inNOVA4TECH hub – inNOVAtion Hub for TECHnology Transfer

Portugal: Lisbon Metropolitan Area

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The inNOVA4TECH hub is a digital innovation hub located in the metropolitan area of Lisbon that supports the digital transformation of companies (SMEs and mid-caps), as well as the public sector institutions thanks to the application of a wide range of advanced technologies, including Cyber Physical Systems, Artificial Intelligence, micro-nano electronics, etc.

The inNOVA4TECH hub has been created and is led by UNINOVA. UNINOVA is a multidisciplinary, independent, and non-profit research institute. It was formed in 1986 by the NOVA School of Science and Technology of the Nova University of Lisbon (FCT-UNL - www.fct.unl.pt), a group of industrial associations, a financial holding, and up to 30 companies. In addition, UNINOVA is an active partner of Madan Parque (www.madanparque.pt), a business facilitator and accelerator, incubating Micro and SME’s through several layers of support to entrepreneurial activity.

The main objective of UNINOVA is to pursue excellence in scientific research, technical development, advanced training, and education. Through the inNOVA4TECH hub, by working closely with industry and universities, UNINOVA bridges the gap and transfer technological innovations into profitable business concepts and, existing products further developed to match new industrial requirements. Therefore, inNOVA4TECH hub covers the whole value chain.

inNOVA4TECH hub makes use of the unique opportunities that exist in the interaction between science, sector-oriented research, and engineering activities, through collaborations on joint research and innovation projects. The inNOVA4TECH focuses on developing research-based technologies and solutions to address the societal challenges, and actively invite industrial partners and the business sector (both locally, regionally, nationally and internationally) to assure impact of the research projects in the value chain and society. The hub supports the industrial and public sectors in integrating digital technologies and acquiring digital skills to accelerate the digital transformation in Portugal and Europe.

In addition, inNOVA4TECH hub is a key member of the DIH4CPS project network of DIHs (DIH4CPS: Fostering DIHs for Embedding Interoperability in Cyber-Physical Systems of European SMEs), coordinated by UNINOVA. Within the project, inNOVA4TECH establishes strong linkages and collaboration with other European DIHs to enlarge inNOVA4TECH services. inNOVA4TECH is the interface between SMEs and the DIH4CPS network of DIHs, being able to scout for new technology and innovation services, helping to ensure that every company in the Lisbon region, small or large, high-tech or not, can take advantage of digital opportunities. The support provided through the project contributes to help companies to become more competitive with regard to their business and production processes, products or services using digital technologies, thus providing access to technical expertise and experimentation, inNOVA4TECH facilities and network labs.

inNOVA4TECH’s excellence is reflected through the following drivers as:

 i) by participation in European & National projects;

 ii) by collaboration with the industry and policy makers;

 iii) by the promotion of activities close to the society.

 

The motto of inNOVA4TECH hub is to foster the development of technologies with the objective of catapulting the knowledge valorisation both at economic and social level.

The DIH offers a range of services in the form of collaborative research, concept validation and prototyping, testing and validation, digital maturity assessment, market intelligence, mentoring, education and skills development.

Vision: inNOVA4TECH hub supports enterprises and public sector to integrate technologies and transform digitally to develop the economic sectors of the Greater Lisbon Region. The hub offers unique products and services grounded on advanced research and innovative business models of its partners.

Mission: inNOVA4TECH hub aims at providing advanced technologies services to companies and public sector to digitally transform. In order to bridge the gap between research, public sector and industry (specifically SMEs), inNOVA4TECH provides expertise on the following competences: Big Data Analysis, Blockchain, Cyber-Physical Systems, Cybersecurity, Digital Business Development, Internet of Things, Science and Engineering of Machine Intelligence, Smart products with a focus on Cyber-Physical Systems, Computer Science and Engineering.

The inNOVA4TECH hub has laboratories with computational equipment and access to the NOVA University Lisbon facilities. In addition, the hub is currently expanding its capacities with the construction of technological infrastructure mainly focused on the region (for services to companies and special attention to the SMEs) funded by structural funds from the Lisbon region.

Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

Innoskart Digital Innovation Hub

Hungary: Central Transdanubia

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Innoskart Digital Innovation Center from Innoskart Digital Cluster The Innoskart ICT Cluster was established in 2006 as a classic cluster to support the innovative cooperation of SMEs in the Central Transdanubia Region of Hungary. The structure and scope of activities of the cluster and the cluster management body have been constantly evolving over the years, since 2019 it has been using the name Innoskart Digital Cluster. Today, as a result of its networking activities, it already operates as a Digital Innovation Center. Innoskart DIH is a non-profit actor embedded in the digital innovation ecosystem. As a cluster, it has the Hungarian “Accredited Innovation Cluster” certification and the European level Silver Label certification. In 2021, the cluster has 54 members, mainly SMEs, as well as local governments and a university knowledge centers. Innoskart’s mission Supporting digitization by facilitating and supporting dialogue, knowledge and technology transfer between service and user companies. It plays an “interface” role between very different actors of the ecosystem who are equally involved in digitalization, primarily at regional and domestic level. In the meantime, Innoskart is building an international network to help those actors to strengthen competencies in order to achieve European standards.   Thus, digital innovation is not only supported in the Central Transdanubia Region, Innoskart is also actively involved in the construction of national and European level networks. Participation in consortia of various tenders helped this construction activity. Such partnerships are: COSME Natureef ESCP-4i COSME Connsensys ESCP-S3 Innosup INCluSilver Innosup S3FOOD Interreg Central Europe ProsperAmnet Interreg DTP eDigistars Consortium membership in Hungarian eDIH proposal Innoskart has already participated in the development and implementation of an innovation voucher system on several occasions, the aim of which is to promote the digital innovation of companies, mainly SMEs. We also provide business training and coaching services on industrial technology transfer topics. Innoskart is member of a consortium who has established - in order to ensure long-term cooperation and utilize results - the SS4AF partnership (Smart Sensor System for Agri-food - ss4af.com/), several partner organizations are already DIH. Innoskart agreed to establish closer cooperation with 3 universit and 1 industry knowledge centers on the establishment of a Hungarian unit of a European agri-food living lab network. In addition to Innoskart, the following take part in this: Budapest University of Technology and Economiy, Industry 4.0 Technology Center (http://www.ipar4.bme.hu/), ELTE-Soft Nonprofit Ltd. (http://www.eltesoft.hu/en/), Óbudai University, Antal Bejczy Center for Intelligent Robotics (http://irob.uni-obuda.hu/?q=en), Campden BRI Hungary Nonprofit Ltd. (https://campdenbri.hu/en/en-magyarorszag.php) In the European innovation support system, several agri-food industry transfer projects with Hungarian participation have already won, in the implementation of which Innoskart actively supported the applicants, who demonstrated well the implementation of digital innovation in the food industry SME sector. Based on these experiences, we created a so-called electronic digital marketplace (https://innoskart.digital/digitalis-piacter/) that allows members to network and create digital innovation collaborations. In terms of the impact of Covid-19, we have implemented a significant community-building innovation by organizing webinars in support of digital innovation, where our goal is to present various success stories. We also support the emergence of digital innovation in a wider social context: as part of our work on Interreg DTP eDigistars, we are supplementing existing tools for digital education for 50+ people with new innovative tools. As a result, industrial employers will have more confidence in employing this age group who acquire more up-to-date digital competencies. Innoskart cooperates with the actors - organizations, clusters, universities, knowledge centers supporting Hungarian digital innovation in a way that fits into European trends - who come together to operate eDIH. Clearly, Innoskart DIH’s activities towards supporting the local SMEs with their digital transformation are as follow (https://innoskart.digital/szolgaltatasaink/): searching partners for digitization of industrial companies’ projects business coaching and training for better understanding of different market actors (interface role) regular information about funding sources for digital transfer in industry access to Hungarian Agri-food Technology transfer Living Labs Initiative in order to test before invest regular webinars to spread knowledge about available digital solutions to answer the industry needs blog on website with professional articles all in relation to digital transformation in order to build trust towards the SMEs and widen the expert pool. https://innoskart.digital/innoskart-magazin/ Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

innomine DIH - South Transdanubian branch

Hungary: South Transdanubia

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The main goal Digital Innovation Hubs is to help companies become more competitive using digital technologies and aim to implement Manufacturing-as-a-service concept - inlcuding the support in digital transformation. Innomine, a non-for-profit DIH serves this purpose focusing on manufacturing SMEs especially in the automotive / discrete manufacturing sector. Based on previous projects and cooperation activities with international partners we have wide network of both manufacturing companies, research organizations and specialized experts. We have means to access them, and already surveyed their needs in becoming more effective within their everyday practices (like reduce scrap rate, decrease maintenance cost, improve planning and cost control etc.) and how to manage digital transformation.

