DIGI-SI consortium confirmed as a national candidate for EDIH

25/2/2021

At its 59th regular session, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia was informed about the selection of candidates who applied for the open call for European digital innovation hubs (EDIH).

Based on the assessments of the interdepartmental expert commission of the Ministry of Public Administration and the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, the DIGI-SI consortium was selected as one of the national candidates for EDIH which will proceed to the second phase of evaluation. Alongside DIH UM (coordinator) the DIGI-SI consortium consists of DIH Slovenia, the Jožef Štefan Institute, Technology Park Ljubljana, Arctur and DIH Agrifood.

European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) play a key role within the Digital Europe Program (DEP) proposed by The European Commission.

EDIHs will function as a single point of contact that will help companies respond to different digital 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.

EDIH will thus play a central role in establishing the much-needed innovation ecosystem for the Eastern Cohesion Region of Slovenia. In this context DIH UM will act as a single entry-point for businesses and other organizations. It will provide them with opportunities to connect with researchers from the University of Maribor and other consortium partners as well as enable access to research infrastructure. As the coordinator of EDIH, DIH UM will also play an important role in the Technological Innovation Center of the University of Maribor – INNOVUM which will be established in the future.

In the second phase of the procedure, the European Commission will publish its own procedures and invite the previously selected national candidates for EDIH to submit an application. Only the entities that will be selected in both phases of the application process will successfully gain the title of EDIHs based in Slovenia.