Accelerating SMEs advanced digital transformation in BCN
The Catalonia Digital Innovation Hub (DIH4CAT) is a regional non-profit innovation ecosystem, based on the Digital Innovation Hub (DIH) model of the European Commission.
DIH4CAT is a centralised “one-stop-shop” where industry can be supported in their digital transformation by the region’s R&D community through a consolidated set of services, infrastructure and knowledge.
This consolidated model was made possible by the Catalonia regional government interconnecting local innovation nodes of advanced technologies, each one led by a corresponding regional R&D centre.
The technological areas that are interconnected by DIH4CAT are those that are key to enabling I4.0 and digital transformation, including:
- AI
- Supercomputing & HPC
- Cybersecurity
- Smart Connectivity
- Photonics
- 3D printing & additive manufacturing
- Advanced manufacturing & robotics
The services provided by DIH4CAT address the various stages and needs of an organisation’s transformation: awareness, diagnosis, consultation, training, validation, and access to testing infrastructure and equipment.
Behind these services are the region’s benchmark competence centres across Catalonia, including Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC), Computer Vision Centre (CVC), Eurecat, i2CAT, Leitat, Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC).
After one-year implementation, the results show the success of the initiative. 102 company’s projects awarded with a maximum 20.000€ per project, more than 80% of these projects are implementing advance technology as Artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and robotics, and cyber security. The reasons why these technologies are the most implemented in the DIH4CAT are because artificial intelligence is the technology with more potential to improve the competitiveness of the companies without making a big investment. It is also the technology prioritized by the EU jointly with cybersecurity and, in the Catalan hub is prioritised the advanced manufacturing and robotics because the hub id focused on industry.
Regarding the services, 66 awarded projects demanded technological feasibility studies, 49 demanded proof of concept services, 20 projects are developing prototypes and pilots and, 5 projects are analysing new business models. It is important to keep in mind that more than one type of service can be performed in the same project.
