Linz Center of Mechatronics GmbH

Austria: Upper Austria

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

LCM is a mechatronic research center and as such, has a long experience of product design. With the organizational areas “Drives” (electric and hydraulic), “Sensors and Wireless Communication”, and “Mechanics and Control” LCM is a solution provider in many different industrial sectors. LCM is is registered as non-profit research organisation in the European Commission Participant Register.
A Core element within LCM is its simulation and modeling know-how which is utilized in process description, automatic machinery design, digital twin creation, predictive maintenance and assistance systems.
LCM hosts and operates its SyMSpace platform that allows autonomous design principles simulation and optimization processes.  Within Artificial intelligence, these digital process handling and applying are a vital pillow for further progress (besides machine learning).
The know-how within SyMSpace have leveraged LCM for automation of knowledge-work and have contributed to LCM's white paper on knowledge engines and the network of knowledge engines.
It is the next evolution step beyond the internet of data and is currently piloted at LCM in diverse joint research activities and in open foresight and its overall research strategy. Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

Linköping Science Park

Sweden: East-Central Sweden

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Linköping Science Park is a world-class Innovation and ICT hub – with 7 000 brilliant minds and more than 400 companies inspiring Linköping – and the globe – with technology, services, and an explorative mindset. It is the home of leading tech companies, as well as pioneering startups like in ICT and the Deep Tech sector. It is a place where businesses grow and break frontiers in close collaboration with academia and talents. Linköping Science Park is a non-profit organization with the purpose to strengthen startups, SME:s and international R & D companies and organizations to grow and develop by accelerating digitalization

Linköping Science Park work as regional hub for operationalizing the smart specialization strategy for Region of Östergötland.

Smart Specialization

The plan for smart specialization, highlighting five regional areas of strength:

Connected products and systems
Efficient logistics
Visualization and simulation
Environmental benefits as a business
Advanced materials.

Smart specialization is coordinated through the East Sweden Business Region, a platform facilitated by the Region of Östergötland. For each strength area, there are designated coordinators and expert brokers to drive development in the area forward. There are also designated contact persons within RÖ and LiU for each area of ​​strength. In a smaller group, called the Innovation Force Group (IKG), all innovation environments, areas of strength and clusters gather to coordinate and coordinate activities between the areas of strength and find economies of scale.

The region has been successful in winning the innovation initiatives, Vinnväxt, for the region. In 2016 we got Visual Sweden, and at the end of 2018 the message came that we had another program; Agtech2030.

Three of our areas within Smart specialization of strength have clear links to the national initiative Sweden ICT; connected products and systems, visualization and image analysis as well as advanced materials.

 

What service does the hub offer?

The hub offer SME:s services in 4 different areas.

Access to Test environments and Test Beds

IoT World

https://linkopingsciencepark.se/dih-iot-world/

Visual Sweden

https://linkopingsciencepark.se/dih-visual-sweden/

Innovative Material Arena

https://linkopingsciencepark.se/dih-ima/

Agtech 2030

https://linkopingsciencepark.se/dih-agtech2030/

Access to Open Innovation

East Sweden Hack

https://linkopingsciencepark.se/dih-east-sweden-hack/

Global Impact Jam

https://linkopingsciencepark.se/dih-global-impact-jam/

PoP Up Expo

https://linkopingsciencepark.se/dih-pop-up-expo/

Access to Capacity Building Activities

Visual Forum

https://linkopingsciencepark.se/dih-visual-forum/

Rekryteringsmässan

https://linkopingsciencepark.se/dih-rekryteringsmassan/

Ex.jobbsmässan

https://linkopingsciencepark.se/dih-exjobbsmassan/

Creactive

https://linkopingsciencepark.se/dih-creactive/

Swedish Scale Up:s

https://linkopingsciencepark.se/dih-swedish-scale-ups/

Access to Development Projects

ELIN

https://linkopingsciencepark.se/dih-elin/

MAAS

https://linkopingsciencepark.se/dih-maas/

Energiprojektet

https://linkopingsciencepark.se/dih-energiprojektet/

 

