DIH PANNONIA, located in Vinkovci, Croatia, is a digitalisation promotion centre. It operates as the centre for digital transformation of entrepreneurship and food processing sector, while VSC DA holds the role of activity coordinator. DIH PANNONIA is an instrument of support to economic entities, emphasising on food processing sector, with the purpose of competitiveness improvement by developing their business and production processes using the implementation of digitalisation and creation of new products and services. DIH PANNONIA services will enable digitalisation and introduction of Industry 4.0 into economic entities with an emphasis on agriculture and food industry. DIH PANNONIA users are scientific research centres, public institutions and economic entities in the Slavonia, Baranja, and Srijem area.

DIH PANNONIA’s mission is to push the boundaries of innovation-based development and to contribute to digitalisation according to the principles, priorities and realisations of goals set out in the EU Declaration of cooperation on ‘A smart and sustainable digital future for European agriculture and rural areas’, the Digital Agenda for Europe, the European Digital Strategy, the National Reform Programme and the 2030 National Development Strategy.

Digital technologies are able to increase the efficiency of economic entities and improve production, as well as contribute to improving systems’ sustainability from an economic, social and environmental standpoint. Such technologies are able to improve all types of production, allow better decision-making and reshape the functioning of the market. Increased use of digital technologies is going to have a positive impact on the quality of working conditions, business efficiency and the economy as a whole. 

DIH PANNONIA’s task is the promotion of digital transformation and provision of services for the increase of the application of digital technologies in the real, public, and science research areas, as well as in all sectors, with an emphasis on food processing sector.

DIH PANNONIA gives opportunity for easier propelling of strategic partnerships, better cross-border cooperation for various projects, start-up companies, micro-enterprises and SMEs, which deal with digital technologies. Simultaneously, it connects business entities from different industries with interest in using and implementation of newly created innovative solutions.

DIH PANNONIA will provide services/activities of:

-   Promotion of digitalisation and technology and knowledge transfer,

-  Organisation of training and guidance for the digital skills development of economic entities,  public sector, students and family farms, with the access to the professional knowledge of universities and other consortium partners,

- Education and skill development provision, needed for a successful digital transformation,

- Support to economic entities, public administration and other users in improving business models by using new technologies,

-   Networking and connecting providers and users in the digital transformation line at the national     and international level,

- Providing access to product testing and experimentation infrastructure,

-  Advisory services in accessing financial means and the use of financial mechanisms,

-  Preparation and implementation of development projects for users,

- Support for the development of innovative ecosystems and networking opportunities.

Through the services of consortium, DIH PANNONIA will provide entrepreneurs with:

Access to technology for prototyping production,
Advanced research equipment and laboratories for the development of high-tech digitalised solutions
Digitalisation and technology transfer educations

DIH PANNONIA will operate through a strong consortium members partnership, of which every member will provide a certain level of specialized services with a joint goal of opening new job positions and strengthening the economy of Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem.

DIH PANNONIA consortium includes 15 partners, whose vision is focused on connecting relevant stakeholders in an efficient business support system in order to become more efficient by way of developing smart skills, creating new innovations, thus becoming more competitive in their line of work as well. Carefully designed consortium, consisting of two universities specializing in technology transfer and business development, and 4 faculties, the Rectorate of the University in Osijek, five public regional coordinator institutions from Slavonija, Baranja and Srijem, entrepreneurs, eminent ICT associations of the civil sector, provides interdisciplinary and systematic support to entrepreneurs in the Vukovar-Srijem County and beyond. The partnership of scientific and research higher education institutions in agrobiotechnical, technology and primarily food technical field will ensure the expertise transfer and enable access to innovative technologies for new product experimentation, development and testing in all sectors of economic development in the easternmost part of Croatia. The consortium’s scientific research sector will also deal with the knowledge transfer related to the development of digital skills. Experts within the consortium will provide systematic and interdisciplinary support tailored to the profile and needs of every individual entrepreneur. This support will strengthen innovation capacity and create added value.

All 5 development agencies in the region will provide advisory services for finance access and use of financial mechanisms for specific innovation needs in the region and each county, through their role of entrepreneurial support institution. Moreover, they will implement advisory services regarding business and other management, as well as, technical and consulting assistance in the implementation of programs and projects, educational activities for the project preparation and implementation, informational and educational activities (workshops, seminars, round tables, info days).

