Nazar Podolchak and the WEST EDIH team attended the annual EDIH Summit, organized by the European Commission

Nazar Podolchak and the WEST EDIH team attended the annual EDIH Summit, organized by the European Commission, which took place on November 26-27, 2024, in Brussels (Belgium).

This second EDIH Summit brought together key European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) network representatives, including representatives from various thematic working groups, national authorities and expert groups. The Summit aimed to facilitate in-depth discussions on practical topics through best practices in digital transformation and innovative solutions in many areas. Participants participated in workshops, panel discussions and networking sessions to foster collaboration and share experiences.

The GIZ project "Digital Transformation of SMEs in the Eastern Partnership Countries" organized an additional event for Ukrainian Hubs within the Summit's framework, where participants could share their experience and achievements in developing the network and the hub. The discussion was attended by 5 Ukrainian centres and international partners, who had the opportunity to discuss current challenges and further steps in the digitalization of various areas.

"Participation in the EDIH Summit opened up new horizons for cooperation and strengthened understanding of the importance of digital transformation for regional and European development. We had the opportunity to present the achievements of WEST EDIH and get acquainted with the best practices of other digital innovation centres.
The discussions on implementing artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital skills for SMEs were critical. We agreed on developing projects with new partnerships that will help us expand the range of services for businesses and communities in the region," Nazar Podolchak said.

Let us recall that West Ukraine EDIH will meet the objectives of the Digital Europe Program by promoting the digitalization of small and medium-sized enterprises and public sector organizations, focusing on four main sectors: healthcare, sustainable cities, furniture and textiles, and food processing. Together with West Ukraine partners, EDIH will work in four areas: pre-investment testing, skills and training, investment search support, and innovation ecosystem and networking.