📋 Tender Overview
The state is supporting the two European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) in Baden-Wurttemberg with 720,000 euros each, thereby promoting artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. The Ministry of Economics, Labor and Tourism is supporting the two European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) in Baden-Wurttemberg (opens in new window) with 720,000 euros each for three years. The two consortia External: EDIH Artificial Intelligence & CyberSecurity (EDIH AICS) (Opens in new window) with the consortium leader External: FZI Research Center for Information Technology (Opens in new window) from Karlsruhe and the External: EDIH Sudwest (Opens in new window) with the consortium leader External: Hahn-Schickard (Opens in new window). Villingen-Schwenningen was able to successfully apply for the second funding period in the European Commissions call for proposals. 1.4 million euros for artificial intelligence and cybersecurity The fact that both Baden-Wurttemberg EDIHs have once again asserted themselves in European competition is a strong signal for our states innovative strength, said Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism. Small and medium-sized companies in particular need reliable partners to bring artificial intelligence and external: cyber security (opens in new window) into use more quickly, safely and in a practical way. Thats exactly what our innovation centers stand for. The EDIHs will build on the findings of the first funding period, expand the network and also place a greater focus on the topic of secure artificial intelligence (AI) and test environments. SMEs and public institutions in particular should be able to test digital and AI-based solutions even better individually and with little risk with professional support. This project is supported by existing access to European networks, infrastructures and other EDIHs. The Baden-Wurttemberg EDIHs are therefore an important building block for the innovation location. EDIH Sudwest The EDIH Sudwest covers the entire value chain of intelligent AI systems: from chip development and production to AI software, its application in end products and the development of new, data-driven digital services. The industry focus areas health/life sciences, automotive/mobility and manufacturing will remain. SMEs often continue to face major challenges in the area of digitalization, especially when it comes to the practical implementation of AI and cybersecurity approaches. In addition to resilient intelligent systems, the EDIH Sudwest is therefore placing an even greater focus on offerings in the area of AI. The offers range from basic entry-level options to the focus on green AI and high-performance computing for AI. The ten core partners of EDIH Sudwest are: Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft fur Applied Research e.V. (consortium leader), BadenCampus GmbH & Co. KG, bwcon GmbH, cyberLAGO e.V., Furtwangen University, Fraunhofer Society for the Promotion of Applied Research, Institute for Physical Measurement Technology, MedicalMountains GmbH, project partner Oberrhein - Society for Project Development, Sicos BW GmbH and St. Georgen Technology Center. EDIH AICS In the first funding phase, the EDIH AICS established numerous offers for SMEs and public institutions in the four fields of action production, mobility, energy, trade & services and administration/municipalities. At the same time, it became clear that significant hurdles remain in the innovation ecosystem - in particular concerns about the implementation of AI legislation, data security and the protection of AI systems. These can inhibit the use of AI technologies. The goal of EDIH-AICS 2.0 is to establish itself as a dynamic and networked competence center for trustworthy and secure AI and digital services. The centers core task is to support SMEs, medium-sized companies and public institutions in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany and Europe in a responsible and sustainable digital transformation and to strengthen innovative strength, digital sovereignty and sustainability through the expertise of nine experienced partners, a broad service portfolio along different digital maturity levels and strong regional and European networking. The nine core partners of the EDIH AICS are: FZI Research Center for Information Technology (consortium leader), Steinbeis 2i GmbH, DIZ Digitales Innovationszentrum GmbH, CyberForum e.V., Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT, Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technology and Image Exploitation (IOSB), Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, Technologieregion Karlsruhe GmbH and CAS Software AG. European Digital Innovation Hub Network In a first round of funding, the EU Commission has funded the External: Digital Europe Program (Opens in new Fenster) created a Europe-wide network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), which is intended to promote the structural competitiveness of European companies, with a focus on SMEs. The focus is primarily on growth areas such as AI, high-performance computing and cybersecurity. The digitalization of the public sector should also be supported by the EDIHs. The European digital innovation centers are both local and Europe-wide networked contact points. The EU Commission sees the EDIHs as part of the AI Continent Action Plan as a link between the main actors in the AI ecosystem and as experience centers for AI that support the application of sector-specific AI solutions. On April 3, 2025, the EU COM published the EDIH 2.0 call, to which the previous EDIHs could apply again for a period of three years (2026 - 2029). According to the EU-COM website, there are currently 17 EDIHs in Germany, and a total of 227 EDIHs in Europe, 151 of which are funded by the EU. Both consortium leaders are also part of the External: Innovation Alliance Baden-Wurttemberg (innBW) (Opens in new window).