The role of entrepreneurs with implemented Industry 4.0 and within the consortium is very important as it serves as an example of good practice and support provider to entrepreneurs/clients through a direct practical example of the results of digital transformation and providing consulting services in achieving business growth by way of digitalisation.

Non-profit associations are link to the civil sector. They operate within the consortium and in the field of promoting digitalisation and technical sciences, software development, encouraging entrepreneurship in the IT sector, increasing the attractiveness of the development profession, increasing developers’ competitiveness in the market, legal entities’ networking and gathering of natural persons interested in IT sector strengthening and development on the territory of the Republic of Croatia and abroad if necessary, solving professional tasks and organising professional and scientific lectures and conferences in the electrical engineering, computing and information technologies field.

In addition to this fact, the consortium is open for the admission of new partners, as well as cooperation with other DIH consortia within or outside of Croatia and international networks.

It will operate as a One-stop-shop and offer comprehensive and complete support and concrete solutions to companies for introduction of digitalisation into their business processes, product and service development, sales and distribution in order to implement Industry 4.0 principles.

DIH PANNONIA operates in close cooperation with the start-up incubator within the Regional Center for Digitization and Development, since the incubator is one of the components of the Regional Center, as is DIH PANNONIA itself. The start-up incubator is connected with the activities of DIH PANNONIA, through which it will provide start-up companies with the necessary professional support and specialized infrastructure in the digitalization process.

DIH PANNONIA will operate in association with consortium, of which every member will provide a certain level of specialised services.

In association with the members of consortium, the users are going to be provided with intersectoral cooperation of institutions in the field of economy, with an emphasis on food industry.

By means of DIH PANNONIA, Vukovar-Srijem County Development Agency (VSC DA) will play an active role in providing advisory services regarding the access and use of financial mechanisms intended for specific innovation needs of the region, and will strengthen financing realisation activities with advisory services for business growth by digitalisation and support in implementing Industry 4.0 into production processes in the economy.

The coordinator of DIH PANNONIA is VSC DA, which operates as a public institution, established by the Vukovar-Srijem County with the aim of successful coordination and incentivisation of regional development of the County, and an entrepreneurial support institution.  DA VSC, as a member of the BOND network and entrepreneurial support institution, through its activities has achieved long-term cooperation with entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial support institutions, universities, local and regional self-government units and government agencies throughout Croatia, and has a representative in the Thematic Innovation Council for Food and Bioeconomy, which operates within the Croatian Chamber of Commerce. Thanks to this, DIH will expand its activities at the national level to the field of bioeconomy.

The workings of consortium members will allow users intersectoral cooperation of institutions in the economy field. The emphasis will be on the food industry with numerous connections to activities, projects and cooperation:

DIH North was founded by three partners Technology park Varaždin, Technology Innovation Centre Medjimurje and ENTER Koprivnica.

DIH have several infrastructural units at disposal for potential users of the DIH’s services. There is total of six buildings (two in Koprivnica, three in Čakovec, one in Varaždin) with high-speed optical network available for users. The buildings are equipped with modern network infrastructure including multiple high-speed performance servers, with addition of multiple high-speed performance workstations ready for prototyping and small-scale manufacturing. Workstations are equipped with a 3D printers, CNC machines and laser cutters (basically, a fab lab), with access to necessary hardware and software for prototyping. DIH offer a wide range of services for SMEs, from basic incubation to more advanced business and IT support. 

DIH North support the local SMEs with their digital transformation through activities such as building ecosystem, mediation and networking, development of strategies for companies, concept validation and prototyping, pre-competitive series production. Also SMEs can use infrastructire, can get digital maturity assessment, incubator / accelerator support and mentoring and mentoring.

Since DIH has all the necessary machines for fab lab production available for its clients, prototyping, product development and small scale production are one of the most valuable services that DIH can offer, because region that this DIH covers (Northern Croatia) is support for SMEs in terms of prototyping and product development. DIH has all the necessary software licenses for 3D modeling, design and visual prototyping. Part of DIH's infrastructure are 3D printer, Hologram, VR equpment, 3D scanner for rapid prototyping, CNC machines and laser cutter for rapid prototyping and production of small series, wood and metal processin machines.

