EDIH Spotlight - EDIH NEB (Northern and Eastern Bohemia), Czechia

About the Spotlight series:

The EDIH Spotlight series showcases digital innovation hubs across Europe and the difference they make for SMEs and public organisations. In each edition, we introduce a hub, its mission and how it supports organisations on their digital and AI journeys.

About EDIH NEB: 

EDIH NEB is a Czech European Digital Innovation Hub serving the Northern and Eastern Bohemia regions of Liberec and Hradec Králové, with a focus on digitalisation, artificial intelligence, digital modelling, simulation, IoT technologies, cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing. Its purpose is to make advanced digital technologies more accessible and practical for SMEs, start-ups and public sector organisations, helping them improve competitiveness, resilience and innovation performance in support of DIGITAL objectives. The core services are similar to other EDIHs, encompassing Test Before Invest, Skills and Training (through its Digital Academy), Funding guidance and Ecosystem and Network support. The EDIH NEB consortium brings together regional development, academia and research through partners including ARR, the Technical University of Liberec, VUTS, the University of Hradec Králové, Aricoma, the National Cluster Association and CIRI. Whilst EDIH NEB is mainly concerned with industrial digitalisation and manufacturing, it also covers areas such as digital public services, social innovation and AI-based solutions for sectors like social care.

Interview with Andrea Faltusová, General Project Manager of EDIH NEB
 

Can you briefly introduce yourself and your role in the Hub?

My name is Andrea Faltusová, and I work as General Project Manager at EDIH NEB - European Digital Innovation Hub Northern and Eastern Bohemia. We focus on supporting SMEs and public sector organisations in identifying suitable digital innovation opportunities, connecting them with relevant experts and services, and helping them move from initial ideas to practical implementation. Our work typically includes ecosystem cooperation, service coordination, stakeholder engagement, and support for organisations that want to test or adopt advanced digital technologies.

What is the main expertise or focus of your EDIH?

EDIH NEB supports the digital transformation of SMEs, start-ups and public organisations, with a strong focus on digitalisation, artificial intelligence, digital modelling, simulation of technological processes, IoT technologies, cybersecurity, and practical innovation services. The hub serves mainly the Liberec and Hradec Kralove regions, while also offering selected services beyond the region. Its portfolio includes test-before-invest, education and skills development, innovation ecosystem support, and grant management. The consortium also brings strong expertise in areas such as nanotechnology, automation, robotisation, machine vision, 3D scanning, reverse engineering, data analysis, and additive manufacturing.

What is your vision for digital transformation in your region or domain?

Our vision is to make advanced digital technologies more accessible, practical, and valuable for organisations across our region. We want digital transformation to be seen not as a one-off technology purchase, but as a long-term capability that improves competitiveness, resilience, service quality, and innovation performance. EDIH NEB contributes by helping organisations understand their digital maturity, test solutions before investing, strengthen digital skills, and connect with research, innovation, and funding opportunities. In a region with strong industrial and research capacities, we see our role as a bridge between technology providers, universities, public institutions, and end users.

Could you share a recent success story where your Hub supported an SME or a public sector organisation?

A strong recent example is our cooperation with Posedla Ltd., a company developing innovative bicycle saddles. Through our test-before-invest service, VUTS, one of our consortium partners, supported the company in optimising the composite saddle skeleton using advanced digital technologies and numerical models. The goal was to improve cost efficiency and manufacturability while preserving, and in some cases improving, the mechanical properties of the product. Based on simulation models, strength and stiffness analyses were carried out for several structural variants. The results showed that some redesigned configurations with fewer material layers achieved equal or better performance than the original design. This helped the client identify more efficient production options without compromising product quality, creating tangible value in both technical and business terms.

What do you see as the biggest impact your Hub has had so far in the local or regional ecosystem?

Our biggest impact so far has been in making digital innovation more actionable for organisations that might otherwise see it as too risky, too complex, or too distant from their everyday needs. We have helped build awareness and trust by combining practical pilots, expert guidance, training, and innovation brokering in one place. This has strengthened regional capability and connected companies and public organisations with universities, research organisations, innovation centres, and external technology partners. The added value is especially visible in our ability to translate advanced technologies into concrete use cases with measurable operational benefits.

What are the key digital challenges facing organisations in your region or sector today?

Many organisations still face a combination of challenges: limited digital skills, uncertainty about where to start, insufficient internal capacity for innovation projects, difficulty assessing return on investment, fragmented data, and concerns around safe and effective adoption of AI and other advanced tools. In some cases, the challenge is not the lack of technology itself, but the lack of confidence, resources, or structured support to implement it meaningfully. Public organisations also often need solutions that are reliable, understandable, and easy to integrate into existing processes. This is exactly where EDIHs can play an enabling role.

How does your Hub help companies overcome these challenges?

