies to coaching programmes for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). In 2019, MITC established its Technology Center in Eskilstuna, which will further strengthen MITC as a catalyst for industrial renewal and change.

The aim of MITC is to establish the Mälardalen region as a competitive node for development, education and research in direct collaboration with the manufacturing industry. MITC has member companies, for example, Volvo Construction Equipment, Volvo GTO, GKN, Alfa Laval and Hexagon, and has over the years worked with over 150 SMEs, representing a large part of the region’s industrial base. Areas of focus for are manufacturing, industrialisation, and product development with digitalisation and sustainability as cross-sectional areas. Lately, particular focus has been on advanced robotics, cyber-physical systems and artificial intelligence.

The operational purpose of MITC is two-fold; firstly to efficiently and effectively plan, finance, coordinate and undertake development and research projects in close collaboration with industry and academia. Secondly, MITC runs a large variety of coaching and support actions towards SMEs. Activities are carried out in various large and small-scale projects funded by the EU, Vinnova, the Swedish Agency for Regional and Economic Growth, the Swedish Knowledge Foundation and the Regions of Sörmland and Örebro, in close alliance with other strong regional actors such as Robotdalen, Automation Region, Södertälje Science Park, Alfred Nobel Science Park as well as Örebro University and the Royal Institute for Technology. MITC has many years of experience running coaching and development programmes with SMEs. Several effective programmes have been developed in areas such as lean manufacturing, digitalisation, production development, and promotion of female leaders in industry. MITC also runs a long-term initiative, TransMission, supporting suppliers in the heavy vehicle industry in the transformation towards electric and autonomous vehicles.

The University’s strong research base in production systems, product development, AI, cyber-physical systems, robotics and embedded systems provides ample competence and resources to undertake innovative projects in close collaboration with representatives from the member companies and SMEs. Equipped with the latest digital technologies and networks, the Center hosts projects on, for example, advanced robotics for industrial applications, collaborative robotics, IoT, VR and AR, AI applications, digital twin.

  Digital technologies.

DESCRIPTION:

 

MaDiH as a non-profit organization is focused on providing support services for the digitisation of SMEs.

From this perspective, MaDiH aims at highlighting the importance of innovation by focusing on technologies that enable digital transformation and bring these technologies closer to the industrial sector, with special focus on the automotive industry, in order to increase the productivity of companies and generate new business models that increase the region's global competitiveness.

Starting from this premise, MaDIH will focus on technological competences considered particularly relevant to advance the implementation of the Smart Factory concept. The portfolio of services provided by MaDiH is structured around the following technologies:

Simulation and modelling,
Additive manufacturing,
Big Data,
Artificial intelligence and cognitive systems.  

The founding partners of MaDIH have a deep and expert knowledge of these technologies guaranteeing a high-quality service to companies interested in digital transformation.

MaDiH will promote a one-stop-shop approach in order to facilitate the adoption and use of technologies related to digital transformation, and also provides complementary aspects such as financing assessment and training activities to both SMEs and large companies from the Madrid Region. Its main objectives are to:

Decrease of uncertainties associated with the incorporation of new digital technologies.
Promote networking opportunities
Support for regional competitiveness.

In this sense, MaDiH will provide its ecosystem with access to the latest knowledge, experience and enabling technology in order to test and experiment digital innovations relevant to their products, processes or business models, as well as provide connections with investors, facilitate access to finance and help connect users and providers throughout the value chain. Digital technologies.

The Madeira Digital Innovation HUB mission is to support the digital transformation process of the Madeira Island companies through a multi actor cooperation network.

This initiative is led by ACCIF-CCIM – Industrial and Commercial Association of Funchal - Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Madeira, which is a private and non-profit multisectoral Association, founded in 1836. ACCIF-CCIM has about 800 associated companies, from all sectors (commerce, industry, services and tourism) most of which are SME and is responsible for developing a variety of activities, in particular a wide range of business services, including information and support for businesses, vocational training, company missions, fairs, conferences, events, representation and defense of the interests of its members.

Madeira DIH will focus primarily in the following domains:

Tourism
Sea resources and technology
Agri-food
Smart city and mobility
Industry
Energy and water efficiency
Ecosystem and sustainability
Healthcare
Education and training

This multi actor network have complementary expertise offering solutions to companies namely:

Identifying business opportunities and support their implementation
Access to investors and financial institutions
Brokerage between companies and technological solutions suppliers
Knowledge and technology transfer from competence centres, R&D projects and solutions from other DIHs
Support job placements
Providing training on digital skills
Digital technologies.