DIH supports industries that are of strategic importance in partner regions.
TICM is focused on support for IT sector, metal industry, automotive industry and various types of service industries in Čakovec and Međimurje county.

ENTER Koprivnica in Koprivničko-križevačka county is focused on connecting different industries with experts especially with focus on creative industries sector since ENTER is managing Incubator of Creative Industries. ENTER has focus on SMEs, connecting them with experts from Industry 4.0  and working on digitization of their business.

Technology park Varaždin and Varaždinska county deal with IT sector, Iot, creative industries with focus on audio-visual and IT sector) and renewable energy.

Non-profit aim of DIH North is to provide access to know how, best practices, education and experts. Through DIH North we are aiming to encourage ecosystem members to be actively involved in SMEs digitization processes to help them deal with their challenges and achieve competitiveness.

DIH North has strong connections with its ecosystem members, among which are Faculty of Organization and Informatics (FOI),  University North,  Development and Educational Centre for Metal Industry - Metal Centre Čakovec, cities Varaždin, Čakovec, Koprivnica, clusters (Croatian cluster of competitiveness of creative and cultural industries), Međimurje IT cluster (MIT Cluster). Digital technologies.

“DIH Marche - 4M.0” is a no profit entity performing networking, matchmaking, brokerage and dissemination activities.

DIH Marche - 4M.0 was founded on February 2018 by Confindustria Marche, Confindustria Ancona, Confindustria Pesaro Urbino, Confindustria Macerata, Confindustria Fermo e Confindustria Ascoli Piceno.

The aim of “DIH Marche - 4M.0” is to help companies to become more competitive by improving their business/production processes as well as products and services by means of digital technology.

In particular the main activities are:

Awareness Dissemination (Meeting, Workshop, etc.)
Supporting activities to industrial companies for Industry 4.0-based project implementation
Support access to tax breaks provided by Piano Industria 4.0
Supporting activities for assessing digital readiness
Supporting activities to facilitate manufacturing companies access to  innovation regional ecosystem
Design and delivery of training initiatives
Coordination activities for implementing I4.0-based factories 

The strategy of 4M.0 project is to:
a)     foster the digital transformation of traditional industrial and manufacturing sectors companies
b)     support the development of technologically advanced companies and compartments, including innovative and high knowledge content startups
c)     to create a framework for all the new innovators;  to create collaborative communities inside regional innovation ecosystem;
d)     to accelerate the development of new business model for SMEs and startup’s
Instead, 4M.0 key principles are:
1)     Economic Sustainability, DIH Business Modeling
2)     Open innovation, networking and already existing on the territory resource development (assets, distinctive skills, infrastructures, services, tools)
3)     Win-win-win model: ability to meet stakeholder expectations by opening up may digital  "Blue Oceans" Digital technologies.

DIH HIVE covers mainly Pilsen Region and Karlovy Vary Region. Strategic target of DIH HIVE is to help with the comprehensive implementation of the digitalization of the economy in the region and to have a visible physical presence, working closely and successfully with other actors (universities and RTOs, chambers of commerce, training centres, SMEs and other companies, supply chains, consultants, etc.) as an important partner of a regional ecosystem. University of West Bohemia (UWB) as a founding member of the DIH HIVE is the main knowledge disseminator in the region. With its 9 faculties, 2 research institutes and the European Center of Excellence it has the capacity to cover technological as well as business issues. All of faculties and research institutes have a wide range of technologically oriented working facilities for prototyping, process improvement, product development and testing. An important activity of the university is the transfer of knowledge, cooperation with companies and the support of innovation. UWB is one of the founding members of the CESNET backbone network in the Czech Republic. CESNET operates and develops the national e-infrastructure for science, research and education which encompasses a computer network, computational grids, data storage and collaborative environment. The other research partner is the COMTES FHT company an organisation which provides research and development services in the field of metallic materials and introduces new forming and heat treatment processes, mainly in key sectors comprising the engineering, automotive and power industries. The support for business and its innovation is ensured also by other hub partners. BIC Plzeň – Business and Innovation Centre has supported the establishment and development of innovative new businesses in the Pilsen region since 1992. It acts within international networks that support business and innovation, working in partnership with numerous other partners at the regional, national and international levels. BIC Plzeň is a member of European Business and Innovation Centre Network (EBN) and Enterprise Europe Network (EEN). BIC Plzeň also supports the operation of the Science and Technology Park which has a main role of regional incubator for starting companies. The strong linkage to policy development is ensured by the Regional Development Agency of the Pilsen Region (RDA) and the Business Development Agency of Karlovy Vary Region (KARP) which are the leading agencies responsible for the regional RIS3 strategy implementation. All those organisations have a wide experience in organisation of conferences, workshops, seminars, networking, exchange of knowledge, exchange of experts, etc. Digital technologies.

