EDIH-SNL

Investment in an EDIH in the South of the Netherlands (EDIH-SNL) is necessary to accelerate digitalization of SMEs. Main objective of EDIH-SNL is to contribute to the digital transformation of the manufacturing and maintenance SMEs. Beside supporting individual SMEs, EDIH-SNL will support the digitalization of their supply chains. In 3 years’ time EDIH-SNL will upscale its services to increase the digital maturity of SMEs, by helping them to develop capacities in HPC, AI, Cybersecurity, and Advanced Digital Skills, to the level of annually 5.000 SMEs informed, 500 SMEs inspired, and 250 SMEs activated. EDIH-SNL covers the entire South Netherlands, but has a physical location with physical infrastructure in the Brainport Industries Campus, with co-locations in the regions. EDIH-SNL has over 25 well-equipped Business Developers operating in the field to visit and help individual SMEs. They offer services for taking steps towards knowledge, facilities and European partners for further digitalization. To enable Dutch and EU SMEs to cross-border benefit from available expertise, EDIH-SNL will actively make use of and contribute to the European EDIH network and EU supported initiatives such as the Digital Transformation Accelerator and the Enterprise Europe Network. The EDIH-SNL consortium exists of regional development organizations, industry associations and knowledge institutions, ensuring an excellent complementarity on knowledge, skills, networks and geographical work areas. Most consortium partners are already collaborating in the Smart Industry Hub South (DIH since 2019), with on its track record a.o. Data Value Centre, FOKUS (Interreg project), Circular Economy, Smart Connected Supplier Network, and involvement in and support to the 14 southern Smart Industry field labs. The ambitions, services and infrastructure of the consortium are in line with the long term policies, objectives and key capacity areas of the European, national and regional governments.