 

 

 

 

  Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

Lighthouse Digital Innovation Hub

Lithuania: Vidurio ir vakarų Lietuvos regionas

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

 

Lighthouse Digital Innovation Hub (LH DIH) is nonprofit organisation which aims to become a digital innovation support platform that helps companies, institutions and organisations in the region of Klaipėda to create added value through digital technology, better business and production processes. LH DIH functions as a one stop shop service to digitize businesses in the Klaipėda region.

Vision - to develop progress in the Baltic Sea region through digital technology and networking.

Mission - to mobilize the network players of the digital ecosystem of Klaipėda region and to create added value for companies.

The main strategic objectives are to initiate and develop public sector, business and scientific cooperation in the field of digital innovation using the most advanced means of communication. Mobilise the necessary infrastructure for research and experimental development (R&D), initiate the development of new products and services, implement product prototyping and testing, quality assurance (validation), standardisation, certification, For the management of digital innovation projects, to participate in EU and national programmes.

LH DIH focuses on Maritime industry, ICT, civil engineering, life sciences and biotechnology, energy and clean technologies. These sectors comply with R&D priorities on national level as laid out in Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3), the implementation of which is supported by a number of EU Structural Funds measures.

In 2017, Lithuanian Government has concluded a national industry‘s competitiveness committee „Pramonė 4.0“ to address Industry 4.0 issues on national level, followed by Ministry of Economy launching a coordination group for this matter. http://www.industrie40.lt/platform/

LH DIH activities are aligned with the RIS3 strategy: reinforcing excellence in knowledge creation and developing new high-tech industries 

Funding research and technology centres; 
Public-private partnerships for innovation;
Targeted research funds, for private and public actors, and for co-operative projects; 
Participation in national and international competitive research programmes;  
Research spin-off promotion schemes (e.g. regional seed and venture capital funds);
Global talent attraction in targeted new sectors.

LH DIH is recognized as a project of strategic importance for the Klaipėda region (recognized by Klaipeda Regional Development Council). Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

LIFE SCIENCES DIH LITHUANIA

Lithuania: Sostinės regionas

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Life Sciences Digital Innovation Hub LITHUANIA (LS DIH Lithuania) is a non-profit association that aims to become a leading life sciences and biotechnology industry digitalisation service centre in Lithuania. With a mission to bridge ICT sector related R&D, big industries and SMEs in life science and biotechnology sectors, LS DIH Lithuania is creating one of the biggest integrated science and business campus in Lithuania. LS DIH Lithuania focuses on biochemistry, biotechnology, molecular biology, genetics, neurobiology, molecular medicine, ICT and clean technologies. These sectors comply with R&D priorities on the national level as laid out in Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3), the implementation of which is supported by a number of EU Structural Funds measures. One of the main goals of LS DIH Lithuania is to support the growth of innovative projects in health and life science through supporting services and a multidisciplinary approach involving also process and organisational innovations including digital technologies.

LS DIH Lithuania provides a one-stop service as well as access to competencies and infrastructure available at North Town Technology Park and Life Sciences Center of Vilnius University. The coordinating organisation, public institution Northtown Technology Park, is acting in developing and implementing national and EU or other grants funded projects such as „Move it forward+”, „InoSpurtas”, „Office Eco Consultant”  to support the activities of LS DIH Lithuania. Life Sciences Digital Innovation Hub’s partners have participated in many different H2020 projects in areas such as Biotechnology, Health, SMEs and others (more https://www.gmc.vu.lt/images/Apie_GMC/Annual_report_2018.pdf, p. 92).

LS DIH Lithuania focuses on shifting the balance of care from traditional treatment models through the development of digital health and care innovations that focus on prevention, early detection, post event care and independent assisted living. With our unique and valuable range of capabilities combed with core knowledge and expertise built on the foundation of Life Science Center (since 2016), we operate an effective partnership model, bringing together health and care practitioners, industry and academia to collaborate to solve key demand-led challenges.

