EU4Digital ICT Innovation​

The EU4Digital Initiative is organising a virtual excursion to support stakeholders from the Eastern partner countries in joining the EU network on ‘ICT Innovation for Manufacturing SMEs’ (I4MS). The event will be held back-to-back with the annual Steering Committee Meeting on 30 September 2021. 

The session will invite participants for a more practical conversation with I4MS, a European initiative supporting the digitalisation of manufacturing SMEs and mid-caps. The network was initially introduced during a dedicated networking event organised by the EU4Digital ICT Innovation team on the topic “Networking with EU Digital Innovation Hubs to enable the development of competence centres, platforms, tools and services supporting the digital transformation of SMEs”.

The consultation organised on 30 September targets specifically selected groups of organisations from the Eastern partner countries: business associations that can potentially support local manufacturing SMEs, and competence centres with specialised technological expertise. It aims to facilitate interested parties in joining the I4MS community via the specially created space, and advise them on the use of particular services. 

The virtual excursion will be run by I4MS representatives and facilitated by EU4Digital ICT Innovation Stream Lead Anna Pobol. The excursion will include the following subjects: joining the I4MS online community, the introduction of the brokerage system and openings to join projects, and training opportunities. Additionally, Mr. Alexander Yurchak, Director of the Association of Industrial Automation of Ukraine (APPAU), will share his experience of acting as I4MS Network Contact Point in Ukraine.

The ultimate goal of the event is to support the integration of EaP organisations into the I4MS network and provide more opportunities for manufacturing SMEs in the region to get access to finance and expertise for digital transformation.