SE Romania European Digital Innovation Hub
Ovidius University of Constanța (UOC), as the lead of the consortium formed with five other organizations: the National Association of Women Entrepreneurs in SMEs, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Navigation and Agriculture Constanța, the Intercommunity Development Association "Metropolitan Area Constanța," Iceberg+, and Ernst & Young Romania.
CiTyInnoHub will provide services totaling 3,161,256.15 Euro – 15,587,521.86 lei (1,580,628.08 euros from the Digital Europe Program and 7,874,927.34 lei from the Smart Growth, Digitalization, and Financial Instruments Program 2021-2027).
The general objective of the project is to offer technological expertise and experimentation facilities at European standards, covering the needs of local SMEs and PSOs for digital transformation in Tourism 4.0, eHealth, Smart Cities, and ICT sectors, both in urban and rural areas of the South-East Development Region of Romania. Moreover, the project's impact could extend not only regionally but also more broadly to the entire Black Sea region, through exposure and international networks provided by Ovidius University. CiTyInnoHub can meet regional needs and contribute to achieving the general objective specified in the South-East Development Region's Smart Specialization Strategy, namely to provide a favorable framework for key actors in the region who, through concrete action initiatives in smart specialization domains, will have a positive impact on sustainable regional development.
The specific objectives of CiTyInnoHub are as follows:
SO1 – Creating the necessary framework for developing a functional network where SMEs and PSOs receive relevant solutions from national and international technology providers, and stakeholders adopt digitalization policies tailored to their needs.
SO2 – Identifying operational and technological needs of beneficiaries for a digital transformation journey, providing access to testing facilities before making investments, to increase the Regional Digital Maturity Index.
SO3 – Assessing needs and supporting beneficiaries to find the best funding options, as well as providing assistance in the application process.
SO4 – Providing the necessary skills and know-how to successfully implement a digital transformation process for involved SMEs and PSOs, and offering training through the region's best experts.
SO5 – Building a strong community to support digital (and ecological) transformation of regional organizations, while strengthening the local innovation environment.
CiTyInnoHub's EDIH goal is to increase the digital intensity level during the digitalization process of approximately 100 APLs (Local Public Authorities) and around 300 SMEs, both from urban and rural areas of the South-East Region of Romania, depending on the specific needs of different types of organizations. Therefore, the primary target groups for CityInnoHub EDIH are: A) SMEs in Tourism 4.0, eHealth, and Smart City & ICT sectors, and B) APLs and other institutions interested in the Smart City domain.
Through EDIH's services, both the public and private sectors will benefit from support throughout their green and digital transformations. In terms of stage indicators, it is estimated that CityInnoHub will sign a total of 400 contracts with beneficiaries who will receive support from at least one EDIH service. Additionally, the third digital maturity audit will be conducted for 115 beneficiaries.
Our services
CityInnoHub aims to create an innovative ecosystem that brings together SMEs, public authorities, universities, and research entities to develop cutting-edge digital solutions in Tourism 4.0, Smart Cities, E-health, and IT&C. In this ecosystem, cross-sectoral and international connections are essential to facilitate knowledge transfer, exchange of experiences, and creation of synergies. This ensures that our members have access to the resources, support, and expertise needed to grow, innovate, and generate positive impact in their communities and beyond.
CityInnoHub offers you the unique opportunity to test and evaluate solutions for your digital transformation before making a major investment. With our customized services, you will be able to identify the most suitable solutions and technologies to optimize your processes and increase efficiency. We ensure that implementations are tailored to your needs and objectives, allowing you to maximize your investments in digital transformation and secure long-term success.
CityInnoHub aims to provide its partners with the necessary support to develop their skills, offering specialized training in accessing funding. This initiative helps them improve their competencies and identify the most suitable funding sources for their needs. Through our courses, members learn to prepare strong funding proposals and negotiate with investors, ensuring they secure the resources needed to achieve their goals and contribute to the development of the innovative ecosystem.
In the modern world, digital skills are essential for the success of any business. At CityInnoHub, we aim to help you develop these skills by providing access to training programs and resources tailored to your needs. Whether you are an entrepreneur looking to grow your business or an employee seeking to adapt to new technologies, we offer the knowledge and tools necessary to enhance your skills and excel in the digital age.
CITYINNOHUB serves as a regional point of contact for all aspects related to digital transformation. Whether you want to learn more about the possibilities offered by digital technologies, develop a personalized transformation strategy for your organization, or obtain funding for desired technology, we have the right service for you!
We offer our services to public institutions and ambitious SMEs in the South-East Region active in four domains: Tourism, Health, Smart Cities, and IT&C.
The first call for non-reimbursable funding aimed at digitalization and innovation for Microenterprises, SMEs, and Public Institutions in the South-East Region has been launched.