For the next years to come LS DIH Lithuania partners will work on the further development of the DIH structure, projects, workshops, tools to support the digitalisation of the SMEs in Lithuania. Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

Latvian IT Cluster

Latvia: Latvia

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Latvian IT Cluster DIH is tech community with a strong focus on internationalization, cross-sectoral collaboration and digitalization.  Latvian IT Cluster advocates the development of sustainable industries through digital tools. IT Cluster  manages different international and local projects in partnership with companies, clusters, universities and public organisations. Competences and know-how of Latvian IT Cluster are formed from more than 30 implemented projects and export activities performed. Developed know-how and cooperation with RTD partners and universities in the field of smart solutions for customers and partners, as well as firm background of IT companies and cross-sectorial approach are ensuring high level competencies that can be attracted additionally to the existing capacity.
The mission of the DIH is to support businesses, particularly manufacturing SMEs, and public administration, to boost their competitiveness and reduce the existing digital gap. DIH is a crucial support mechanism for digital transformation, acquiring necessary skills, and access to important expertise and infrastructure.
LITC is a platform for further development of innovative IT solutions and products in Latvia and all around the world for various industries. Latvian IT Cluster has experience in running productivity workshops, hackathons, tech trainings and various awareness events between ICT and industries. Fostering technology usage in manufacturing industries has been set as one of key priorities for Latvian IT Cluster for the next years. Promotion of digital capabilities, business and manufacturing transformation according to the modern technology trends and available opportunities is the key competence of Latvian IT Cluster which we are keen to share with partners and involved SMEs. LITC has been selected to take part in "Smart Factories in the new EU Member States" project to become a national Digital Innovation Hub (DIH) leader to foster digital innovations and takes active part of various European DIH networks.
As regional digital innovation hub LITC serves as a go-to partner in digitalisation projects, playing a major role in increasing the digital competitiveness of Latvian companies and driving the global competitiveness by spreading the set of digital competences of DIH ecosystem. Latvian IT Cluster as a DIH takes the leading possition/ acts as a facilitator within the ecosystem which has been built in collaboration with universities, scientific institutions, government, corporates, industry and local champions (Operating in traditional and high potential industries ). Core DIH focus is on digital transformation in agrifood,manufacturing, healthcare industries, artificial intelligence and advanced digital skills.
Our possition as a DIH is AI & Industry 4.0 Think Tank and Coordination Center, our goal is to  encourage small  and medium-sized  companies to make  a digital  transformation in local and international level. 
To achieve our goals, we have created sustainable and strong network nationally with biggest Universities of Latvia, Research and innovation centres, sectoral associations, technology providers, Knowledge sharing  organisations, Regions of Latvia and internationally with strong communities and networks such as  BOWI, EU DATA HUB, AI DIH NETWORK, IOT NETWORK, BDVA - i-Space.
The core partnership with Riga Business School is a main driver to develop and implement Latvian Advanced Digital Strategy - develop actionable frameworks & conditions for the digital industrial revolution and national data strategy, including digital skill and advanced digital skill development strategy and implementation in cooperation with governmental and academic partners.
As a cluster LITC is awarded Cluster Excellence Silver Label since 2016.

 

DIH interacts with companies in 3 levels of “Digital paths” – 1) companies without experience and digital knowledge 2) companies with a digital knowledge and 3) companies with advanced digital skills. All three offer packages consist of different services provided by DIH. Services include starting from mentoring services to trainings and raising of knowledges and continuing with technology testing and innovation creation.  See more - https://dih.lv/lv/musu-pakalpojumi/digitalas-attistibas-celi

DIH is managed in order to help local companies to acquire digital skills, new technology, innovation and business solutions, as well as to improve overall digitization level of Latvian SMEs. Latvian IT Cluster DIH core focus is on small and medium manufacturing companies, to support in their digital transformatin journey. Technology focus is on Industry 4.0 technologies and Artificial Intelligence.

