EKT participates in European Smart Attica Digital Innovation Hub for Artificial Intelligence

The National Documentation Centre (EKT) participates in the consortium of the European Smart Attica Digital Innovation Hub (Smart Attica DIH, Greek Innovation hub for Artificial Intelligence in Energy and Environment, Supply chain and mobility, Culture and Tourism), a project which aims to support digital transformation and disseminate the latest developments in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI), High Performance Computing (HPC) and Cybersecurity, both to SMEs and public administration.

The Smart Attica hub focuses on three critical business sectors of the Greek economy, in the Attica Region and the country:

1. Energy and Environment
2. Supply Chain & Mobility
3. Culture & Tourism

The Smart Attica hub seeks the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises and public sector organisations. It aims to enhance their digital maturity and will offer four types of innovation services in the following categories:

• test before invest,
• innovation ecosystem and networking opportunities,
• skills and training,
• support to find investment.

The hub will provide the right framework and expert guidance for organisations, enabling them to apply new tools and innovative business models to evaluate the technical and business prospects of their ideas. The services will build on the hub’s expertise in Artificial Intelligence, supported by the consortium members’ expertise in the areas of High Performance Computing and Cybersecurity.

The consortium of the Smart Attica hub consists of 17 partners in Greece and is co-ordinated by the Digital Innovation Hub (ahedd) of the National Research Centre for Natural Sciences ‘Democritos’. The expertise and roles of the partners, coming from the research, academic, business and banking/finance sectors, guarantee the empowerment of organisations, while a full range of services are offered.

EKT takes advantage not only of the experience and the position it has in the domestic innovation and digital transformation ecosystem, but also the synergies created with projects and actions it is already implementing and which concern the support of research activity and innovative entrepreneurship, digital technologies and the strengthening of skills. In the context of the project it will offer services in all the categories.

Greece’s participation in the Network of European Digital Innovation Hubs

The European Commission, within the framework of the ‘Digital Europe 2021-2027’ programme, supported the development of a Network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) with the aim of strengthening the capabilities of the European Union in the fields of High Performance Computing (HPC) ), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, the development of advanced digital skills and the digital transformation of Public Administration and interoperability.

The European Digital Innovation Hubs are consortia of organisations with complementary specialisations that aim to support businesses, especially small and medium-sized ones, and the public sector in their digital transformation. By providing access to technical expertise and experimentation, as well as the ability to ‘test before invest’, they will support companies to improve their business/production processes, products or services using digital technologies. In addition, they will provide innovation services such as financial advice, training and skills development required for a successful digital transformation.

Greece will participate in the Network of European Digital Innovation Hubs with a total of seven hubs, four of which will be financed by the European Commission through the ‘Digital Europe 2021-2027’ programme, with a total amount of 9.3 million euros for three years, while three more hubs will participate in the Network without European funding, as they have received the seal of excellence of the EU. The Greek Hubs of the Network will be active in technological fields such as: Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Internet of Things, 5G, big data analysis, blockchain, etc. in combination with policy areas such as health, rural development, e-governance, etc.

The seven hubs of Greece are as follows:

smartHEALTH (European Digital Innovation Hub for Smart Health: Precision Medicine and Innovative Ehealth Services)
Co-ordinator: Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH)
Regional coverage: 8 up to 13 Regions
Technology Sector:  AI, Cybersecurity, HPC
Policy Sector: Healthcare, Pharmaceutical Industry

DigiAgriFood (Digital Transformation and Green Transition of the Agri-Food Value Chain in Central and Northern Greece)
Co-ordinator: Democritus University of Thrace
Regional Coverage: Central & Northern Greece
Technology Sector: AI, Advanced Digital Skills, HPC
Policy Sector: Agri-food

GR digiGOV-innoHUB (The Greek digital Government and Public Services innovation HUB)
Co-ordinator: GRNET
Regional Coverage: entire Greek territory
Technology Sector: AI, 5G, HPC, IoT, Cloud, Cybersecurity, Blockchain
Policy Sector: Public sector, e-Government

SmartAttica-AtHeNAI (Smart Attica DIH, the Attica region – Greek Innovation hub for Artificial Intelligence in Energy and Environment, Supply chain and mobility, Culture and Tourism)
Co-ordinator: NCSR Demokritos
Regional Coverage: Attica, entire Greek territory
Technology Sector:  AI, HPC, Cybersecurity
Policy Sector: Εnergy and Environment, Supply Chain and Mobility, Culture and Tourism

HEALTH HUB (HEALTH HUB – Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Industry Transformation through Artificial Intelligence Digital Services)
Co-ordinator: Institute of Entrepreneurship Development
Regional Coverage: Thessalia
Technology Sector:  AI
Policy Sector: Healthcare, Pharmaceutical Industry

SYNERGiNN EDIH (Digital Innovation Hub of Western Macedonia)
Co-ordinator: ΠανεUniversity of Western Macedonia
Regional Coverage: Western Macedonia, Northern Greece,

Technology Sector: ΑI, Cybersecurity, IoT, Big Data Analytics
Policy Sector: Energy, Environment

EasyHPC (easyHPC@eco.plastics.industry.WCG:An open HPC ecosystem for the ecological transformation and the advancement of the competitiveness of the Plastic Industry in the Regions of West & Central Greece)
Co-ordinatorς: University of Patras
Regional Coverage: Western & Central Greece
Technology Sector: HPC
Policy Sector: Plastic

National funding for the Hubs is being provided by the new NSRF 2021-2027.