Press Release | January 14, 2026
The European Digital Innovation Hub Dortmund (EDIH-DO) will receive funding for another three years. Starting in January 2026, two new partners—Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and the Hamm Economic Development Agency IMPULS—will join the initiative. The project will continue to focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in their digital transformation. In the new funding phase, artificial intelligence will play a central role in the service portfolio.
The European Commission has announced that an important initiative for the Dortmund, Hamm, and Unna region is being extended: EDIH-DO will remain a central point of contact for small and medium-sized enterprises as well as the public sector as a digital innovation hub for the next three years. “This is an important signal for the region,” says Maria Beck, Managing Director of Digital Hub Management, who leads the project as consortium leader. “The extension of the European Digital Innovation Hub Dortmund strengthens our position as a driver of innovation in the region and enables us to continue providing targeted support to companies and the public sector in their digital transformation.”
Digital Transformation as a Key Priority
The existing services will be expanded in the upcoming funding phase and tailored to the needs of companies in the Dortmund, Hamm, and Unna region: EDIH-DO focuses on the fields of logistics, manufacturing, and production. In the field of digitalization, the technological focus is on artificial intelligence, data analytics, the Internet of Things, blockchain, sovereign data exchange, and cyber-physical systems. “Companies benefit from comprehensive support,” Beck continues. “First, the individual digital maturity level is determined: Then there are various options ranging from in-depth workshops to concrete transfer projects in which, for example, the latest technologies are integrated into everyday business operations. The topic of artificial intelligence plays a central role in our service portfolio and opens up new opportunities for innovation and sustainable digital solutions.”
Project partners behind EDIH-DO
A total of seven partners are behind EDIH-DO: Digital Hub Management GmbH, which operates the Digital Hub Logistics Dortmund in Dortmund and carries out numerous European projects; TU Dortmund University with the Center for Entrepreneurship & Transfer (CET) and its subsidiary TU concept GmbH. As a new partner, Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts will contribute expertise in the field of artificial intelligence. TZ Net GmbH, Wirtschaftsförderung für den Kreis Unna mbH, and IMPULS. Die Hammer Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH are three regional economic and innovation development agencies represented in the project. They play a key role in expanding the existing network and establishing further contacts with local companies.
Duration and Project Budget
The project budget for the extension is approximately 4.58 million euros, and the project is scheduled to run from January 2026 to December 2028. The EU is contributing half of this amount as funding under the “Digital Europe” program.