Latvian IT Cluster is a membership based non-profit organization, operating as legal organization since 2008 with objectives to facilitate technology industries growth, support research and development, tech knowledge and digital transformation of SMEs, and serve as voice of industry in communication with public authorities. Transparency, ethics, non-profit perspective and sustainabality have been core values for organization; importance of which is shared and passed on the whole potential future EDIH consortium lead by Latvian IT Cluster.

  Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

Laser Digital Innovation Hub (LaserLT DIH)

Lithuania: Sostinės regionas

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Laser LT DIH – the technology-based non-for-profit hub established a few years ago as the continuation of FP7 APPOLO project. The HUB integrates the whole concept value chain from identifying problems in existing manufacturing processes and new opportunities, offering potential technology solutions and innovations, testing technologies in industrial-grade laboratories, transferring novel research knowledge to manufacturing directly with a search of funding sources and broad-spectrum services for incubation of new technologies. Laser LT DIH is a single one-stop-shop providing access to the latest photonics related knowledge, experience and technologies to improve businesses by digitalising manufacturing processes, products and services.

The vision of Laser LT DIH is to become the strongest DIH on lasers, photonics and advanced manufacturing in Northern-East part of Europe through the development of three main pillars:

1. Competence in laser technologies (Department of Laser Technologies of FTMC);

2. Business support and access to finance (Science and Technology Park);

3. Access to industry (Laser and Engineering Technologies Cluster - LITEK).

Through cooperation in RTD to develop, validate and provide for manufacturing SMEs the world-class laser and engineering technologies. Services provided by DIH will be research, development, designing, prototyping, validation of technologies and equipment, test-batch production, the attraction of funds, market research, incubation and commercialisation. Pilot lines combining laser technologies with complementary ones are under construction to speed up the technology transfer to SMEs. Tight connections with similar DIHs on laser-based manufacturing and advanced manufacturing is established. APPOLO HUB is an initial point, and new H2020 project on Laser DIH is ready to start. The regional network of DIHs for local industry support is under discussion. Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

La Salle Technova Barcelona

Spain: Catalonia

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

La Salle Technova Barcelona Highlights
La Salle Technova Innovation Park (Technova Barcelona) is the innovation park at La Salle–URL,
(www.technovabarcelona.org). Its mission is to provide a high-quality environment for the
development of new technology-based companies and foster technological innovation in SMEs in
the Catalan region. It offers an end-to-end service to new and existent organizations interested in
growing through technological innovation.
Technova connects the R&D capabilities of La Salle–URL with the demands and needs of
organizations in Catalonia. Technova Barcelona coordinates a network of business angels’
investors to provide additional funding sources to the start-ups of the park.
Technova Barcelona incubates over 25 startups that are developing new products and services,
most of them with a strong technological innovation component. Over 50 established companies
in the region use Technova Barcelona innovation and acceleration services in a regular basis.
Technova offers entrepreneurship advice, mentoring programs, innovation consulting, technology
valuation, innovation matchmaking, and technology valuation and transfer to their network of
associated companies and external clients. Furthermore, its extended network includes other
innovation and science parks, start-ups accelerators, a network of individual and corporate
investors, and institutional stakeholders in the promotion of the innovation ecosystem of the
region.
Technova Barcelona is member of the IASP (International Association of Science Parks). Within
this network of more than 400 Science and Technology Parks, Technova Barcelona provides a
challenge call service for innovator companies of Catalonia. Technova calls can reach more than
5000 technological start-ups that can forward solutions to address the challenge. This service
allows Catalan companies to propose cutting-edge technological challenges that can be
transformed to a call to IASP members.
La Salle Technova Barcelona History
La Salle Technova Innovation Park was born in 2001 for developing the third function of the
university, taking advantage of the Education (Talent) and the Research (Technology) of La Salle
Campus Barcelona. In 2016, Technova won the Award as one of the Top 10 Accelerators in
Europe. In 2017, Technova received the Award of the best Business Angel Network by the
Spanish Association of Business Networks (AEBAN). Nowadays host the Presidency of the
International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (400 Parks in 80 countries). Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

