The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine has launched a national selection for the creation of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) in Ukraine as part of the Digital Europe program. On December 20, the first meeting of the Commission to hold a competition to select candidates for the creation of European digital innovation hubs in Ukraine took place. The Commission includes representatives of the Ministry of Digital Development, the Office for Entrepreneurship and Export Development (NCP of the Digital Europe Program in Ukraine) and international experts. The commission approved the procedure for conducting the competition and the candidate application form for participation in the competition.
The purpose of the national selection is to find companies ready to promote innovation, digitalization, and provide new opportunities and skills for scaling. Also introduce technologies that help develop business and society.
The following can become digital hubs:
- research and/or technology development organizations;
- technology and/or innovation centers;
- scientific, technological and/or innovation parks;
- organizations supporting entrepreneurship (incubators, accelerators, investors, etc.);
- business support organizations (chambers of commerce and industry, industry associations, non-governmental public organizations, etc.);
- innovative companies/private technology providers, innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);
- development agencies and organizations (economic and regional, industrial and/or technological, as well as SME development);
- technological development funds; funds to support research and/or innovation;
- universities/institutes/faculties and/or research centers;
- vocational education institutions;
- industrial clusters, associations/companies in the IT industry;
- public or private financial institutions.
Submit applications for selection through the online form using the link – https://forms.gle/nUMjouvZnJJ664An7. This can be done from December 20, 2023 to January 19, 2024 inclusive.
The results will be published on the Diya.Business portal, page of the Digital Europe program by the end of January 2024.
The selection is carried out by a commission consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, the Office for Entrepreneurship and Export Development and international experts. Finalists will be selected based on criteria: compliance with requirements, relevance of the idea, feasibility of implementation, potential impact. For more information about the application evaluation, follow the link.
Let us remind you that for companies interested in participating in the network, webinars from European participants of the ECIH were held during October-December. You can view webinars and speaker presentations by following the link. There will be more webinars next month. Dates and details will be announced additionally on the Diya.Business portal.
On December 20, 2023, a competition for the creation of European Digital Innovation Hubs was launched, coordinated by the European Commission. Applications will be accepted until April 10, 2024. An important condition for submission is a letter of support from the National Commission for the applicant. Accordingly, Ukrainian participants will be able to submit an application to the EU competition only after selection by the National Commission. The results will be published at the end of January 2024, so competition participants will have more than two months to prepare an application in accordance with the European Commission form.
Special webinars and consultations will be held for participants in the selection for the ECIH network
For anyone interested in becoming such a hub, webinars and individual consultations will be held. During the events, speakers will talk about the nuances of filling out the application, give advice and answer questions.
For whom?
Organizations that want to become a European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) and are ready to introduce and promote innovations and technologies that will help both society and business develop faster can take part in the webinars.
Schedule of webinars and consultations
Questions and Answers webinars will be held on January 9 and 16, 2024. During them, a guide for applicants for participation in the selection, a template of the application form will be presented, and viewers will also have the opportunity to ask their questions and get answers.
Speakers:
Matthias Kuom, former DG Connect expert, coordinated the work of the ECIC in Germany, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.
Markus Ermert, Project Management Advisor at the German Aerospace Center. He is also the national representative of the ECIC in Germany.
Individual consultations with Matthias Kuom and Markus Ermert will take place from December 22, 2023 to January 18, 2024. Duration up to 30 minutes.
The language of webinars and consultations is English.
How to participate?
You can register for webinars and consultations using the link.