Non-profit organization chaired by François BONNEAU, also president of the Center-Val de Loire region, DEV'UP federates all the regional economic actors, from the region to the groups of cities, from the CESER to the consular chambers, from the public services to the organizations competitiveness clusters of the research network. An unprecedented collective commitment to employment and support for businesses and territories in the region.

A real entry point in the Center-Val de Loire region, the agency supports any business or economic project leader (innovation, implementation, investment, recovery, search for partners, export ...) via its 6 local agencies, its technical, operational and advisory network. Its teams provide tailor-made services for:

• Animation of the territory and management of networks of regional economic actors

• attractiveness of the territory

• International development in particular through European programs

• Support for innovative companies

• Animation of the regional digital ecosystem "French Tech Loire Valley"

• Coordination of the Regional Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization (RIS3)

DEV'UP and its partners (mentioned below) grouped in consortium, are able to support regional SMEs in their digital transformation in different ways with tailored made services:

Awareness creation:
Through the actions in favor of entrepreneurship, the members of the consortium make future entrepreneurs aware of the specific issues of digital transformation. At events such as Startups Week Ends or Hackathon type programs as well as pitch competitions, project holders are fully informed.
In partnership with the employment houses in the so-called "sensitive" districts of the cities, awareness-raising actions to create businesses in the digital domain are also organized.

Ecosystem building, scouting, brockerage, networking:
On April 3rd, the French government awarded the national French Tech label to the entire regional territory. The application for the French Tech label has been coordinated by DEV'UP. This label marks the recognition that there is a network in the region enabling digital companies to develop.
Based on the good practices identified in the Interreg Europe ESSPO project, a customer journey targeting the digital needs of SMEs will be implemented from 2019 onwards.

Visioning and strategy development for businesses:
In addition, DEV'UP manage the network of economic developers of the Center Val de Loire which has more than 380 members visiting companies and who address digital issues whenever necessary.
As indicated in the various examples, it is common for companies to need strategic advice for their digital arbitrage.

Collaborative researchs:
INSA and university laboratories are encouraged to participate in collaborative projects with regional companies through actions implemented by the competitiveness clusters or collaborative research programs funded by the Region.

Validation and prototyping concept & Testing and validation:
The network of FabLabs distributed throughout the Center Val de Loire region and the Industry Lab based in orleans are platforms that allow project owners or companies to validate and prototype digital solutions that are recommended by the consortium members.

Digital maturity assessment:
Businesses in the region can benefit from free digital diagnosis to identify their needs for digital transformation and develop an action plan to achieve this.
The GIP RECIA has organized training courses for economic developers to be trained in the realization of these diagnoses.

Incubator / acceleration support:
Several structured programs are being developed by DEV'UP, Orleans Loire Valley Technopole and BIC ThePlacebyCCI to help incubate and accelerate projects related to digital technology and implement tailor-made support.
For fast-growing SMEs, a regional accelerator was set up by Bpifrance and the regional council to enable them to become large companies.

Access your funding and investor readiness services
DEV'UP has set up a specific program for regional SMEs wishing to raise funds called "Scale up - access to finance". The agency also organizes  information seminars and B to B appointments with VCs.

Mentoring:
The French Tech Loire Valley Board is made up of 9 digital entrepreneurs who can mentor companies in the digital community. Other mentoring opportunities are proposed during events.

Education and skills
The two Universities of Orleans and Tours and the INSA Center Val de Loire offer a complete set of high-Education courses. Several other organizations labeled "Grande Ecole du Numérique", including CEFIM and Wild Code School, have developed operational and varied training to meet the needs of regional businesses in the digital filed.