Know-Center GmbH

Austria: Styria

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Know-Center is Austria's leading research centre for data-driven business and big data analytics. As a connecting link between science and industry, Know-Center conducts application-oriented research in cooperation with other academic institutions and with companies. Within Know-Center, we pursue a wider perspective and approach data driven business as a cognitive computing challenge. Our scientific strategy is to integrate approaches from (big) data analytics with human-centred computing to create cognitive computing systems that will enable humans to utilise massive amounts of data. Therefore, our motto is “from data to intelligence”. Know Center is recognized Big Data European Innovation Space by the Big Data Value Association. Our data-driven methods and technologies contribute to value creation and benefits for customers in a sustainable way among various industries and use cases. Through our Cognitive Computing-based approach, which combines the strength of man and machine (=software), we are setting standards within both the local and the international research community. The best example for this is the area “Industry 4.0” (also known as “Smart Production”) where our approach makes companies more successful. Here, for instance, our Cognitive Computing Systems consist of integrated sensors in the production facilities, intelligent algorithms for data analysis and interactive systems that allow users to derive action-relevant knowledge and work more efficiently. Our customers benefit from this specific know-how in the form of competitive advantages and innovations directly at the value-creation chain. To support Austrian industry using Big Data methods and tools we established the Big Data Lab. The Big Data Lab is Austria’s first point of contact for all questions around Big Data Analytics and Big Data Management. The Big Data Lab enables companies to quickly and efficiently test data-driven methods as well as to assess the potential and possibilities for a data-driven business. Our offer includes consultations, data analysis and trainings. Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

Jožef Stefan Institute

Slovenia: West Slovenia

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The Jožef Stefan Institute is the leading Slovenian scientific research institute, covering a broad spectrum of basic and applied research. The staff of more than 960 specializes in natural sciences, life sciences and engineering. The subjects concern production and control technologies, communication and computer technologies, knowledge technologies, biotechnologies, new materials, environmental technologies, nanotechnologies, and nuclear engineering. 

The mission of the Jožef Stefan Institute is the accumulation - and dissemination - of knowledge at the frontiers of natural science and technology to the benefit of society at large through the pursuit of education, learning, research, and development of high technology at the highest international levels of excellence.

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In order to increase the flow of knowledge and technology into the domestic and foreign economies and to promote the Jožef Stefan Institute as a Centre of excellence for technological progress for all segments of society an internal Center for Technology Transfer and Innovation (CTT) is established.

The primary task of CTT is to enable and facilitate the transfer of new technologies and innovations, developed at the Institute and its Departments, to the  industry.

Our key activities encompass:

(1)  technology testing facilities, reference experimentation facilities and technology consulting services;

(2) initiating new industrial cooperation: the search for industrial partners, including creating market analyses and support for contracting; 

(3)  establishing of new spin-off / spin-out companies, including the search for investors for licensing and the financing of spin-off / spin-out companies; 

(4) marketing intellectual property, including support for negotiations and licensing contract relations establishment;

(5) supporting active integration of economy and science with internationalization;

(6) supporting the protection of intellectual property including raising awareness about it;

(7) support and assistance in applying to national and EU tenders, including provision of information on suitable Calls for application and full proposal revision, focused on the marketing, IPR, UVP and customer segment related issues;        

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(8) support and assistance to the competence centres (e.g. the competence centre in the domain of customized and low-energy computing).

(9) measures for the popularization of science amongst young population: organization of visits to the Jožef Stefan Institute, mentoring for students and providing special services for young researchers employed at the Institute.