The objective of the Made Different | Digital Wallonia is to provide the support needed to companies to transform their activities following the principles of industry 4.0, as promoted by the Region (Marshall Plan 4.0 and Digital Wallonia Strategy). Services offered correspond to the level of digital maturity of the enterprise. They cover awareness activities, diagnosis of digital maturity, definition of a transformation plan and its implementation. They also tackle needs for  scale-up, finance and innovation. This initiative is open to all sectors of the industry. Digital technologies.

MADE – Manufacturing Academy of Denmark was launched as an independent association in 2014 by Danish companies, universities, RTOs, various associations and public and private funds. More than 140 members have now joined the association MADE, including 100 SMEs. MADE aims to facilitate the development of innovative world-class manufacturing solutions in Danish industry, enabling Denmark to compete globally and create employment within Denmark. MADE achieves its goals through the development of strategic partnerships between research institutes, RTOs and industry. MADE strives to support and strengthen the manufacturing industry in Denmark through the implementation of state-of-the-art manufacturing technology via applied industrial research projects, a range of various innovative activities throughout the year, and educational initiatives. MADE has two main platforms where industrial and academic partners work together: 1. MADE SPIR (Strategic Platform for Innovation and Research) which aims to develop and implement Advanced Manufacturing technologies and strengthen the Danish manufacturing ecosystem (suppliers, end user companies, research-focused and educational institutions) 2. MADE Digital which is a platform centered around research and innovation that aims at developing a Danish approach to Industry 4.0. An approach that retains a focus on the many SMEs in Denmark. MADE also aims at positioning and representing Denmark in international platform collaborations. This international representation is made possible through the successful cooperation that is already established nationally between the many partners in MADE. MADE is thus a one-stop shop for Danish and international companies and institutions that use MADE as bridge builder and matchmaker in various EU initiatives. MADE also uses the European network to identify new initiatives that match Danish interests, Danish research and innovation competencies and simultaneously creates strong links to industrial partners. Examples of MADE’s international collaborative engagements are: Horizon2020 and Eureka projects, The IMPACT Growth and I4MS Go-to-Market (SMEs+start-ups focus), Added Value Manufacturing KIC and International associations and networks such as EFFRA, Automation valley (Nürnberg), and North Production R&I Forum Digital technologies.

MADE is an initiative promoted by the Industry 4.0 National Plan, and its model is a public-private partnership. It is a non-profit consortium and a technical partner of SMEs that works as a pan European Digital Innovation Hubs. Its peculiar methodology is to foster the company competitiveness concerning their business/production processes, products or services using digital technologies by providing its technology infrastructure and by enabling access to the latest knowledge, expertise and technology to support their customers with piloting, testing and experimenting with digital innovations.

It helps companies to become more competitive concerning their business/production processes, products or services using digital technologies. They are based upon technology infrastructure (Competence Centre - CC) and provide access to the latest knowledge, expertise and technology to support their customers with piloting, testing and experimenting with digital innovations

In particular, MADE can be considered the step further in the process of digital maturity evaluation started by Confindustria’s DIH. The first stage is to stimulate the demand for innovation, to strengthen SMEs’ knowledge and awareness about Industry 4.0 opportunities. Besides, with the support of partnering national universities and sector-leading firms, MADE provides training on new manufacturing technologies, testbeds implementation, a teaching/learning factory model based on the features of I4.0, and advisory services to assist SMEs on technology transfer.

MADE can act as an innovation center, supporting the enterprises in understanding how state-of-the-art technologies can improve their competitiveness. The “experiential learning” methodology, where instructional theory and foundations deliver across a technology-enabled environment with a teaching/learning approach, is actively implemented.

In MADE, every worker has the opportunity to experiment with physical equipment within real industrial premises. Its 13 ‘technological islands’ encompass all the topics of the manufacturing plant. For instance, users can test the design of a product using augmented reality, predict plant failures with predictive maintenance policies, monitor machine performance while measuring energy consumption, or how to use big data to optimize factory behaviour.

MADE provides activities in three macro-areas:

Business orientation, with a series of tools, evaluations and analysis to support companies in the assessment of their digital and technological maturity level.
Training, through a Teaching/Learning Factory paradigm aimed at developing knowledge, skills and competencies, as requested by real business needs.
Deployment of innovation projects, industrial research, experimental development and technology transfer services in Industry 4.0.

In conclusion, firstly, MADE provides a set of knowledge, methods, technical and managerial skills on digital technologies to support companies in their digital transformation towards Industry 4.0. On the other side, thanks to the large demo-center of over 2000 sqm, it provides an I4.0 – pilot-based production facility for the initial test, demonstration and project development. Therefore, MADE offers space for co-working, meetings, training, advisory activities, research and innovation projects related to the topic of digital manufacturing topic. In a unique solution, it supports SMEs’ digital transformation.

