EDIH Suedwest

In recent years, innovation in products, services and business models has increasingly been driven by digitalisation and artificial intelligence, enabling enhanced functionalities, new value chains and more resilient industrial processes. A key challenge remains how to make these technological opportunities accessible and practically usable - especially for SMEs, start-ups and public organisations.

EDIH Suedwest addresses this challenge by acting as a regional one-stop-shop for digital transformation and AI adoption, while simultaneously enabling cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange within the European Digital Innovation Hub network. 

The Hub focuses on the major industrial sectors of South-West Germany, particularly manufacturing, health and mobility-related industries. The technological core remains “smart sensor systems powered by edge AI”, offering a broad range of application opportunities along industrial value chains. In addition, the second phase introduces stronger activities in the fields of Green AI, high-performance computing (HPC) for AI applications, resilient digital infrastructures and trustworthy human-centred AI solutions.

To maximise impact, services are organised within the four key action fields “training & skills”, “test before invest”, “support to find investments” and “innovation ecosystem & networking”. These services are specifically tailored to different target groups including founders, start-ups and spin-offs, SMEs and small mid-caps, public sector organisations, as well as individuals such as students, employees and executives.

A particular emphasis is placed on low-threshold access to AI expertise, infrastructures and experimentation environments. Through coordinated guidance structures and the further development of dedicated AI support and helpdesk services, EDIH Suedwest enables companies and organisations to identify suitable technologies, partners and funding opportunities more efficiently.

The consortium combines complementary expertise from research, industry support, digital technologies and innovation transfer. Together with associated regional stakeholders, the partners ensure broad technological coverage, strong regional anchoring and direct access to industrial ecosystems. EDIH Suedwest thereby strengthens cooperation within the region while simultaneously fostering European exchange, replication of best practices and cross-regional innovation collaboration.