Network
Discover the network of European hubs that supports the digital transformation of businesses, providing access to technical expertise and advanced technologies to foster innovation and competitiveness.
EDIHS
What are the EUROPEAN DIGITAL INNOVATION HUBS?
EDIH4Marche is one of the 13 Italian European Digital Innovation Hubs (151 across Europe) funded by the European Union under the “Digital Europe” program.
European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) are regional gateways that help businesses become more competitive in terms of their business/production processes, products, or services through digital technologies, providing access to specialized technical expertise and infrastructure.
According to the European Commission, the functionality of EDIHs lies in the combination of their regional presence and the existing pan-European network. This combination allows EDIHs to meet the specific needs of local businesses by leveraging their understanding of the local innovation ecosystem and language. At the same time, the European EDIH network facilitates the exchange of best practices among hubs in different countries and enables the provision of specialized services across regions within the same country.
The EDIH network currently consists of 151 EDIHs co-financed by the European Commission’s Digital Europe Program and 76 EDIHs with a Seal of Excellence. High-quality EDIH applicants who did not receive DIGITAL funding were recognized with a Seal of Excellence, allowing them to seek funding from other sources, such as national or regional governments. Over time, they may become integral parts of the EDIH network.
Innovation Ecosystem and Networking
The services offered by EDIH4Marche aim to help companies and stimulate cooperation among innovation actors at the regional, national, and European levels. Through a mapping of technology solutions and digital solution providers, the goal is to facilitate the meeting between supply and demand within the region, and when necessary, through the entire EDIH network.
To this end, the following are planned:
Organization of brokerage events/open innovation events (e.g., Call4ideas, hackathons, competitions…)
Matchmaking activities such as innovation fairs (virtual/live) for innovative products/services and/or Open Days at universities, high schools, and SMEs
Matchmaking activities for research partners and the creation of European partnerships for collaborative innovation projects.
Mapping of the regional ecosystem
EDIH4Marche aims to map the regional ecosystem and contribute to its development.
Through this mapping, EDIH4Marche intends to:
- Identify gaps and weaknesses within the regional system that limit the creation of value for EDIH within the ecosystem;
- Develop strategies and measures to promote innovation within the ecosystem and assess their effectiveness;
- Provide services tailored to relevant needs;
- Connect and collaborate with all technological stakeholders from which benefits can be gained or to whom benefits can be provided;
- Ensure that local technology providers do not view EDIH4Marche as a threat, but rather as an opportunity.
In addition to the public sector entities and initiatives, a wide range of private actors plays a crucial role in the digitalization process of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Marche region. These actors include technology providers, software houses, system integrators, consulting firms, innovation managers, startups, and other private entities that offer support and specific solutions to facilitate the adoption of digital technologies.
The qualification process is the foundation for creating an effective mapping of the actors involved in the digitalization of SMEs.
The goal of the mapping is not to generate a ranking but to provide a comprehensive and detailed overview of the stakeholders involved