In April 2020, meaning to participate in the EDIH initiative, the Italian Ministry of Economic Development assigned the consortium’s leadership to the competence centers.
Digital technologies.

lvh.apa Digital Innovation Hub Südtirol-Alto Adige was inaugurated in 2017 and it is an integral part of the Industry 4.0 National Network, strongly supported by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development Carlo Calenda. [http://www.mise.gov.it/images/stories/documenti/2017_05_16_network.pdf]

The Digital Innovation Hub is led by the non-profit association lvh.apa - Wirtschaftsverband Handwerk und Dienstleister/Confartigianato Imprese Bolzano. The association was founded in 1948 and is today of the biggest trade associations in South Tyrol representing more then 8.000 craft companies. Most of the members are small and medium-sized companies covering more than 60 professions. lvh.apa offers to its members business related services. For this reason the lvh - Bildung und Service Gen. was founded. 

The lvh.apa Digital Innovation Hub ist the operational tool through with lvh.apa offers tools and services related to Innovation, Internationalization and Digital Transformation. The office of the lvh.apa DIH is located at the NOI Techpark in Bolzano, the biggest innovation district in South Tyrol. The physical presence in this area facilitates the diffusion of know-how and the realization of innovative project. Our DIH is a bridge connecting traditional craft companies with digital an innovative solutions.

The physical presence is not only limited to Bolzano. lvh.apa has field offices in:  

Schlanders/Silandro

Meran/Merano

Neumarkt/Egna

Bozen/Bolzano, field office and head-quarter

Brixen/Bressanone

Bruneck/Brunico

Pedraces

St. Ulrich/Ortisei

Furthermore, the lvh.apa has a strong community of craft groups which are organized in:

115 craft-groups in almost every municipality of South Tyrol,

12 district groups and

60 groups of professions

The mission of the lvh.apa Digital Innovation Hub is to:

Inform and sensitize the local craft SME about new trends and future technolgies related to products, processes and business models.

Act as intermedior in order to connect craft SME with innovative steakholders in order to activate and initiate innovative projects and collaboration. 

Offer support and assistance in the implementation of innovation projects. 

Offer trainig acitivites to facilitate know-how building.

Implement projects in order to develop helpful digital tools, services and know-how for SME. 

Offer digital products and services supplied by it's partner network

 

In order to achive this mission, lvh.apa offers through its DIH the following services:

Realization of dissemination activites such as events, workshops or congresses on Digital Transformation and Technologies

Support an consultancy on rapid prototyping in the Maker Space 

Support and consultancy in Crowdfunding as digital tool for alternative finance

Support and consultancy in Open Innovation processes

Training programmes on Digital Transformation

Support and consultancy on e-commerce platforms

Participation in local and national networks and partnerships

Digital technologies.

The Luxembourg Institute for Science and Technology (LIST) is a mission-driven Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) active in the fields of materials, environment and IT.
By transferring technology to society as well as local companies, LIST contributes strongly to the building of tomorrow’s Luxembourg. Digital technologies.

LTU AI Innovation Hub

Making northern Sweden the leading region in Applied AI.

The initiative supports a strong innovation system for growth in the AI industry, a Digital Innovation Hub as a base, in collaboration, research, innovation, applied test-driven development, education and clustering.

The main financier is the European Regional Development Fund and Luleå University of Technology (LTU), Luleå municipality, Skellefteå municipality and Region Norrbotten. Other sources are EU H2020, Interreg and the Swedish National Innovation Agency. The hub has a non-for-profit aim (funding organisations e.g LTU  are mentioned above which makes the hub operations possible) and primary target group is SMEs.  The Luleå University of Technology (LTU) as the host for the hub guarantees the non-for-profit organisation. To be more precise the hub is operated by two research and innovations centres at LTU i.e. Centre for Distance-spanning Technology (CDT) and ProcessIT Innovation. 

The chosen focus of the hub is inline with the Norrbotten Smart specialisation strategy (S3) also known as Norrbotten Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS). One of the regional strengths, the core of the Norrbotten economy is nature based economy i.e mineral resources, forest resources and a unique energy infrastructure.

The initiative offers a number of activities towards regional companies:

-Company visits to identify needs, issues and to talk about the potential of AI

-Create meeting places for strategic information work

-Active support for the development of research-based or other innovative solutions

-Possibility for researchers to work in the companies for some time

-Develop and implement long (20 months) and for short (10 months) collaborative projects out of real needs and issues that have emerged in meetings with the industry

-Organizing knowledge-enhancing workshops focusing on current topics relevant to the development of AI and machine learning

 

Reference document: https://www.norrbotten.se/sv/Utveckling-och-tillvaxt/Regional-utvecklin… Digital technologies.