Digital Innovation Hubs

With "Digitising European Industry Reaping the full benefits of a Digital Single Market " (April 2016), the European Commission provided for the establishment of a European network of Digital Innovation Hubs capable of supporting businesses, SMEs in particular, in the process of the digitalization of European industry.

This is an initiative that responds to the need to improve and strengthen the competitiveness of European companies on an international scale, starting with the relaunching of investments in new technologies and integrating the world of innovation with the industrial sector.

The Commission's action hinges on the role of the Digital Innovation Hubs as "orchestrators" of the innovation ecosystem present in the reference geographical area.

Following the European initiative, Italy has given life to the "Piano Nazionale Impresa 4.0" (Industry 4.0 National Plan) with the 2017 budget law.

Among the various measures implemented, the Plan provided for the creation of an "innovation infrastructure network", consisting of Competence Centres (CC) then implemented with 8 companies with specific technological areas on a national scale, and Digital Innovation Hubs (DIH).

In 2017 Confindustria also set up a national network of DIHs made up of 22 regional DIHs, including DIH Liguria.

The DIHs are supported by "liaisons" with the local associations in order to engage all relevant companies and support them through the digital transformation processes.