1. The role of Digital Innovation Hubs to support the digital transformation of industry in all European regions
Anne-Marie Sassen, Deputy Head of Unit
Technologies & Systems for Digitising Industry, DG CONNECT/A2, European Commission
#DigitiseEU

2. Main messages
The level of use of digital technologies depends on the size of the company, the sector it is active in and the location of the company
Nevertheless, all companies need to digitise in order to remain competitive
Robotics, artificial intelligence, big data, photonics, 3D printing etc will transform production processes, products and business models
Digital Innovation Hubs can help companies to test out digital technologies and can create a wave of new innovations in every region along their smart specialisation

3. Digitising European Industry Communication
"Ensure that every business in Europe, whatever its sector of activity, wherever located and whatever its size, can take full advantage of digital innovations and competences"
Member States & regions:
build-up/strengthening of national and regional structures of DIHs
Commission:
Set up a pan-EU network of DIHs
Support activities such as cross-border experiments, catalogue and assistance in the creation of hubs
Dans la communication, DIH = pôle d'innovation numérique
particular attention to SMEs
Ensure companies can access
advanced technologies and enhance
their digital competences
€100 million per year (EU) of support to the hubs and 10 times more from the Member States and regions

4. What is a Digital Innovation Hub?
Helps existing industry to take advantage of digital innovations
Competence Centres are at the core of DIHs, ecosystem approach
Provides opportunities for both ICT users and ICT suppliers through brokering
one-stop-shop
multi-partner cooperation
specialist expertise
access to digital infrastructure
brokering/
matchmaking
awareness creation
innovation scouting
digital maturity assessment
visioning and strategy development
Mentoring/coaching
training
Access to finance
investor readiness services
Digital Innovation Hub
Competence Centre
Digital Skills
pilot factories
Experimentation and testing
Fab-labs
fabrication of new products
Working Group report on DIHs:

5. A guide for DIHs 1 2 3 4 6 5 Understand regional needs
Develop the vision for the regional DIH
Look at what is already available in region as basis*
Audience
Needs
Strengths
Smart specialisation
Shared vision for a regional service ecosystem
Science Parks, technical facilities, clusters, universities, banks, education providers
Define the services that the DIH should offer
Awareness, testing and experimentation, skills, finance
Build links
and establish collaboration
Common approaches & procedures, common services & tools, best practices, exchanges…
Deliver
services and assess impact
H2020
Structural funds
Other funding 2 3 4 5 6
Improve services and facilities
*There is a separate presentation with information related to each country on

6. Funding opportunities for Digital Innovation Hubs
Commission
European
H2020
200 M€ in the H2020 work programme
300 M€ in the new H2020 work programme , focus area "Digitising and transforming European industry and services"
Focusing on networking Digital Innovation Hubs and highly innovative cross border experiments
European Structural and Investment Funds
ESIF support for digital growth is based on national or regional Digital Growth Strategies and Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation.
Around EUR 2 billion will support digitising EU industry, in particular SMEs, to develop ICT products and services, e-commerce and the take-up of ICT,
Around EUR 1.2 billion will support e-Inclusion, e-Accessibility, e-Learning etc. to enhance human capital for the digitised economy and society,
Around EUR 7.6 billion will go into intelligent transport, smart grids, e-health and e-government, offering also procurement opportunities for IT firms,
Over 100 regions and 14 countries at national level will also invest in ICT-related research and innovation. Total funding for RIS3 accounts for 42 billion euro.
Other sources of funding (private, innovation funds of regions, loans, etc)
National and regional
Authorities

7. Examples of digital innovations
Simulation software for micro-breweries delivering casks at the right moment to the right customers
Smart Industry Fieldlab in NL:
3D scanner for medical insoles, using high performance computers in the cloud
More examples:

8. What next?
The digital transformation is not finished in 2020 – investments need to be reinforced in the next MFF
Strategic and simpler pooling of investments
across regional, national and EU level
across structural, research and innovation, and investment funds

9. Further information Mentoring project for Digital Innovation Hubs
Open until 22 October
Catalogue of Digital Innovation Hubs
Working group on Digital Innovation Hubs Report:
Pilot Call on industrial transition and interregional cooperation