About This Project
The project, was launched in May 2017, aimed at creating the network of Digital Innovation Hubs and providing them with a training programme to improve their effectiveness[1]. Creating DIHs was a part of the Digitalisation of the European Industry initiative, which is of utmost importance as with the use of new technologies the European industrial sector is expected to generate an additional EUR 110 billion in revenue per year[2].
On behalf of the European Commission, PwC in cooperation with Oxentia, carried out the Smart Factories project. It aimed at creation of a network of so-called Digital Innovation Hubs (DIH) and providing them with a training programme to increase their effectiveness. It was a part of the EU initiative called Digitalization of European Industry. The importance of the initiative is huge, because thanks to the use of new technologies, the European industrial sector can generate an additional Euro 110 billion of revenue per year.
137 entities applied to take part in the Project, out of which the Steering Committee and the EC selected 34 to take part in the Training & Mentoring programme.
A Kick-off Workshop, held on 19-20 February 2018 in Bulgaria initiated the Project. Next, each entity was exposed to different types of activities such as the development of a specific business plan, training and coaching, provision of manuals and relevant documentation, establishment of potential funding schemes, as well as organisation of regional workshops[3].
As part of the Smart Factories project, SCCI 4.0 mapped an ecosystem of direct and indirect DIH stakeholders. Among the 307 entities, more than 110 SMEs and 150 large enterprises from the Silesian Voivodeship, as well as entities representing venture capital funds, incubators and accelerators and cluster organisations were found. Moreover, SCCI 4.0 examined market engagement in order to learn about the current state of knowledge concerning digitalization, expectations and needs of companies in the field of digital competences related to Industry 4.0 and to collect feedback which allows SCCI 4.0 to develop its service portfolio and customize it according to market needs.
Read more on: https://smartfactories.eu/