Our mission is to become the key partner in the South Transdanubian region in SME digitalization and digital transformation projects. We plan to empower manufacturing companies with digital technologies to further improve and maximize innovation capabilities and productivity. Our mission and Unique Value Proposition is offering of our digital transformation expertise, services and previous proven experience in three areas: 1. provide knowledge (what to do, what technology to use, how to solve specific issues etc.), 2. Remove risks connected to digitization project and 3. Ensure (co-)funding from public funds.

Innomine is located in Pecs, Hungary (Southern Transdanubian region). 

Innomine DIH aims to make an impact on Hungarian SMEs, increase their efficiency by using digital technologies therefore contribute to the sustainable development of the country and to build a circular economy.  

Innomine DIH is currently part of Cloudifacturing project (www.cloudifacturing.eu) to design and support experiments to optimize manufacturing processes with the help of cloud and HPC technologies. 

in 2017 we have been selected by EC to be part of the CEE DIH program to upscale our DIH activities - carried out by PWC and Oxentia. In 2018 we have successfully completed the program.

In 2018 we have been selected by a Hungarian program to expand our digital innovation services in the Southern Danubian region. 

Our main thematic focus is smart manufacturing, using digital technolologies to increase efficiency of SMEs. Main technologies: HPC, cloud, human centered production, digital twinning, AI, zero defect manufacturing, networked factory etc.  Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

innomine Digital Innovation Hub

Hungary: Budapest

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The main goal of Digital Innovation Hubs is to help companies become more competitive using digital technologies on a non-profit basis - this inlcudes to support the digital transformation of SMEs. Innomine serves this purpose focusing on manufacturing SMEs especially in the automotive / discrete manufacturing sector. Based on previous projects and cooperation activities with international partners we have wide network of both manufacturing companies, research organizations and specialized experts. We have means to access them, and already surveyed their needs in becoming more effective within their everyday practices (like reduce scrap rate, decrease maintenance cost, improve planning and cost control etc.) and how to manage digital transformation.

Our mission is to become the key partner in the region in SME digitalization and digital transformation projects. We plan to empower manufacturing companies with digital technologies to further improve and maximize innovation capabilities and productivity. Our mission and Unique Value Proposition is offering of our digital transformation expertise, services and previous proven experience in three areas: 1. provide knowledge (what to do, what technology to use, how to solve specific issues etc.), 2. Remove risks connected to digitization project and 3. Ensure (co-)funding from public funds.

Innomine is located in Budapest and Pecs, Hungary (Central Hungary and Southern Transdanubia). 

Innomine DIH aims to make an impact on Hungarian SMEs, increase their efficiency by using digital technologies therefore contribute to the sustainable development of the country and to build a circular economy.  

Innomine DIH is currently part of Cloudifacturing project (www.cloudifacturing.eu) to design and support experiments to optimize manufacturing processes with the help of cloud and HPC technologies. 

in 2017 we have been selected by EC to be part of the CEE DIH program to upscale our DIH activities - carried out by PWC and Oxentia. In 2018 we have successfully completed the program.

In 2018 we have been selected by a Hungarian program to expand our digital innovation services in the Southern Danubian region. 

Our main thematic focus is smart manufacturing, using digital technolologies to increase efficiency of SMEs. Main technologies: HPC, cloud, human centered production, digital twinning, AI, zero defect manufacturing, networked factory etc.  Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

Infrastructure and Cloud data centre test Environment (SICS ICE)

Sweden: Upper Norrland

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The mission is to contribute to Sweden being at the absolute forefront regarding competence in sustainable and efficient datacenter solutions, cloud applications and data analysis. This will be accomplished by increasing innovation capability, helping product and service companies excel, as well as attracting more researchers and companies to Sweden to make the business branch even stronger nationally.

