More than 500 companies have used the services of the European Digital Innovation Hub Ostrava (EDIH Ostrava) since it began operating three and a half years ago. In more than 130 cases, the collaboration developed into longer-term projects that resulted in concrete technological solutions and innovations. The Ostrava-based hub is now entering a new phase with an expanded range of services, new partners and a broader client base. Its support is now also available to mid-cap companies, while a new website provides a comprehensive overview of all collaboration opportunities.
“Over the past three and a half years, we have confirmed that companies are interested in EDIH Ostrava’s services and that we can support both businesses that are just beginning their digital transformation and those that are already highly advanced technologically. In this new phase, we are building on our previous experience, expanding our range of services and aiming to reach additional types of companies,” says Martin Duda, Executive Manager of EDIH Ostrava.
In addition to small and medium-sized enterprises, EDIH Ostrava’s services are now also available to mid-cap companies – medium-sized businesses with up to 3,000 employees that do not fall into the category of large corporations. The existing portfolio has also been expanded to include new services focused on artificial intelligence and business idea validation. Companies continue to benefit from preferential financial conditions, with some services provided free of charge. Although the hub is based in Ostrava, its services are available to clients throughout the Czech Republic.
There are more than 170 European Digital Innovation Hubs operating across Europe. One of the distinctive features of the Ostrava hub is that, thanks to the involvement of the IT4Innovations National Supercomputing Center, its clients also have access to supercomputing technologies.
“This is a highly specialised service, yet it consistently attracts clients. For companies tackling technologically demanding challenges, access to computing infrastructure and expert know-how can represent a significant step forward,” adds Martin Duda.
Four partner organisations contribute their expertise to the project. The first is VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, specifically the aforementioned IT4Innovations and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. The faculty operates several industrial testbeds and, together with IT4Innovations, provides services primarily to companies that are already highly advanced in digitalisation and wish to test or develop new technologies.
A long-standing partner of EDIH Ostrava is the Moravian-Silesian Innovation Centre. Its expertise is particularly valuable to businesses that are just beginning their digital transformation or are looking for ways to advance digitalisation systematically within their organisations.
New partners include the Regional Chamber of Commerce of the Moravian-Silesian Region, which has strong ties to businesses in the region and will primarily coordinate training programmes and educational events within the project. Another new partner is UNICO Analytics, which will provide clients with expertise in assessing commercial potential and the commercialisation of innovations.
All information about the services, collaboration opportunities and participating partners is available on the new EDIH Ostrava website. Those interested can also watch a new promotional video showcasing four real-life examples of successful collaboration.