This Digital Innovation Hub (DIH), is a non-for-profit organisation, which helps industrial companies to master digitalisation and realise smart products, services and business models by using software technology to drive innovation in their business.

We do this by developing and delivering the competences, products, services and knowledge necessary for clever companies to win the digitalisation race.

Within our Software Competence Center, SME's can visit us - free of charge - to get advice on innovative software solutions and make them aware of the changing role of software, which becomes a very strategic one.

Aim DIH:

The HTSC wants to show how pioneering innovative software contributes to the more efficient, flexible and qualitatively better development  and production of hardware. The starting points for this are: shortening the time-to-market (twice as fast) and preventing the complex development projects of products and services in machine construction from becoming uncontrollable and unmanageable. Digital technologies.

DIH for digital twins of manufacturing processes and systems is a national non-profit hub founded by the public body University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering that operates with the support of strategic Slovenian partners, all non-for profit organizations.

The main focus of the DIH for digital twins of logistics systems and manufacturing processes and systems is to support companies in increasing their competitiveness by improving their business and production processes as well as their products and services in the field of digital technology, especially digital twins. Digital twins are one of the enabling technology in the way of digital manufacturing transformation in Industry 4.0 and value chain processes in general. The digital twin is defined as a virtual representation of a physical product or process that serves to understand and predict the performance characteristics of the physical counterpart. Digital twins are used throughout the product lifecycle to simulate, predict, and optimize the product and production system before investing in physical prototypes and resources.

The DIH is focused to accelerate technology transfer at regional, national and international levels, the joint use of research infrastructures and equipment, the support of smart and sustainable entrepreneurship in the field of intelligent factories and the promotion of human capital growth.

The DIH DiTMaPS supports companies to develop and implement a digital transformation strategy based on research and innovation that can consolidate and expand national competitive advantages. At the same time, the transformation of the national and European manufacturing sector into new intelligent systems will be supported in line with DIH'European Union research and innovation agendas.

The DIH for digital twins of logistics systems and manufacturing processes and systems is established within the Laboratory for Handling, Assembly and Pneumatics (LASIM) of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FME ) in Ljubljana. The Faculty is a member of the University of Ljubljana (UL) and is the largest educational and research institution with the highest international standards in the field of mechanical engineering in Slovenia and the wider region of Central and South-Eastern Europe. The Laboratory for handling, assembly and pneumatics is part of the Department of Manufacturing, Technologies and Systems of FME, UL. The research and development priorities of the LASIM laboratory are closely related to the DIH's focus: digital twins of logistics systems, smart factories and Industry 4.0. The related theme of the laboratory is smart manufacturing, supported by digital technologies to increase the efficiency of SMEs. The other research areas of the laboratory are: High Performance Computing (HPC), Cloud Computing, Edge Computing, Human Centered Production, AI in Manufacturing, Zero Defect Manufacturing, Distributed Cyber-Physical Systems, Networked Factory, Digital LEAN, etc.

Over the years, LASIM has extended the usage of Discrete Event Simulation to the field of Digital Twins, which are the backbone of Smart factories and I4.0. With the knowledge of cutting-edge technologies and approaches, LASIM has a very strong link with industrial partners through its R&D projects and activities. Here are some industry partners presenting the market leaders from different business sectors: Yaskawa Ristro, Yaskawa Europe Robotics, Knauf Insulation, Kolektor, ECOLAB, Danfoss, Krka, Intersocks, Gorenje, Scania, Goodyear, Hidria, Skaza Smart Plastic, Polycom, RIKO, MTZ, LTH Castings, Iskra Mehanizmi, Agromehanika, etc. Digital technologies.

