Launch of the first European Digital Innovation Hub in Brandenburg

A 30-member team of transfer experts from the Technical University of Wildau (TH Wildau) and the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg is now supporting startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, midcaps, and government organizations in Brandenburg in responding to digital challenges at the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) pro_digital.

The new interface between science, business and society aims to support and promote regional companies and institutions in their efficiency and thus in their competitiveness. To this end, the innovation center with contact points in Cottbus and Wildau offers practical know-how and access to a wide range of digital technologies. One of a total of 227 EDIHs in Europe, the project started in January 2023 as part of the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) and will receive funding of €2.3 million over three years.

"We support regional companies in strengthening competitiveness in their fields and new markets," says Prof. Dr.-Ing Michael Hübner, BTU Vice President for Research and Transfer. "In this way, we ensure that the regional economy remains strong and attractive to skilled workers. We look forward to working with Wildau University of Technology to build and establish a European network for the digitization of companies and institutions in Brandenburg."

"We are proud that together with the BTU we were able to establish the first project of this kind in Brandenburg and will expand it in the coming years. The digital transformation in business and administration must continue to progress and at a faster pace. With the European Digital Innovation Hub in Brandenburg, we can make an important contribution in our state to ensuring that our companies stand up to strong competition and move with the times. And in the administration, the prerequisites for business and citizen-oriented processes are being created. This is ensured by the experts from both universities with their specialist knowledge in the field of transfer and digitization," says Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus-Martin Melzer.

By providing access to technical expertise and experiments, as well as the opportunity to test before investing, the EDIH helps companies improve business and production processes, products or services with the help of digital technologies. Innovation services such as financing advice, training and skills development are also part of the advice, as are environmental issues, particularly with regard to energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

"With pro_digital, we intend to support companies and public sector institutions, primarily in Brandenburg, over the next three years in topics such as digitalization, artificial intelligence and aspects of digital security," says BTU Prof. Ulrich Berger, Department of Automation Technology. Together with Prof. Benjamin Fabian, Department of Administrative Informatics at TH Wildau, he heads the EDIH pro_digital. "Together with our partners, we want to build an innovation ecosystem in the field of digital transformation in Brandenburg that generates competence and visibility across Europe," adds Prof. Fabian.

About the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH).

The new European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) is one of now 227 EDIHs in Europe. With their know-how, the 30 transfer experts* support startups, companies and public institutions in

  • Determining the current state of maturity of digitalization and automation,
  • identifying potentials in digitization,
  • developing and communicating adequate solutions and technologies,
  • testing before investing
  • the search for project and implementation partners from science and industry,
  • networking, including with companies, associations and institutions
  • the search for suitable funding opportunities or financing possibilities from the public and private sectors.

Duration: 01.01.2023 - 31.12.2025 Partners: Wildau University of Applied Sciences (consortium leader) & Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg

Contact:

Prof. Dr. rer. pol. habil. Benjamin Fabian
Project Manager
Technische Hochschule Wildau / University of Applied Sciences Wildau
T +49 3375 508 907
E benjamin.fabian(at)th-wildau.de

Dr. Ramila Amirikas
Project Manager
Technische Hochschule Wildau / University of Applied Sciences Wildau
T +49 3375 508 414
E ramila.amirikas(at)th-wildau.de

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Berger
Project Manager
Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg
T +49 355 69 2457
E ulrich.berger(at)b-tu.de

Carsten Heintze
Project Manager
Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg
T +49 355 69 2643
E carsten.heintze(at)b-tu.de

Contact

Kristin Ebert
Kommunikation und Marketing
T +49 (0) 355 69-2115
kristin.ebert(at)b-tu.de
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