The core consortium of DIH Centre Val de Loire, coordinated by DEV'UP (https://www.devup-centrevaldeloire.fr/dih), is composed of the following actors:

 

RECIA : https://www.recia.fr/

Université d’Orléans: https://www.univ-orleans.fr/

Université de Tours: https://www.univ-tours.fr/site-de-l-universite/accueil--598731.kjsp

INSA Centre Val de Loire: http://www.insa-centrevaldeloire.fr/fr/

BRGM : https://www.brgm.fr/

Cosmetic Valley : https://www.cosmetic-valley.com/

S²E² : http://www.s2e2.fr/

Elastopole : https://www.elastopole.com/

DREAM : http://www.poledream.org/

Vegepolys : https://www.vegepolys.eu/

CETIM Centre Val de Loire : https://www.cetimcentrevaldeloire.fr

CRESSIT Industrie : http://www.cresitt.com/

Orleans Val de Loire Technopole : http://www.tech-orleans.fr/

ThePlacebyCCI : http://www.theplacebycci28.fr/

Wild Code School https://wildcodeschool.fr/

CEFIM : https://www.cefim.eu/

Regional Chamber of Commerce : http://centre.cci.fr/

CIMI : http://www.cimi.fr/ Digital technologies.

The Centre for Research and Technology-Hellas (CERTH) is the only research center in Northern Greece and one of the largest in the country. It is listed among the TOP-20 E.U. research institutions with the highest participation in competitive research grants. CERTH’s successful history is characterized by strong and long term collaborations with more than 1.200 acknowledged partners from the private and the public sector in Greece and abroad. Partners include multinational industries, large companies and SMEs, local authorities, academic institutions, research centers, etc.

Today CERTH is organized under the following five institutes:

Chemical Process & Energy Resources Institute (CPERI), Sustainable & Clean Energy, Environmental Technologies, Chemical & Biochemical Processes, Advanced Functional Materials
Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Informatics, Telematics and Telecommunication Technologies
Hellenic Institute of Transport (HIT), Land, Sea and Air Transportation as well as Sustainable Mobility services
Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB), Agri-biotechnology, Health Translational Research, Informatics for big bio-data
Institute of Bio-Economy and Agri-Technology (iBO), Agrotechnology, Mechatronics, Biomedicine and Kinesiology

CERTH operates as Digital Innovation Hub. Combining its unique research facilities and high qualified technical and scientific personnel, CERTH transforms scientific knowledge into innovative technological applications. Among others, CERTH develops advanced material technologies; automation and control systems for industrial processes; technologies for clean production processes; biotech applications; big data analytics tools; intelligent transportation and mobility services; technologies dedicated to the bio-production systems domain. In addition, CERTH disposes state of the art research infrastructure and testbeds such as nZEB smart house for exploring smart IoT-based technologies in the fields of energy, health, security, big data, robotics and AI; unique pilot plans for exploring new chemical processes and energy carriers potential enhancement; VR units and simulators for rapid prototyping of intelligent and secure transportation services; analytical equipment and computation power for big data analysis across all domains in Life Sciences. Collaboration with CERTH accelerates thus the adaptation of the business sector and especially SMEs, to the new digital industrial era and the markets of the future.

CERTH’s interest in providing end-to-end technological solutions and services is further proven by the founding of numerus spin-offs (15 up to date) that deliver innovative production technologies materializing the 4th Industrial revolution. Digital technologies.

