Subscribe

Digital Innovation Hubs to benefit SMEs

Enterprise Ireland has announced the establishment of the Data2Sustain and FactoryxChange European Digital Innovation Hubs.

The facilities are the first of four hubs which will make up Ireland’s membership of the pan-European network of EDIHs.

The state agency said two more hubs led by Tyndall National Institute in Cork and by University College Dublin will be formally established in the coming weeks.

Each hub is set to receive annual funding of €1.9m. In total, the European Union is investing €700m to co-fund a Europe-wide network of hubs.

Data2Sustain is a consortium led by the Atlantic Technological University, Sligo.

Business Bulletin

It is promising a comprehensive digital services programme to increase the capacity and speed of SME transformation, with a focus on the circular economy and sustainability areas.

FactoryxChange is a consortium led by the EI/IDA Technology Centre Irish Manufacturing Research in Mullingar.

It promises to accelerate factories to become ‘Factories of the Future’ by integrating ecological, digital, and societal solutions into their core business models.

Enterprise minister Simon Coveney said the digital innovation hubs will offer assistance for SMEs to digitalise and advance in the technology areas of the future.

“Data2Sustain’s focus on the green and digital transformation of our economy will be an important step towards contributing to those vital areas, while FactoryxChange will focus on driving resilience and competitiveness for industry and our manufacturing sector,” the minister said.

Enterprise Ireland CEO Leo Clancy explained that the initiative is designed to improve digital adoption by SMEs.

“Four hubs in Ireland will be part of this initiative and I’m delighted to see two of these hubs now up and running,” he said. “I look forward to the additional capacity and innovation that both projects can bring to these vital policy areas.”

The EDIH design is for each hub to have a research performing organisation (RPO) or higher education institution based lab at the core, to help SMEs and public sector organisations become more competitive in their business/production processes, products or services by providing access to research infrastructure, technical expertise and experimentation in order that these organisations can test before investing.

Digital Innovation Hubs
SME
Minister Simon Coveney (centre) with Marina Donohue of Enterprise Ireland and Michael McGrath of DPER. (Pic: Maxwells)

As well as research and testing facilities, EDIHs will also provide other innovation services, such as financing advice, and the training and skills development necessary for a successful digital transformation.

The European Commission’s Digital Europe programme is providing strategic funding to support projects in five capacity areas:

•         Supercomputing

•         Artificial Intelligence

•         Cybersecurity

•         Advanced digital skills

•         Digital Innovation Hubs

The programme has a planned overall budgetary allocation of €7.5 billion.

Sign up to The Business Plus Panel to help shape the business decisions of tomorrow and win vouchers for your opinions! 
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram