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European Digital Innovation Hubs Network

EDIH Network Summit 2024

EDIH Network Summit 2024

EDIH Network Summit 2024 | 26 and 27 November 
The EGG, Brussels

This second edition of the EDIH Network Summit brought together over 700 key stakeholders from the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) network, including representatives from various thematic working groups, national authorities, and expert groups.

The summit provided first-rate information on key topics such as AI challenges as well as facilitated in-depth discussions on practical topics through good practices for digital transformation and innovative solutions across multiple areas including agrifood, construction, cybersecurity, digital health, and smart connectivity. 

Attendees had the opportunity to participate in workshops, panel discussions, and networking sessions designed to foster collaboration and share best practices. Additionally, the EDIH Network Awards Ceremony recognised the most outstanding success stories of the network.

The presentations delivered as well as the recordings of the sessions are available in the sections below.

Interviews

Agenda

Day 1 - 26 November 2024

Schedule

Event

12:00 - 18:00Registration 
12:00 - 14:00Welcome lunch
14:00 - 14:15EDIH Network Summit 2024 welcome 
14:15 - 14:45

Opening speech 

Keynote speech - Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine (video message)

Fire side keynote - Roberto Viola, Director General of DG CONNECT, European Commission

                                        EDIH Network Awards finalists presentation - Human centered AI
14:45 - 15:30

Session 1 - Keynotes 

                                         EDIH Network Awards finalists presentation - Green Digitalisation
15:30 - 16:00Networking coffee break 
16:00 - 16:15EDIH Network Awards finalists presentation - Digital Skills and Collaboration
16:15 - 17:15

Session 2 - Panel discussion: How the EDIH Network should respond to the AI opportunity? 

17:15 - 17:55Session 3 - EDIH Network Summit 2024 - Awards ceremony 
17:55 - 18:00Wrap up and introduction to next day's agenda 
18:00 - 20:00Networking reception

Streaming: All Day 1 sessions will be streamed.

Day 2 - 27 November 2024

Schedule

Event

08:00 - 16:00Registration
08:30 - 09:00Welcome coffee
09:00 - 09:30Welcome address and presentation of the next EDIHs call 
09:30 - 10:30

Session 4 - The AI Act explained 

Presentation of Artificial Intelligence Act (45')

Session 5 - Networking the Networks

Panel discussion on how to cooperate between EDIHs and other initiatives at EU level

Session 6 - EDIH success by the numbers

Workshop on data-driven intelligence about the EDIH Network and its clients

 
10:30 - 11:00Networking coffee break 
11:00 - 12:30

Session 7 - Meet the Associated Countries - Panel discussion on new EDIHs joining the EDIH Network

Panel discussion on Associated Countries joining the EDIH Network

Session 8 - Tailoring services to the needs of companies

Panel discussion on how to effectively reach out, engage, and tailor services to the needs of companies

Session 9 -  Addressing public sector organisations needs

Workshop on how to better tailor services to meet the specific needs of public sector organisations

Session 13 -The Digital Markets Act

Presentation of the Digital Markets Act  (45')

 

12:30 - 14:00Networking lunch 
14:00 - 15:30

Session 10 - Access to Finance: tools and real cases

Panel discussion on how to find financing solutions for companies

Session 11 -  Integrating AI into EDIHs

Workshop on how to make the EDIHs AI friendly

Session 12 - Digital Maturity                               Assessment Tool (DMAT)

How do firms digitalise?

15:30 - 16:00Networking coffee break 
16:00 - 17:00EDIH Network Summit 2024 - Closing
17:00 - 18:00Networking reception

 

The Ukraine EDIH Network session will take place at 9:30 - 10:30

Streaming: Day 2 Welcome address and presentation of the next EDIHs call, Session 4 - The AI Act explained, Session 7 - Associated Countries, Session 10- Funding opportunities for EDIHs customers and EDIH Network Summit 2024 - Closing will be streamed.

Video Recordings

Presentations

Day 1 - 26/11/2024

Session 1 - Keynotes

Bianca Muntean, TDIH
Kirke Maar, AIRE

Day 2 - 27/11/2024

Welcome address and presentation of the next EDIHs call, Malgorzata Nikowska, DG CNECT

 

Session 4 - The AI Act explained 

The AI Act explained, Martin Ulbrich, DG CNECT

 

Session 5 - Networking the Networks

Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and Clusters
Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs)
Networking the Networks – Summary

 

Session 6 - EDIH success by the numbers

Data-driven intelligence about the EDIH Network and its clients, JRC

 

Session 8 - Tailoring services to the needs of companies

Pirita Ihamäki, Robocoast EDIH
Mantas Vilys & Tautvydas Pipiras, EDIH4IAE.LT
Andrea Lösch, EDIH Saarland
Jordy Goorman, EDIH BOOST

 

