Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DIGIT-ME (DIGIT-ME – effective support of DIGITalization of small and medium Manufacturing Enterprises)
Reporting period: 2021-05-01 to 2022-04-30
The main idea of the DIGIT-ME is to develop a new suitable and right approach to support and promote changes towards digital innovation in companies acting in manufacturing business sectors. The assumption made by the partners of the project is that there is a too small awareness of existing solutions (i.e. connected with The Industry 4.0 Internet of Thing, AI etc.) and technological possibilities among targeted entrepreneurs. This problem can be solved by applying an eye opening policy. Key benefit of the project is a new quality of digital innovation support approach.
Digital innovations specified by Industry 4.0 have overwhelming impact on EU position on the global markets. Improving regional economies based on different industries (including manufacturing) demands effective drivers to go for digital innovativeness effecting in increased capability which eventually leads to lower overall costs.
The effort of the EU to strengthen the competitiveness of European economy has two strong priorities - to build a greener and digital economy and thus to become a leader and a trend setter in digitalisation and sustainability. This creates a lot of opportunities for the most ambitious countries, regions, institutions and companies. On the other hand, it might create risks and challenges for those, which are more dependent on traditional industries, are still in the process of transformation, or which struggle with competitiveness.
From the perspective of macroeconomic concerns most of Central Europe countries stay below EU27 average of innovation, including digital innovations among manufacturing SMEs. According to the Summary Innovation Index (source: European Innovation Scoreboard 2021), which shows the results of the analysis of innovation performance in EU countries, the Partners of the Consortium, which come from Poland, Finland and Czechia, fall into different performance groups: Poland is Emerging Innovator (in 2020 – Moderate Innovator), Czechia is Moderate Innovator and Finland belongs to Innovation Leader. Index for Innovative SMEs cooperating with others is increasing and it is supported by increasing index for SMEs innovating in-house.
Objectives
The main project goal is: development through the lifetime of the project basing on the SMEs analysis and the evaluation of current tools and services, recommendations for improvement of digitalization support among SMEs and effective preparation for Industry 4.0. The recommendations will concern policy makers and specialized business support organizations in order to better preparation for digital Europe challenges.
Specific objective 1: Rising the knowledge about current state of policies and services focusing on digitalization of SMEs present in countries and regions of Partners’ origin.
Specific objective 2: Rising the awareness and knowledge about selected (at least 15) manufacturing SMEs needs in the field of digital innovation leading to better answering the challenges of Industry 4.0 implementation by creating the digital innovation support map and support programme.
Specific objective 3: Exchange of experiences and knowledge regarding means of digital innovation support applied by each Partner and development of new solutions and approach
Specific objective 4: Dissemination of gained knowledge among policy makers and other business supporting institutions.
Digital innovations specified by Industry 4.0 have overwhelming impact on EU position on the global markets. Improving regional economies based on different industries (including manufacturing) demands effective drivers to go for digital innovativeness effecting in increased capability which eventually leads to lower overall costs.
The effort of the EU to strengthen the competitiveness of European economy has two strong priorities - to build a greener and digital economy and thus to become a leader and a trend setter in digitalisation and sustainability. This creates a lot of opportunities for the most ambitious countries, regions, institutions and companies. On the other hand, it might create risks and challenges for those, which are more dependent on traditional industries, are still in the process of transformation, or which struggle with competitiveness.
From the perspective of macroeconomic concerns most of Central Europe countries stay below EU27 average of innovation, including digital innovations among manufacturing SMEs. According to the Summary Innovation Index (source: European Innovation Scoreboard 2021), which shows the results of the analysis of innovation performance in EU countries, the Partners of the Consortium, which come from Poland, Finland and Czechia, fall into different performance groups: Poland is Emerging Innovator (in 2020 – Moderate Innovator), Czechia is Moderate Innovator and Finland belongs to Innovation Leader. Index for Innovative SMEs cooperating with others is increasing and it is supported by increasing index for SMEs innovating in-house.
Objectives
The main project goal is: development through the lifetime of the project basing on the SMEs analysis and the evaluation of current tools and services, recommendations for improvement of digitalization support among SMEs and effective preparation for Industry 4.0. The recommendations will concern policy makers and specialized business support organizations in order to better preparation for digital Europe challenges.
Specific objective 1: Rising the knowledge about current state of policies and services focusing on digitalization of SMEs present in countries and regions of Partners’ origin.
Specific objective 2: Rising the awareness and knowledge about selected (at least 15) manufacturing SMEs needs in the field of digital innovation leading to better answering the challenges of Industry 4.0 implementation by creating the digital innovation support map and support programme.
Specific objective 3: Exchange of experiences and knowledge regarding means of digital innovation support applied by each Partner and development of new solutions and approach
Specific objective 4: Dissemination of gained knowledge among policy makers and other business supporting institutions.
In order to achieve the main and specific objectives the project was divided into 3 main phases:
1. Project research.
At first Partners provided inventory which focused on the current state of art in the field of digital innovation support for manufacturing companies. The next step was the research provided in each Partners’ region among manufacturing companies on digital innovations needs and stage of development provided with the use of IMP3rove Digital Innovation Quotient form. The result of this study was a digital innovation support map in manufacturing SMEs.