Through our activities, we complement and enrich innovative research, innovation management and knowledge transfer, as well as organization of focused meetings between researchers and industry representatives, thematic workshops, and trainings at the Institute. Our activities are driven by the desire to increase the visibility of the Institute, to raise companies’ awareness of the Institute, and thereby encourage their cooperation with us. At the same time our activities are implemented with the goal to promote entrepreneurial mentality among researchers, as well as with sincere concern for the education and popularization of science among young people.

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The main goal of the Center for Technology Transfer and Innovation at the Jožef Stefan Institute is to increase the flow of knowledge and technology into domestic and foreign economy and to promote the Jožef Stefan Institute as a Centre of excellence for technological progress for all segments of society.

Support at Experimentation

Jožef Stefan Institute consists of different departments, which are to be considered as focal point of development, digitization and industry relations nationally and internationally.

The research departments are listed here: https://www.ijs.si/ijsw/Research%20departments

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Participation in EU Networks and Consortiums

Enterprise Europe Network Slovenia
The Enterprise Europe Network helps businesses innovate and grow on an international scale. It is the world’s largest support network for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with international ambitions.
The Network is active in more than 60 countries worldwide. It brings together 3,000 experts from more than 600 member organisations – all renowned for their excellence in business support.
Member organisations include:
•     technology poles
•     innovation support organisations
•     universities and research institutes
•     regional development organisations
•     chambers of commerce and industry

We are the coordinators of the Slovenian EEN consortium. Our partners are Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Craft, University of Primorska, University of Maribor, SPIRIT and Development Agency of Maribor.

Technology transfer consortium of Slovenia unites the main technology transfer offices in Slovenia and serves the researchers and other beneficiaries by assisting them in IP identification and protection, marketing, financing etc.

We are the coordinators of the Slovene consortium. Our partners are all Public Research institutions in Slovenia, active in natural sciences.

 

Link to digitization

Helps researchers and enterprises to innovate, transfer scientific results into practice and to digitalize the industry.

EU-wide Competence Centre Network is set up within the Department of Communication systems of Jožef Stefan Institute, in the domain of customized and low-energy computing (CLEC) for cyber-physical systems and the IoT providing “one-stop-shop” and the cross-border technology brokerage services over EU.

We support a competence centre at the JSI which is a contact point for the local ecosystem in Slovenia.

 

  Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

Jheronimus Academy of Data Science

Netherlands: North Brabant

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

JADS, a collaboration between Tilburg University (TiU) and the Eindhoven University of Technology (TUe), is an interdisciplinary data science research and innovation hub in the Netherlands. JADS does fundamental and applied research in close collaboration with the business community on the entrepreneurial, innovative and societal aspects of data science (a.o. the applied research lab Data & Smart industry). JADS develops data based analytics and management methods and implements these in specific pilots to obtain new insights into processes and value chains. Also, JADS supports partners with knowledge on business models, data governance and legal aspects of data use and generation, e.g., relating to data protection (a.o. SME datalab/ data maturity scans)  JADS participates in the Dutch Smart Industry innitiative. The aim of this innitiative is to make the industry more competitive through faster and better utilisation of the opportunities ICT has to offer in digitzing industry. JADS has a non for profit aim, since it is a cooperation between two public universities and the Province of North Brabant and the Municipality of ’s-Hertogenbosch.

The list of services offered to the SMEs is presented as follows:

JADS SME Datalab: https://www.jadsmkbdatalab.nl/  and https://www.jads.nl/…
Drive by data platform (in which SME datalab participates): https://platformdrivenbydata.nl/
JADS Playground: https://www.jads.nl/playground.html
Data Expert Programhttps://www.jads.nl/dataexpertprogram.html
Data Entrepreneurship in Action https://www.jads.nl/joint-master-program-data-science-entrepreneurship…
PDEng projects for companies: https://www.jads.nl/pdeng-post-master-data-science.html
Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology