KITT4SME publishes AI-readiness Survey with clear to-do list for boosting SME’s digitalisation

KITT4SME (platform-enabled KITs of arTificial intelligence FOR an easy uptake by SMEs) an Innovation Action under I4MS, has conducted a thorough research on the adoption of AI within European SME ecosystem. The Artificial Intelligence adoption in European Small Medium Enterprises is a result of survey and face to face conversation with representatives of startups, SMEs, Midcaps and larger enterprises representing fifteen different industries. 

The report not only showcases the current state of AI adoption but also provides recommendations. In a clear and concise way, authors present possible actions to combat both the knowledge and technological gaps, and thus lack of interest, amongst the stakeholders. 

As researchers point out, almost 70% of European companies believe that  the collection  of data is fundamental for their business, yet only ⅓  have defined a strategy to promote AI adoption within the company and only 1 out of 10 have training and development practices focused on increasing their staff’s digital skills. 

With increased globalisation and Industry 4.0 already on the horizon, European companies need to fully tap into the benefits of digitalisation and widely use AI in their operations in order to stand a chance in competition with other other market players. Changes have to happen not only within the processes, but also in Human Resources, Organisational Structure and Enterprise Culture. At the same time, European SME ecosystem already has sufficient know-how, a library of good case practices and frontrunners championing the adoption of AI into their company’s DNA. 

Please download the full report here: 

Authors and contributors

The Report has been prepared by The Sustainable Production Systems Lab (SPS), a research institute belonging to the University of Applied Science and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) in cooperation with Warsaw University of Technology (WUT), Ginkgo Analytics, CRIT, ART-ER Attractiveness Research Territory is the Emilia-Romagna, Innovation Centre Nikola Tesla and The Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC). All partners are a part of the KITT4SME Project Consortium. 

About KITT4SME

KITT4SME (platform-enabled KITs of arTificial intelligence FOR an easy uptake by SMEs) is an Innovation Action under I4MS. KITT4ME provides SMEs with scopetailored and industry-ready hardware, software and organisational kits, delivered as a modularly customisable digital platform, that seamlessly introduce artificial intelligence in their production systems.

KITT4SME is a Horizon 2020 Project supported by the European Union under the grant agreement no 952119