The European Big Data Value Forum (EBDVF) is the flagship event of the European Big Data and Data-Driven AI Research and Innovation community organised by the Big Data Value Association (BDVA) and the European Commission (DG CNECT). This years’ conference (03.11-05.11.2020) welcomed more than 90 speakers coming from the public sector, innovative companies, leading research bodies and exciting startups.

 

AI REGIO sponsored a session (04.11.2020) on DIH4INDUSRTY the envisaged DIH Network for the Manufacturing Industry, which aims at supporting SMEs on the path towards digitization. In recent years, different Digital Innovation Hubs (DIH) initiatives have been created on regional and national levels, which are listed in the EC’s Catalogue of DIHs. The DIH4INDUSRTY is meant to harmonise these different DIH initiatives for the manufacturing industry.

 

The session was led by AI REGIO coordinator Sergio Gusmeroli from Politecnico Milano.

 

Among speakers were Helena Rodrigues from the European Commission’s DC CNECT, who explained the position of the new European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) Initiative and its main four service offerings to SMEs, such as:

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• test before invest, 

• support to find investments, 

• innovation ecosystem and networking, 

• skills and training.

 

Giovanna Galasso from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), who presented the AI DIH Network project and its achievements.

Angelo Marguglio from ENGINEERING (ENG), who gave an introduction to the MIDIH Innovation Action the DIHIWARE Platform, a Collaboration and Innovation platform for DIH ecosystems, as well as the DIH4Industry Platform.

Sabine Hafner-Zimmermann, who presented prospects for and success of European DIH collaboration with the example of the Smart Anything Everywhere (SAE) Initiative.

 

The session has shown how the different projects and initiatives on DIHs support SMEs on their Digital Transformation journey. The DIH4Industry Network and the DIH4INDUSRTY Innovation Collaboration Platform, however will help stakeholders to manage their respective DIHs and builds the bridge between current Horizon2020 initiatives and the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon Europe.

More information on BDVA and the EBDVF can be accessed here.