South Savo Regional Council

DIH South-Savo

The Digital Innovation Hub accelerates the digital transformation of industries, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises and the public sector. DIH is a network of multiple actors that offers a wide range of digitalization support services through a one-stop-shop approach

DIH supports the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises

DIH Etelä-Savo is designed in collaboration with key stakeholders

In the project, DIH Etelä-Savo will be designed and established. This requires extensive cooperation among South Savo stakeholders. The project brings together the most significant South Savo companies, clusters, and economic developers in the region and supports joint planning efforts to design the structures and operating methods of the DIH. These structures and operating methods will define how we jointly develop the regional economy of South Savo at both the strategic management and coordination levels, using the region’s resources more wisely and serving local businesses more clearly and effectively.

From the perspective of companies and other organizations investing in digital transformation, it would be clearer if there were a familiar and established service point offering a wide range of development services following a one-stop-shop principle. This purpose is served by the DIH concept created by the European Union. The EU aims for each region in the EU to have its own digital innovation hub, providing companies with a wide range of digitalization-promoting services in technology trials, business and skills development, financial advice, and network building, all through a one-stop-shop approach.

The project responds to the EU’s goal of initiating and developing digital innovation hubs (DIH) formed by expert organizations and promoting their cooperation at European, national, and regional levels. The project’s aim is to design and establish DIH Etelä-Savo in collaboration with key South Savo stakeholders. The project is primarily about building cooperation and supporting mutual agreement.

Työpajan osallistuvat muotoilevat legojen avulla DIH:n visiota.

Through the DIH, companies are offered a wide range of digitalization-promoting services following a one-stop-shop principle.

Key actions of the project

The construction of the Digital Innovation Hub in South Savo is also supported by the RDI roadmap plan led by the Regional Council of South Savo. The roadmap brings together various actors in the region. The plan aims to accelerate the region’s RDI activities.

During the project, several workshops will be organized, allowing South Savo companies, economic developers, and other organizations to influence the design of the Digital Innovation Hub. The first workshops of the project will be held in June and August 2024.

Results

As a result of the project, a South Savo DIH has been established, guided by the business plan created in the project. To support its operations, at least three RDI services targeted at companies have been planned and implemented, and at least two RDI infrastructures have been productized for companies to utilize.

The established DIH Etelä-Savo meets the EU’s requirements for a digital innovation hub, which stipulate that the DIH:

  • The coordinator must be a non-commercial organization.
  • Must be physically located in its own region.
  • Must have regularly updated websites that clearly explain what the DIH does and what services it offers to companies.
  • Must have at least three examples of how it has helped companies digitalize.

MATERIALS

In the preliminary study project, the wishes of South Savo companies and organizations for a digital innovation hub were mapped out.

The current state survey investigated the strategic plans, studies, and surveys influencing the DIH.

See what a DIH is and how it is established during the project.

Contact us and join in building the DIH in South Savo!

CONTACT

Helena Merikoski, Project Manager (helena.merikoski@xamk.fi)
Phone: +358 40 648 6617

Sami Jantunen, Specialist (sami.jantunen@xamk.fi)
Phone: +358 40 502 5071

Marianne Heikkinen, Service Designer (marianne.heikkinen@xamk.fi)
Phone: +358 40 486 9649

Project name:

Establishment of a digital innovation centre (DIH) in South Savo

Project duration: 1.9.2023–31.8.2024

Info

Lead partner: South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences
Area of strength: Digital economy
Competence edge: Digital business

Budget

Financier and main source of funding: South-Savo regional counsil, European Regional Development Fund
Total budget: 350 510
EU part of the total budget: 262 883
Xamk part of the total budget: 87 672

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