About EDIHs

Role of EDIHs

European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) are one-stop shops designed to help businesses and public sector organisations boost their digitisation efforts and improve competitiveness.

EDIHs assist companies in improving their business or production processes, products, or services through digital technologies by:

offering access to technical expertise and research, as well as opportunities for “pre-investment testing”
providing innovative services such as financial consulting, training, and skill development, which are key to a successful digital transformation
assisting companies in solving environmental challenges, particularly through the use of digital technologies for sustainable development and circular economy solutions.

EDIHs combine the benefits of a regional presence with the opportunities provided by a pan-European network. With their regional presence, they are well-positioned to deliver the services that businesses need in their native language and within their local innovation ecosystem. The network’s broad reach across Europe facilitates the sharing of best practices between hubs in different countries, and ensures that specialised services are accessible even when certain skills are unavailable locally.

For SMEs, European Digital Innovation Hubs present an opportunity to grow, increase competitiveness, and adapt more quickly to shifting technology trends. However, to fully capitalise on what these hubs offer, active participation and utilisation of the available resources are essential.

European digital innovation hubs have the potential to provide substantial support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in various ways:

Access to technology resources: These hubs offer SMEs access to cutting-edge technologies, platforms, and digital tools that they may otherwise be unable to use or implement on their own.
Support in technological development: Through training programmes, technology advisors and specialised support, digital innovation hubs can help SMEs improve their digital skills and adopt innovative solutions.
Funding and investment: Hubs are often linked to funding programmes, grants, investment funds or crowdfunding platforms, enabling SMEs to secure the resources for technological development.
Business networks and partnerships: Through hubs, SMEs can connect with other companies, start-ups, industry experts, and potential customers, leading to business partnerships or joint ventures.
Testing and implementing solutions: Innovation hubs offer environments where SMEs can experiment with and implement new technologies, allowing them to test their ideas and adapt them to meet market needs.
Access to expert knowledge and mentors: Through access to experts in various fields, SMEs benefit from valuable advice and mentorship in growth strategy, marketing, data analysis, and management.
Promotion and visibility: Innovation hubs are often involved in promoting innovative solutions, helping SMEs increase their market visibility and attract new customers.