Research areas and competencies of CAMT are within the most recent development, manufacturing and informatics systems trends known not only in Poland. A broad extent of carried out research programmes and implementation projects assures a constant technological improvement and enhances the scientific and research potential of CAMT – over the centre's existence (since 2000) it has grown from 16 to 76 employees (2 full professors, 3 associate professors, 28 assistant professors, 23 postgraduates and 23 scientific-research workers, paid of commissions and projects). This trend is highly conducive to establishing a close cooperation with industry and enables to carry out research projects in national and international associations – several projects within the frame of FP6/FP7/H2020 and commissioned directly from industry, chiefly German, were carried out. Unprecedented so far international contacts, involving staff exchange (dozens of people a year, some of whom come to the Centre from abroad), create additional possibilities of research and staff potential development and contribute to a high recognition of the CAMT Research Team's output. As a result, the Marshall of the Lower-Silesian Voivodeship called into being the Lower Silesian Innovation and Science Park (DPIN), managed by the CAMT workers. The DPIN created Technology Innovation Cluster and coordinates its activities (a project form Regional Operational Programme was acquired), it has also prepared many deals with other European clusters. It goes without saying, that the CAMT's status as the Centre of Excellence has changed the approach to all the important aspects of scientific research, commercialization of its results and technology transfer. During our activity, we gained many research, development and industrial projects, working out top scientific research organization methods. We also cooperate with dozens of research centres all over the world and managed to build one of the most modern laboratories in Europe. Our staff consist of young and resilient people (of all the workers, 5 persons are older than 50 years, another 5 have more than 40 years and the rest have around 30 years or less). It is an important aspect of continuous improvement of our engineering staff, which should have an opportunity to master the most recent technologies applied in advanced sectors of not only domestic but also international industry and take up their own scientific activity. It is an important aspect of continuous improvement of our engineering staff, which should have an opportunity to master the most recent technologies applied in advanced sectors of not only domestic but also international industry and take up their own scientific activity. Areas of INTEREST Laser and Plasma Technologies Mechatronics and Machine Vision Microscopy & Measurement Materials Research Computed Tomography Reverse Engineering Rapid Prototyping Process Monitoring Material Tests Product Development Product Tests and Analyses Precision Processing IT Production Organization CAMT as the Fraunhofer Project Center By virtue of the contract signed on 24th September 2008, our research centre became a part of the international Fraunhofer Research Centre (FRC), established in association with Fraunhofer Gesellschaft and with Institut für Werkstoff- und Strahltechnik (IWS) in particular, in the area of laser and generative technologies. Together with our international partners, we conduct research in the field of development and application of laser, special and hybrid technologies. By joining our partner's experiences in the field of laser applications with our own experience in production management, we work together over the generative manufacturing technologies development. Digital technologies.

Cenaero is an applied research center providing to companies involved in a technology innovation process numerical simulation methods and tools to invent and design more competitive products. Internationally recognized, Cenaero is mainly active in the aerospace (in particular turbomachinery), process engineering, energy and building sectors. Cenaero operates experimental facilities in composite manufacturing and prototyping as well as the Tier-1 Walloon supercomputing infrastructure with 14,000 computing cores. Digital technologies.

The UPC Technology Center (CIT UPC) is a non-profit entity, attached to the UPC but with its own legal personality. It is dedicated to applying university research capabilities to innovation in business. CIT UPC comprises 20 UPC Research Centers. They are located on four UPC campuses in Barcelona, Terrassa and Vilanova i la Geltrú. In 2015, the 20 Centres generated a total income of €12 million, of which 51% was derived from R&D agreements with companies. OBJECTIVES To contribute to the general benefit of society and, in particular, to improve business competitiveness through the transfer and commercialisation of technological knowledge. To promote applied research and foster cooperation and internal coordination among the various CIT UPC research centres, with a view to conducting research and transferring the R&D results to the business world. To meet the technology needs of companies, as well as any other institutions, by providing a comprehensive, multidisciplinary technological service, thereby bolstering companies’ efforts to innovate. To promote social recognition of the technology transfer and commercialisation function performed by the research centres – and by the UPC as a whole – with emphasis on technological excellence. Digital technologies.

In the name of the Bavarian government the Center Digitisation.Bavaria perfoms a bundling function for already existing activities in the areas of digitisation and develops them further in a sustainable manner. With its business office in Garching the Center Digitisation.Bavaria acts as a coordinator for numerous actions. They especially include

Thematic platforms: Networking between entrepreneurs and scientists concerning key themes of digitisation
Junior Research Group: Encouragement of scientific junior researchers in the thematic fields relevant for digitisation
Doctoral program: For networking and support of outstanding and promising university graduates in subjects relevant for digitisation
Innovation labs: Bringing together companies and students in order to work at innovative prototypes
Entrepreneurship: Supportive activities for establishing professional and entrepreneurial knowledge
Professorships: Strengthening of the outstanding science and research landscape in Bavaria in future fields of digitisation

Start-up support: The CD.B supports young entrepreneurs and tomorrow’s founders by offering targeted support for entrepreneurship and innovation labs.

