Based on an open and competitive process, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland has announced the Finnish candidates for European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH). Sustainable Industry X (SIX) Manufacturing EDIH is one of eight candidates from Finland proceeding to the European Commission’s restricted call. In the national competition, SIX Manufacturing EDIH’s proposal was ranked to shared first place. The evaluation committee praised especially SIX Manufacturing EDIH’s national reach and strong, already existing connections on a national and European level.
European Digital Innovation Hubs will act as service centres supporting the digital transformation of the public and private sectors, especially in SMEs and midcaps. The European Commission aims to create a multidisciplinary network of EDIHs across the European Union that will share best practices and specialist knowledge and provide services focusing on test before invest, skills and training, support to find investments, innovation ecosystem and networking.
SIX Manufacturing EDIH advances the discrete manufacturing SMEs on and forwards the sustainable digitalization journey – in an industry-driven way. SIX Manufacturing EDIH aims to supercharge the performance of the Finnish manufacturing industry through national and international collaboration, operational excellence, knowledge, and innovation. SIX Manufacturing EDIH network consists of Finland's most advanced manufacturing and digitization expertise, infrastructures, and ecosystems. SIX Manufacturing EDIH is part of a broader national cooperation initiative Sustainable Industry X (SIX) that improves Finnish industry performance and sustainable growth through a common, national renewal vision and agenda.
“Export and thus manufacturing is sometimes invisible even though it is crucial to the well-being of us all. It is not enough that the big ones succeed – we must also be able to bring the smaller companies, often the subcontractors, onto the digitalization path and beyond. EDIH offers us a great opportunity, which we are now planning to explore together with the industry”, remarks Harri Nieminen, the leader of the national SIX initiative.
As the Finnish candidate, SIX Manufacturing EDIH will continue to European Commission’s restricted call for nationally selected candidates. The Commission evaluates the proposals with the help of external experts and makes the final decision about the EDIHs that will be funded. The EDIHs are scheduled to start operating at the end of the year 2021.
SIX Manufacturing EDIH preparatory consortium includes VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT), Tampere Region Economic Development Agency Business Tampere, Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences (SeAMK), Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences (JAMK), Tampere University (TAU), Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK), Tamlink Oy, Into Seinäjoki, Tampere Adult Education Centre (TAKK), Tampere Vocational College (Tredu), University of Vaasa (Univaasa), Ylivieska Robotics Lab, Centria University of Applied Sciences (Centria) & DIMECC Oy.
For more information:
Harri Nieminen
Co-Creation Manager
+358 50 5685081
harri.nieminen@vtt.fi
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