2. Peer learning.
While implementing the project, a total of 4 meetings were held, 3 of them (each partner was responsible for the preparation of one meeting) concerned work on the project, while the last one was the event summarizing the project, during which the results of the project were presented.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2 project meetings were held on-line (organized by Partners from Poland and Czechia) and one – on-site (in Finland).
The first meeting was organized on-line by Torun Regional Development Agency between 29th-30th June 2021. Responsible for the organisation of the second meeting was Innovation Centre of the Usti Region. The meeting took place on-line on 25th and 26th November 2021. The third project meeting was organized on 15th-16th March 2022 by Machine Technology Center Turku in Finland.
In the last month of the project (April), a meeting summarizing the project was held. Addressees of the recommendations was invited to participate in this meeting. They had the opportunity to submit their comments and observations to the draft Design Options Paper.
3. Dissemination of Design Options Paper and project results.
Once the substantial operations were completed, the partners started to disseminate Design Options Paper, presenting the project results achieved.
Dissemination channels:
• Partners’ websites
• Third Parties’ websites (i.e. EEN)
• Newsletters
• Social Media (Facebook and LinkedIn)
• Mass Media
• Events
• Mailing to innovation agencies, businesses support organizations and other stakeholders.
Exploitation:
• Further development of services delivered by project Partners Partners’ websites;
• Support in improving regional policies;
• Building new services in cooperation with partners from other regions and countries;
• Strengthening relations with manufacturing SMEs;
• The use of gained knowledge for promoting Industry 4.0 among services providing SMEs.
1. Project research.
At first Partners provided inventory which focused on the current state of art in the field of digital innovation support for manufacturing companies. The next step was the research provided in each Partners’ region among manufacturing companies on digital innovations needs and stage of development provided with the use of IMP3rove Digital Innovation Quotient form. The result of this study was a digital innovation support map in manufacturing SMEs.
2. Peer learning.
While implementing the project, a total of 4 meetings were held, 3 of them (each partner was responsible for the preparation of one meeting) concerned work on the project, while the last one was the event summarizing the project, during which the results of the project were presented.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2 project meetings were held on-line (organized by Partners from Poland and Czechia) and one – on-site (in Finland).
The first meeting was organized on-line by Torun Regional Development Agency between 29th-30th June 2021. Responsible for the organisation of the second meeting was Innovation Centre of the Usti Region. The meeting took place on-line on 25th and 26th November 2021. The third project meeting was organized on 15th-16th March 2022 by Machine Technology Center Turku in Finland.
In the last month of the project (April), a meeting summarizing the project was held. Addressees of the recommendations was invited to participate in this meeting. They had the opportunity to submit their comments and observations to the draft Design Options Paper.
3. Dissemination of Design Options Paper and project results.
Once the substantial operations were completed, the partners started to disseminate Design Options Paper, presenting the project results achieved.
Dissemination channels:
• Partners’ websites
• Third Parties’ websites (i.e. EEN)
• Newsletters
• Social Media (Facebook and LinkedIn)
• Mass Media
• Events
• Mailing to innovation agencies, businesses support organizations and other stakeholders.
Exploitation:
• Further development of services delivered by project Partners Partners’ websites;
• Support in improving regional policies;
• Building new services in cooperation with partners from other regions and countries;
• Strengthening relations with manufacturing SMEs;
• The use of gained knowledge for promoting Industry 4.0 among services providing SMEs.
In conclusion implementation of DIGIT-ME by the Partners from Czechia, Finland and Poland:
1. Led to the dissemination of successful Finnish approach to innovation in general which was enriched by experiences of countries from Central Europe.
2. Allowed to exchange experiences in the field of supporting Industry 4.0 development in order to strengthen the position of each region and country state.
3. Raised the awareness that specific policies are needed to help manufacturing SMEs in facing challenges of automatization, robotization and other disruptive technologies like AI, VR, AR, etc.
Results:
• 10 innovation agencies from countries of partners’ origin and other member states and
• 30 manufacturing SMEs directly rise their knowledge about effective supporting innovativeness through digitalization,
• 42 different stakeholders (clusters, chambers of commerce, industrial associations technology transfer centres etc.) from countries of partners’ origin and other member states directly rise their level of knowledge about effective supporting innovativeness through digitalization.
1. Led to the dissemination of successful Finnish approach to innovation in general which was enriched by experiences of countries from Central Europe.
2. Allowed to exchange experiences in the field of supporting Industry 4.0 development in order to strengthen the position of each region and country state.
3. Raised the awareness that specific policies are needed to help manufacturing SMEs in facing challenges of automatization, robotization and other disruptive technologies like AI, VR, AR, etc.
Results:
• 10 innovation agencies from countries of partners’ origin and other member states and
• 30 manufacturing SMEs directly rise their knowledge about effective supporting innovativeness through digitalization,
• 42 different stakeholders (clusters, chambers of commerce, industrial associations technology transfer centres etc.) from countries of partners’ origin and other member states directly rise their level of knowledge about effective supporting innovativeness through digitalization.