Strengthening companies: Thematic platforms network entrepreneurs and scientists concerning key themes of digitisation

Expansion of research and teaching: New professorships and junior research groups make up future-oriented research and teaching regarding themes of digitisation Digital technologies.

The Center Digitisation District Böblingen (ZD.BB) is the central consulting and transfer office for all companies, especially for SMEs with a geographical focus in the district of Böblingen. The ZD.BB does not pursue commercial goals and is a non-profit organisation.

Core goals are:

Create transparency regarding digital technologies and their application
Transfer of current research results in SMEs
Methodologically supported development of digital business models
Development of further education concepts and curricula
Building expertise in SMEs to shape the digital transformation

 

The activities of the ZD.BB to support local SMEs include:

Consultation on digitalisation and access to the expertise on digital technologies in universities, technology partners and research institutions
Development and risk-free testing of new business models
Agile development and testing of minimum viable products (MVP) and prototypes in the pre-competitive phase. 
Support for the qualification of digitalisation specialists
Incubation and consulting of start-ups
Networking of relevant actors and stakeholders

The ZD.BB's portfolio of services for this purpose is based on the following offerings:

Consultation on digitalisation matters, placement of experts, support in the founding of innovative companies
Assessment of the digital maturity and identification of SMEs' potentials
Development of digital business models by providing moderated workshops with digital experts
Access to innovation labs at the Böblingen and Herrenberg sites (creative and open spaces)
Qualification offers within the scope of trainings and events in the field of digitalisation
Digital technologies.

Denmark has a high penetration of fiber internet and high share of wind turbines and solar in our energy system. The high penetration of fiber internet makes Denmark optimal for data intelligent energy systems that require large volumes of data in real time. By digitally connecting 'smart home' applications and industrial consumption with real time data on production of renewable energy (RE) in real time, we can unlock flexibilities in the energy systems to absorb excess RE by frontloading or postponing consumption. This will alow accelleration towards 100 % renewable energy, but it require new digital solutions and heavily use of AI.

Center Denmark is a national digital hub focusing on digitalization of the energy sector. The Center Denmark data platform will offer state-of-the-art digital solutions with real-time capabilities for controlling consumption in the energy systems. These digital solutions and AI-tools are being made available for start-ups, SME's and large-sized companies, service providers and utility companies.

Center Denmark is an independent organisation established in collaboration between strong partners. This means that Center Denmark can offer digital services based on cutting edge reseach and technologies based on the HPC (High Performance Computing) center at SDU, eScience Center ABACUS, algorithms and forecasting models from DTU Compute, and not least AI technologies from AI Center AAU.

Furthermore Center Denmark is as well established by strong partners within the energy sector, meaning that digital services are provided in collboration with Energinet, the danish TSO that is on the cutting edge among european TSO's when it comes to digitalization, and the danish DSO EWII, which is leading the danish coordinated initiative between all DSO's on setting data free from utility companies with specific fous on cyber security, GDPR and protecting critical data.  

All these digital competences are being made available for continued research and industrial use through the Center Denmark platform.

 

The why!

We will enter a new paradigm for balancing energy systems where we focus on intelligently consuming energy instead of trying to control a fluctuating RE production. It requires a data intelligent energy system based on AI and innovative new digital business models across the entire value chain. Center Denmark provide the needed services for the energy sector to make the digital transformation happen.

Center Denmark

Center Denmark is established as a non-profit and independent organization working to promote development of digitally integrated energy systems in order to enhance society’s transition to renewable energy sources and reduce environmental impact. Center Denmark contributes to establishing a national framework to promote research, education, innovation & development, testing and demonstration within digitalization of energy systems.
Center Denmark support the industry with digital services and solutions for making the green transition happen.

