Guests from Poland, Serbia, Finland, Spain, and many other countries traveled to Dortmund this week for the first EDIH Days, organized by the European Digital Innovation Hub Dortmund (EDIH-DO) as part of Dortmund Digital Week. EDIHs are funded by the EU and aim to support SMEs in their digital transformation, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of European companies. Over the course of three days, the international EDIH representatives were treated to an exciting program. The goal was to strengthen international cooperation within the European network.
Digital Week Dortmund
From Monday to Wednesday, Dortmund became a hub for international exchange, inspiration, and concrete collaboration. Among other topics, participants discussed how to strengthen the EDIH ecosystem, promote the use of applied AI for SMEs, expand digital maturity and skills, and further develop EDIH management and strategies. “For us, it was an extremely successful event with an inspiring group. We were able to establish and deepen connections and discuss the challenges EDIHs face. We are confident that we will all benefit from this exchange in the long term and that we will remain in close contact. Many thanks to everyone who participated and contributed to this dynamic atmosphere,” said Kamar Aden Omar, Operations Lead at EDIH-DO.
The program also included tours that provided insights into the test centers and infrastructure of Fraunhofer IML, EMC Test NRW GmbH, and the Lamarr Institute. Additionally, there was a tour of the Port of Dortmund and a visit to CONF3RENCE—Germany’s leading business event for emerging technologies.
Outlook: What's next
These three days were not the end, but rather the beginning of further cross-border collaborations, the expansion of the network, and the implementation of joint projects in Europe. Plans to continue the program next year are currently being considered.