Establishment of two of Ireland’s new European Digital Innovation Hubs
The Irish Government has announced the establishment of the Data2Sustain and FactoryxChange European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH). These two are the first of four hubs which will make up Ireland’s membership of the pan-European network of EDIHs.
Data2Sustain is a consortium led by the Atlantic Technological University, Sligo, which will deliver a comprehensive digital services programme to increase the capacity and speed of SME transformation, with a focus on the circular economy and sustainability areas.
FactoryxChange is a consortium led by the EI/IDA Technology Centre Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) in Mullingar, which will accelerate factories to become ‘Factories of the Future’ integrating ecological, digital, and societal solutions into their core business models.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney TD said: “I am delighted to establish Data2Sustain and FactoryxChange, the first of a coming network of European Digital Innovation Hubs. With formidable partners right across the country, these new European Digital Innovation Hubs will represent valuable opportunities for SMEs to digitalise and advance in the technology areas of the future. Data2Sustain’s focus on the green and digital transformation of our economy will be an important step towards contributing to those vital areas, while FactoryxChange will focus on driving resilience and competitiveness for industry and our manufacturing sector.”
He added: “The establishment of Ireland’s EDIHs is a key deliverable under the National Digital Strategy and the National Development Plan and represents an important step in the Government’s objective to drive digitalisation across our economy and society. I’d like to congratulate Data2Sustain and FactoryxChange on their success and the start of their really important work.”
CEO of Enterprise Ireland Leo Clancy also welcomed the commencement of the EDIHs: “The European Digital Innovation Hub initiative is designed to improve digital adoption among our SME sector and ensure they have access to transformative technology. Four hubs in Ireland will be part of this initiative and I’m delighted to see two of these hubs now up and running. Data2Sustain will focus on the circular economy and sustainability and FactoryxChange will shape the factories of the future. Both these areas are important for the productivity and competitiveness of Irish enterprise and I look forward to the additional capacity and innovation that both projects can bring to these vital policy areas.”
Each Irish hub is set to receive annual funding of €1.9 million. In total, the European Union is investing over €700 million to co-fund a Europe-wide network of hubs.
It is expected the remaining two EDIHs led by Tyndall National Institute in Cork and by University College Dublin, will be formally established in the coming weeks.
The new EDIHs can be contacted at:
Data2Sustain: edih@atu.ie
FactoryxChange: info@FactoryxChange.eu