ICE consists of three datacenter pods, where one has an optimized and stable physical environment optimized for IT/cloud-related applications, and one is a flexible construction optimized for facility/utility testing. The ICE facility is operated and owned by RISE SICS North.

The test facility will offer access to a unique environment for testing, demos and experiments.

The ICE offer covers all parts of the stack;
•     Big data and machine learning – Computing capacity, platforms and tools for handling big data and machine learning
•     IT and cloud – testing and experiment environments for software development, scaling and infrastructure optimization
•     Facility and IT HW – possibilities for testing disruptive innovations concerning the facility and hardware of a datacenter
•     Utility – measurements and research securing a sustainable society with efficient datacenters as a part of the energy system

Read more about our ongoing research projects at https://www.sics.se/groups/rise-sics-north#projects Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

InfoDesignHub

Croatia: Continental Croatia

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The mission of InfoDesignHub is to enable regional development by promoting and embedding digital technologies into SMEs and public sector organizations. 

Local city development agency InovaDR  is the founder of InfoDesignHub and responsible for its operation. It is funded by city government and has a non-profit aim, i.e. all its income is used for futher development of digital ecosystem.

DIH will provide support in different fields and support aproaching digitalization in a holistic way.

INFODESIGN HUB will provide a range of basic services to the regional ecosystem ranging from digital skills education, workshops, digital infrastructure, and mentoring. Along these basic services DIH will focus on design services in various stages of digital transformation of organizations and product and service development. 

List of indicative services:

Ecosystem building, scouting, brokerage, networking
Visioning and Strategy Development for Businesses
Collaborative Researchs
Concept validation and prototyping
Testing and validation
Pre-competitive series production
Digital Maturity Assessment
Incubator/accelerator support
Market intelligence
Access to Funding and Investor Readiness Services
Mentoring
Education and skills development

DIH is forming partnerships with institutions, organizations, and institutions that complement each other in strengthening DIHs aim to become a center of excellence for applying digital design to industry solutions, products, packaging, urban planning i.e. in supporting sustainable development goals and initiatives. 

  Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

INFOBALT DIH

Lithuania: Sostinės regionas

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

INFOBALT DIH is non-profit organisation, which aims to increase innovation capacity of SMEs, Midcaps and large companies in the area of digitalization. 
It offers Industry 4.0, HPC, AI, Cyber Security technologies, provides process optimization and automation solutions that help companies quickly and accurately produce, manage workflow, reduce costs and increase capacity. It also organize trainings in respective fields and provides test before invest services for entities aiming to digitize.

INFOBALT, the coordinator of INFOBALT DIH – locally and internationally recognized representative of Lithuanian Information and Communication Technologies industry, which currently has 165 members, including ICT companies and research institutions. Its mission is to promote the use of Information and Communication Technologies to boost the digital economy and benefit businesses and public sector.

  Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

Industrial Technology Knowledge Linares DIH

Spain: Andalusia

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Industrial Technology Knowledge Linares 4.0, DIH-ITKL offers all the space and resources you need to successfully compete in the Knowledge Economy. At Linares Sci-Tech Campus you will find modern infrastructures, advanced services, financing programs and facilities to develop R&D projects. Besides, in Linares you will find the main assets to increase your company’s competitiveness: a highly-qualified human capital and an open innovation system where both companies and students do collaborate to find innovative solutions to business problems. All these points are based on the location within a same space of: -A Scientific and Technological Campus that has advanced infrastructures for research and development in IT and new materials. -The Technology Centre of Metal-mechanical and Transport, that has a great and qualified number of engineers, as well as of diverse laboratories and a climatic chamber (unique in Andalusia) in which to carry out diverse tests (products and materials). -Sicnova Group, national leader in manufacturing and distributing 3D printers and scanners, with a significant representation in Europe and Latin America. -Various companies dedicated to software development, mobile app, gamification, network and telecommunications infrastructures, virtual reality, ... -Public entities such as the City Council and the Chamber of Commerce of Linares, which provide support for the search for funding, search for new business opportunities, and catalyze the system. -Within this location there are also coworking spaces and business incubation, supported by the mentoring and synergies generated by the entities mentioned above. All efforts are focused on improving the competitiveness and development of companies and entrepreneurs based on new technologies and industry 4.0 as a key factor for change. The DIH is coordinated by Commerce Chamber of Linares, a non-profit organization.

