The DIH4AI project aims at building and networking DIH-driven AI-on-demand regional platforms, linked to the pan-European AI4EU toolbox and experimental facility. The network of AI DIHs supports the development, engagement and provision of services for local SMEs and GovTech companies. This is particularly important since SMEs and start-ups in Europe face a great degree of difficulty into scaling their ideas and commercializing them, and in this context Digital Innovation Hubs offer useful support to overcome the challenges that these types of businesses face. More in detail, the work of this project is especially relevant due to importance that Artificial Intelligence will have in the next decade in Europe in solving today's major societal problems. AI will be a technology where a lot of investment will be allocated in the future, and where small businesses might have difficulty competing against big tech players. In this context, the contribution that AI-focused DIHs can provide in terms of AI innovation to small and medium-sized European companies, prevalent in our market, can be crucial.
The project moves along five specific directions:
• DIH Network innovation, collaboration and economical sustainability model
• Interoperability framework for regional-EU AI On-demand Platforms
• Intra- and Cross-DIH Experimentations, also through Open Calls
• AI Applications and Trustworthy AI Experiments
• Skills and new Professions for AI, Train the Trainers program
At the end of the project, all the 68 Six-Months Progress Reports and Deliverables as per DOA have been submitted, the RP1 and RP2 technical Reports have been uploaded on the portal and the six milestones have been met. The DIH4AI portal platform is available, including more than 30 DIH profiles, 650 DIH services, AI assets, training courses; interoperability with the AI4EU, then AIonDemand, has been established.
All the progress made on these activities was published on the official project website, both on the homepage and on the pages concerning experiments, open calls, events and news. In addition, all project updates were published and disseminated via the monthly newsletter and the official project social channels (LinkedIn and Twitter).
