EDIH innovATE

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) are the backbone of the Austrian and EuropeanSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SME) are the backbone of the Austrian and European economy, drivers of innovation and essential for our prosperity. Digitalization and innovation skills are crucial for SME to be able to survive international competition in the future and to achieve the European Union’s (EU) twin objective of a green transition and digital transformation. The European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) candidate EDIH innovATE aims to support these objectives and to create a sustainable and fair European economy. EDIH innovATE achieves this by accelerating the digital transformation of SME in the agriculture, food, timber, and energy sector (ATE) by focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and Advanced Digital Skills. By improving digitalization in the ATE industries EDIH innovATE strengthens the world’s ability to feed a growing population, prevent forest decline, use resources efficiently, generate green energy and keep a thriving ecosystem. EDIH innovATE’s goal is to advance Austria and Europe as a location for innovation by training highly qualified SME workers, creating new companies and jobs, counteracting rural exodus, and creating opportunities for exchange with the best in Europe through the EDIH network. Through increased digitalization, we also promote resilience in crises, e.g., climate change, globalization, COVID-19 crisis. That is why EDIH innovATE acts as one-stop-shop for digital innovation in the ATE industries for SME offering hands-on trainings, workshops, test-before-invest activities, networking events, prototype projects, SME accelerator and access to finance. EDIH innovATE builds its experience on an exceptional track record of the national Digital Innovation Hub (DIH) innovATE and its 10 renown digitalization and industry expert partner organizations that together with the DIH build the EDIH innovATE consortium.