Vision: Center Denmark will accelerate the green transition towards 100 % renewable energy in DK through digitalization and sector coupling and thereby unlocking flexibilities and utilize digital opportunities at all levels across energy systems

 

Service offerings

Digital Real-time DECISION TOOLS for controlling energy consuming units intelligently for limited environmental impact, economic incentives and grid capacity constraints. This could e.g. be integrating Model Predictive Control based on forecasting models from the data platform.
 
Visualization of energy data in a spatiotemporal environment. With the use of open IoT platform, Center Denmark support setting energy data free and make them available for the industry. In the digitalization process, data will be gathered from meters in collaboration with utility companies, and sensor data in collaboration with all partners. Cyber security is part of this service.

Center Denmark creates an INCUBATOR environment where we share knowledge, foster new ideas and develop new business models utilizing new digital technologies. The incubator environment is for start-ups and established companies, industry associations, public organizations, universities and funding and network partners etc.
 
SIMULATION ENVIRONMENT for new digital business models and technologies in a digital representation of the energy ecosystem..
 
TEST AND DEMONSTRATION of digital solutions in a representative real-life test environment. Center Denmark will digitally connect Living Labs.

 

Partnership and specific services

Both private and public organizations can make partnership with Center Denmark and get access to the data platform with the digital services for visualization and simulation.

Product specific services usin HPC, specialized AI-tools and special needs for cyber security will be provided based on commercial terms.

 

Matchmaking and Funding

In strategic partnership with the danish cluster organizations, Center Denmark provide support for matchmaking between companies for business development and engaging in funded research and development projects

 

Network of DIH's

Center Denmak will as a Digital Innovation Hub for energy systems proactively collaborate and integrate crossboarder with other european DIH's, but also cross sector with DIH's that focus on digitization of other areas than energy systems and flexibility. Digital competences should be shared and new technologies shall be utilized across sectors. Digital technologies.

CeADAR is a not-for-profit one-stop shop for innovation, applied R&D and translational R&D in all aspects of AI, Machine Learning and Data Analytics

CeADAR provides proofs of concept, market-ready solutions, support to find funding and investment, training programmes, ecosystem networking in Ireland and Europe, and access to our powerful in-house computing resources.

The Centre has an extensive catalogue of technology demonstrators, IP and AI technology reviews, which are all immediately available for evaluation by  members.

The Centre is also the focal point of a thriving data analytics ecosystem delivering seminars, conferences, and members’ networking events throughout the year. Digital technologies.

The Vosges Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), within the CCIs of the Grand Est, is part of the national network of CCIs (84 territorial CCIs), extended by the international network of CCIs (123 CCIs in 92 countries).The CCIs are non-profit-making entities that carry out free of charge the compulsory public service missions entrusted to them by law and regulations (Centre de Formalite des Entreprises - Issue of export certificates - Registration of apprenticeship contracts etc.). They are at the service of the companies in their territory and contribute to its economic development.

In addition to the above public service missions, the CCIs support companies on many subjects: international development, training (620,000 people trained each year in France), sustainable development, business development, HR skills, digital. They also play a role in regional planning and manage certain infrastructures (ports, airports, bus stations, etc.).

Digitisation is today a strong axis of intervention of the CCIs with companies. Quai Alpha is the digital subsidiary of the Vosges Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Located in Epinal, it is an atypical place dedicated to digital technology, innovation and entrepreneurship and occupies a high-tech building of 1,300 m2. All year round, it welcomes numerous students, startupers, freelancers and entrepreneurs from all over the region.

This stimulating setting offers, with the support of its ecosystem, an almost limitless playground for projects to emerge. Several events are organised every month to encourage meetings, exchanges and business. The incubation of start-ups and the digital transformation of companies are its two main
missions. At the same time, Quai Alpha regularly acts as project manager and/or trusted third party on digital and innovative projects.  Digital technologies.