Session 9 -  Addressing public sector organisations needs

Addressing public sector organisations needs – Outcomes

 

Session 10 - Access to Finance: tools and real cases

Álvaro Hernando Hernando, DG CNECT
Solja Sulkunen, FAIR
Jacqueline Schardijn, Digitalzh
Lidia MOCANU, EDIH DIZ

 

Session 12 - Digital Maturity Assessment Tool (DMAT)

Unveiling Firm Digitalisation Patterns through the EDIH Digital Maturity Assessment Tool (DMAT), Johan Stake, JRC
Katja Mohar Bastar, DIGI-SI
Stéphanie Roosa, EDIH CONNECT and Marco Iuorio, DIH Cube
Simon BOISSERPE, DIVA

Networking and Matchmaking

During the EDIH Network Summit 2024, participants had many opportunities to network and connect with each other. 

Meet the speakers

Roberto Viola

Director General of DG CNECT (Directorate General of Communication, Networks, Content and Technology) at the European Commission.

Bianca Muntean

Honorary Consul of Estonia, is co-founder and cluster manager Transilvania IT.

Thomas Faber

Manager Digital Economy, NL Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Malgorzata Nikowska

Head of Unit for Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Policy Coordination, DG CNECT, European Commission.

Justina Anglickytė

Industry 4.0 project team lead, GreenTech Hub Coordinator, Innovation Agency Lithuania.

Project Officer in Economics of Digital Innovation,Joint Research Centre, European Commission

Giulia Carsaniga

Policy/Project Officer, AI Innovation and Policy Coordination, AI Office, European Commission 

Coordinating Senior Project Manager CitCom.ai TEF
Coordinator of Test and Evaluation of AI at RISE

Gaspard Demur

Deputy Head of Unit “AI Innovation and Policy Coordination” at EU AI Office.

PhD, FIT EDIH Coordinator, Head of the I4T Technological Transfer Center in ICEBERG PLUS.

Business Development Manager Innovation at FME (Trade association Metalectro) – EDIH BOOST, NL.

Advisor to the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia.

Pirita Ihamäki

International Business Manager Robocoast EDIH/Prizztech Ltd.

Secretary General of DIHCUBE, Head of the Digital Transition Office at ANCE.

Senior Project Manager at RISE, Research institutes of Sweden.

Director of the Directorate for European and NATO integration and International Cooperation of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

Programme / Policy Officer in the AI Office (Artificial intelligence Innovation and Policy Coordination), DG CNECT - European Commission.

 

Senior Researcher at DFKI (German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence) – EDIH Saarland.

Manager of AI & Robotics Estonia (AIRE EDIH)

Professor, head of department, vice dean, KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

Strategy Director @ EDIH – Digital Innovation Zone.

Enkelejda Muçaj

Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Energy,  Republic of Albania. 

Postdoctoral Researcher at the Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems & Automation (LMS) at the University of Patras, Greece.

Ir. EE, Ir. CSE, senior expert, AI Innovation and Policy Coordination unit of the AI Office, European Commission.

Policy/Project Officer, AI Innovation and Policy Coordination, AI Office, European Commission.

Tautvydas Pipiras

Project Manager at Lithuanian Innovation Centre / EDIH4IAE.LT Advisor.

Business Development Advisor at the Innovation and Training Park (ITP).

Scientific Policy Officer, European Commission Joint Research Centre.

Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Montenegro. 

Senior Innovation Procurement Advisor, European Innovation Council/Business Acceleration Services, (EISMEA). 

Project Director of the Digital Transformation Accelerator (DTA).

Executive Director at Lithuanian Innovation Centre, EDIH4IAE.LT Coordinator. 

Awards Competition 

EDIH Network Awards

Celebrating digital excellence

The EDIH Network Awards are designed to showcase and celebrate EDIHs that have successfully provided innovative services to SMEs and Public Sector Organisations (PSOs) to support them through their digital transformation. Beyond recognising the accomplishments of individual EDIHs, the awards aim to encourage collaboration and the sharing of best practices within the network.

The categories

Have a look at the four categories finalists

See the finalists

Green digitalisation

Awards services that align with the Green Deal objectives, focusing on sustainability and environmental protection.  

See the winner

Human-centred AI

Awards services that use AI to enhance performance and privacy of the organisations and empower the staff.

See the winner

Digital skills

Awards services that equip customers with necessary digital skills for quality jobs, driving social and economic impact.

See the winner

Collaboration with other EDIHs or European intiatives

Awards services requiring the joint efforts between EDIHs and other European initiatives. 

See the winner

People's Choice Award

The People's Choice awards the people's favourite Success Stories among the finalists! 

People's Choice Award
People's Choice Award

Awards the people's favourite Success Stories among the finalists! 

See the winner

Useful information

Venue Details

The EGG Brussels

Rue Bara 175, 1070 Brussels