EDIH BOOST East Netherlands

forthcoming

EDIH BOOST EastNL focuses on servicing producing SMEs on the topics of Digitalisation, AI, Robotics, and Sensing. It wishes to continue with improved operations and extended scope on AI to sustain and expand its impact. Its main objectives are: • To make 400 SMEs future proof by increasing their digital maturity with the EDIH’s services • To raise awareness for digital transformation and AI of 2100 SMEs with the EDIH’s services The EDIH will connect, focus and scale the existing ecosystem and improving its connection to the EU AI Ecosystem. The EDIH was positively evaluated mid-term and is on track to reach its objectives. Our consortium has reviewed its operations to make the EDIH more efficient, agile and tailored to the demand of businesses by transitioning some of its partners to the EDIH’s Associated Supplier Group. The consortium of 11 partners is dedicated to provide excellent testing facilities and expertise to SMEs across the EU, connect SMEs, expertise and regional facilities to Europe, and build capacity on digitalisation and AI in the innovation ecosystem. The proposed continuation of EDIH BOOST EastNL offers services and activities to producing SMEs: communication and dissemination to raise awareness, promote action and connect to other Dutch EDIHs, digitalisation brokerage to guide SMEs to the right services of the EDIH or EU EDIH/AI Ecosystem, test-before-invest, support to find investment, skills and training and international service pilots, networking, matchmaking and access to the EU AI ecosystem. In addition, the EDIH will serve as a first-line access point (AI Helpdesk) for questions from SMEs related to the AI Act within its service offering. To that end, it will seek collaboration with the strategic interregional collaboration between the Dutch EDIHs, regional AI Hubs and national AI initiatives, and organisations within the European AI Ecosystem.