Digital EU - Utilities Digital Innovation Hub

Digital EU

What are EDIHs?

European Digital Innovation Hubs will play a central role in the Digital Europe Programme to stimulate the broad uptake of Artificial Intelligence, High-Performance Computing (HPC), and Cybersecurity as well as other digital technologies by industry (in particular SMEs and midcaps) and public sector organizations in Europe.

The European Commission has proposed the creation of the first-ever Digital Europe Programme, which would invest €9.2 billion to align the next long-term EU budget 2021-2027 with increasing digital challenges. In this frame. European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) function as one-stop shops that help companies dynamically respond to these challenges and become more competitive.

By providing access to technical expertise and experimentation as well as the possibility to “test before invest”, EDIHs help companies improve business/production processes, products, or services using digital technologies. They also provide innovation services, such as financing advice, training, and skills development that are needed for a successful digital transformation. Environmental issues are also taken into account, in particular with regard to energy consumption and low carbon emissions.

How will EDIHs work?

European Digital Innovation Hubs will have both local and European functions. EU funding will be made available for hubs that are already (or will be) supported by their Member States (or regions), in order to increase the impact of public funding. The Digital Europe Programme will increase the capacities of the selected hubs to cover activities with a clear European added value, based on networking the hubs and promoting the transfer of expertise. Member States have an essential role in the selection process of the EDIHs; the initial network of EDIHs will be established from a list of hubs designated by the Member States. The European Commission has developed a document that explains how the EDIH will be implemented in the Digital Europe Programme as well as a series of answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

What is the status of UDIH?

UDIH is an initiative, setup by stakeholders who will digitally transform the public utilities sectors in the near future. We are a Digital Innovation Hub, which has already submitted its application to become a nationally recognized DIH (e.g. supported by the national authorities as one of strategic importance). As such, we are registered in the community of the JRC (DIH catalogue) to find more information and to connect with other DIHs. UDIH is also a candidate European Digital Innovation Hub, and is registered as a community member with DihNET.EU