We help organisations through a combination of assessment, expert consultation, pilot testing, training, ecosystem matchmaking, and funding guidance. Our test-before-invest model allows clients to verify a technology in practice before making a larger commitment. We also provide education through the Digital Academy, connect organisations with suitable experts and innovation partners, and support them in identifying grant opportunities for digitalisation projects. This combination lowers risk and helps organisations move from inspiration to informed decision-making and implementation.

What is the most common obstacle that SMEs or public bodies raise when working with you, and how do you help them address it?

A very common obstacle is uncertainty: organisations are interested in digital technologies, but they are unsure which solution is relevant, whether their data and processes are ready, and whether the investment will create real value. We address this by starting with concrete needs and realistic use cases rather than with technology for its own sake. We help clients structure the problem, identify suitable tools, test them in a safe environment, and evaluate the outcomes before scaling. This reduces both perceived and actual risk.

How do you collaborate with other EDIHs, universities, clusters or ecosystem partners?

We signed memorandum on Central European EDIH cooperation involving 26 EDIH´s, memorandum of Understanding between EDIH NEB and EDIH Madrid region and also Memorandum on Czech Ukrainian EDIH Cooperation.

Collaboration is one of the core strengths of EDIH NEB. Our consortium itself combines regional development, academia, research, technology expertise, and innovation support. It includes organisations such as ARR, the Technical University of Liberec, VUTS, the University of Hradec Kralove, Aricoma, the National Cluster Association, and CIRI -Center for Investment, Development and Innovation of Hradec Králové region. Beyond the regional ecosystem, we also work with partners in Germany and Poland, and the hub's broader positioning reflects cross-border cooperation opportunities linked to the region's location. In practice, this means knowledge exchange, joint events, warm handovers, access to specialised expertise, and international cooperation on pilots and technology transfer.

A good example of this approach is our cooperation around Robic, a unique AI-based social robot for therapeutic use. Thanks to collaboration between EDIH NEB, the Regional Development Agency, the Liberec Region, EDIH Madrid Region, and the Spanish company Inrobics, this technology was brought to social service organisations in the Liberec Region through our Test before Invest service. This kind of cooperation shows how cross-regional and international partnerships can help transfer innovative solutions into real practice and create tangible value for end users.

Are there any opportunities for European or international cooperation you find promising at the moment?

Yes. We see strong potential in deeper cooperation around AI deployment, digital public services, social innovation, industrial digitalisation, and cross-border knowledge transfer. One promising direction is the practical exchange of tested solutions between hubs and regions, especially in cases where a technology has already proven useful in one context and can be adapted elsewhere. We are interested in cooperation models that accelerate replication, shared learning, and access to specialised know-how across Europe.

What trends in digital innovation do you believe will shape your region or the sectors you work with in the coming years?

We expect several trends to play a major role: artificial intelligence, automation and robotisation, IoT and sensor-based monitoring, cybersecurity, data-driven decision-making, digital twins and simulation, and technologies that support more efficient and sustainable industrial and public-sector operations. In our regional context, there is also strong relevance for advanced manufacturing-related technologies, including areas connected to modelling, machine vision, and specialised research capacities such as nanotechnology.

How is your Hub preparing for the future digital landscape?

We are preparing by continuously expanding practical service capacity, strengthening cooperation across the innovation ecosystem, and focusing on use cases that demonstrate clear value for organisations. This includes developing new pilots, organising educational activities, linking companies and public bodies with research and technology experts, and maintaining support for funding pathways that can accelerate adoption. Our aim is to remain a trusted entry point where organisations can explore advanced technologies in a pragmatic, low-risk, and application-oriented way.

We are also preparing for the future digital landscape by strengthening our support for trustworthy and compliant AI adoption. One of the important steps in this direction is our AI Act Help Desk, which helps SMEs and public organisations better understand the practical implications of the EU AI Act. Through this service, we provide guidance on risk classification, responsibilities of organisations using or deploying AI systems, basic compliance requirements, and the broader principles of trustworthy AI. This helps organisations not only adopt AI technologies more confidently, but also do so in a responsible, transparent, and future-proof way.

What is your top advice for organisations beginning their digital transformation or exploring advanced technologies?

Start with a real problem, not with a trend. The most successful digital projects begin with a clearly defined operational or service challenge and a realistic understanding of what improvement would look like. It is also important to start small, test early, involve the right people, and build internal understanding step by step. Organisations do not need to do everything at once; they need a practical roadmap and trusted support. EDIHs are well placed to help with exactly that.

What should companies look out for when adopting new technologies responsibly and sustainably?

They should look beyond the initial excitement and consider the full context: data quality, governance, transparency, cybersecurity, user trust, staff readiness, maintainability, and long-term value. Responsible adoption means making sure that technology fits the organisation's needs, that people understand how to use it, and that the solution can be sustained over time. In the case of AI especially, organisations should focus on accuracy, explainability where relevant, and a clear framework for responsible use. This helps ensure that digital transformation is not only innovative, but also trustworthy and durable.