The main services offered by DIH-ITK are:

Awareness creation Ecosystem building, scouting, brokerage, networking

Visioning and Strategy Development for Businesses COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH

Concept validation and prototyping Testing and validation Simulation and Modelling Virtual Design of product (VR/AR) Digital Maturity Assessment Incubator/accelerator support Product consortia MARKET INTELLIGENCE Education and skills development Access to Funding and Investor Readiness Services Mentoring Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

Industrial Ring

Spain: Catalonia

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The Industrial Ring brings together engineers, manufacturers (OEM and TIER1), technology providers, associations, research centers, universities and government with the aim to identify, develop and promote best practices around 4.0 Industry or Industrial Internet. In the process of open innovation, companies and the entire value chain participate actively identifying needs that hardly could be solved by a company itself, creating multidisciplinary groups to create and build collaborative solutions that help companies achieve business objectives. The Industrial Ring is a community open to different strategic sectors of Catalonia (defined in RIS3CAT) acting as coordinator and catalyst for collaboration between companies. The collaborator must provide an infrastructure for small and medium businesses in the community to test advanced solutions that enable them to increase competitiveness, improve process efficiency and increase profits. Our objectives: Drive innovation by creating use cases and pilotes. Providing infrastructure solutions to enable testing in real environments. Promote success stories and provide forums for sharing best practices and results. To facilitate the adoption of new technologies in SME companies. Participate in forums and international organizations to develop standards. Our services and infrastructure: Infrastructure bandwidth. Connections with fiber optic or radio link provided by Orange or other providers of telecommunications infrastructures Industrial Platform 4.0 is a digital services marketplace that allows businesses access to new technologies at an affordable cost and reduces barriers to entry for new entrants to the ecosystem. Industry 4.0 Innovation Workshop, to identify ideas, prioritize and define a business case at a high level. Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology

Industrial Reality Hub

Netherlands: Gelderland

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The IR Hub is a Smart Industry Fieldlab program involving ten partners active in industrial applied AR/VR, including eight companies with technological expertise in AR/VR , the VR Lab of University of Twente and Regional Development agency Oost NL.   

Vision

“The European digital innovation hub for industrial applied Augmented and Virtual Reality, stimulating cooperation and innovation between companies, government and knowledge institutes, resulting in world class business, knowledge and facilities”

Mission

 “Our mission is to enhance the collaboration between human and machine through seamless integration of Data and AR/VR technology, enabling humans to remain the leading factor in the digital society. Moreover, our ambition is to make digital reality accessible, affordable, practically usable and socially relevant for any industrial organisation”.

We focus on the societal challenge of the innovative and inclusive society.

This Digital Hub is build on the roots of Virtual Reality Valley europe,  created 1999. The Hub has received a boost in 2015 with a new focus on accelerating innovation through sharing knowledge and cooperation , specifically AR and VR (XR), and the broader subject of Human Machine Interfaces, AI, Sensors and Big Data. The Hub members distinguis themselves by being a top performers with a focus on digitization of international manufacturing companies and act globally in multiple international supply chain. Key themes are application of AR and VR in guided operations, guided maintenance, VR training and digital twins together with machine learning, AI, Big Data and sensors. 

The 4th Industrial Revolution deals with far-reaching flexibility, robotization and automation. Many companies share the vision: "24 hours a day full automated and error-free production, based on customer questions." But that also raises many questions about the impact on employment. Do you as a company focus on technology or human beings? Due to more flexibility in production, coupled with shorter turnaround times and the desire for error-free production, companies are opposed to the limited information processing capacity of humans. The IR Hub therefore focuses on the development of technological solutions for improving the interaction between human and machine.

Activities

The companies that collaborate within the IR Hub are active in three working groups

Knowledge - development of technology roadmaps
Projects - Development of international cooperation and innovation projects
Internationalisation and Exposure – connecting the Hub on the European level to partners and other Hubs.
Digital technologies.

Sectors
Technology