Digital Innovation Hub for Agriculture and Food production (DIH AGRIFOOD) brings together Slovenian and European research and development expertise in the field of Agriculture and Food production. The network provides the latest knowledge and technologies on digitalization of this industry - so called ‘’Smart Agriculture’’. The goal of DIH AGRIFOOD is to represents a One-Stop-Shop providing services to SMEs (farmers, farmer associations, food producers/processors, digital solution providers) in the region through a multipartner cooperation in order to provide safe, sustainable and quality food.

DIH AGRIFOOD vision is to become Slovenian leader in the development, technology transfer and innovative application of smart farming solutions and services in areas where it creates maximum value for Slovenian and European Agri-Food system.

DIH AGRIFOOD provides following services:

Awareness creation
Innovation scouting and Technology Transfer
Cooperation with other DIHs
Financing / Funding
Developing strategies and business models
Mentoring and Training
Living Lab environment services

DIH AGRIFOOD is non-formal, non-profit, free-membership, facilitation based network, managed by actors and stakeholders from agrifood domain. Digital technologies.

DIH-Calabria is a no profit entity performing networking, matchmaking, brokerage and dissemination activities.

The aim of DIH-Calabria is to help Calabrian companies to become more competitive by improving their business/production processes as well as products and services by means of digital technologies.

DIH-Calabria deals with the promotion of digital manufactoring trasformation towards Industrie 4.0 approach and the Value Chain processes overall.

In particular the main activities are:

Awareness Dissemination (Meeting, Workshop, etc.)
Supporting activities to industrial companies for Industry 4.0-based project implementation
Support access to tax breaks provided by Piano Industria 4.0
Supporting activities for assessing digital readiness
Supporting activities to facilitate manufacturing companies access to innovation regional "ecosystem"
Design and delivery of training initiatives
Coordination activities for implementing I4.0-based Calabrian factories.
Digital technologies.

Denmark's cluster organization for digital technologies, DigitalLead, is a gathering point for digital innovation - for companies developing digital solutions as well as for other industries and sectors in need of innovative digital solutions.

DigitallLead constitutes a unique platform for innovation and growth through the interaction between business and industry, research and education, public authorities and private citizens.

DigitalLead is a non-for-profit organisation that inspire and initiates innovation projects and hereby supports the danish SMEs with their digital transformation.

DigitalLead functions as a hub for digital innovation for companies developing digital solutions and for sectors in need for digitalization. This covers fields such as IoT, Cybersecurity, AI, and other digital technologies. DigitalLead arrange local and international activities:

Events, workshops and other knowledge dissemination activities
Network groups where peers share experiences and new ideas.
Matchmaking and prefunding of new innovation projects with companies, academia and public sector.
Demonstration projects
Living lab developments and offerings

DigitalLead's offerings are described in details at www.digitallead.dk  Digital technologies.

Development and implementation of new sustainable technologies applied to the management of water as a basic resource of the circular economy. “Digital Water” applies the concepts of sustainability and circular economy to the new technologies, to improve the integral water cycle, which increases the competitive edge of many business sectors while benefitting society as a whole. In addition to the experience and scientific and technological talent of the Eurecat team, the Centre has laboratories and pilot plants, scientific equipment and data processing centres. All of these facilities enable Eurecat to meet the current and future challenges of water. Services: * Fast prototyping * PoC (proves of concepts) * Digitalisation and connectivity * Highly Specialised consulting and training * Systems integration and homogenisation * Objects virtualization * Data Quality, cleansing and Valorisation * Intelligent Maintenance/Asset lifespan and utilisation improvement * Quality/Preservation prediction * Demand Forecasting * Productivity/growth prediction * Resource optimisation * Smart scheduling * Smart Recommenders * Data analytic services (SaaS) * Resource management * Operational management * Processes management * Real time monitoring and control * Advanced reporting: KPIs, dashboards... * Scenario characterisation and analysis Digital technologies.