Each new EDIH will provide services based on a specific focus/expertise, which will support the local private and public sector with their digital transformation and the integration of AI technologies. This specialisation can be strengthened over time and should make use of existing local competencies in this area.

The EDIH network is dedicated to promoting and facilitating the digital transformation of SMEs and public services through four types of services:

• Test before invest: providing access to technical expertise and experimentation, in particular to AI-related services.
• Training and skill development: offering training sessions to SMEs and public services for upskilling and reskilling of the workforce.
• Support to identify and get access to potential financing sources to support digital transformation.
• Foster an innovation ecosystem and networking opportunities, including building links to AI factories and TEFs where relevant for associated countries.

Each EDIH is expected to provide all four types of services. They can however have different weights in the overall services portfolio. The services will be provided on an open, transparent and non-discriminatory basis and will be targeted mainly to (1) SMEs and midcaps and/or (2) public sector organisations conducting non-economic activities.

Each EDIH will act as an access point to the European network of EDIHs, helping local companies and/or public actors to get support from other EDIHs in case the needed competences fall outside their competence, ensuring that every stakeholder gets the needed support wherever it is available in Europe. Reversely, each EDIH will support the companies and public actors from other regions and countries presented by other EDIHs that need their expertise.

The EDIHs will also serve as contact point for the AI innovation infrastructures as described above, notably the AI factories, the AI-on-demand platform and TEFs. They will provide a first-line AI help desk for businesses and public sector organisations, offering basic information on compliance with the AI Act and relevant sources for further guidance. This will help ensure the broad adoption of strategic technologies, supporting the development of an AI continent.

Each EDIH will make available the relevant experimentation facilities and demonstrators related to its specialisation. SMEs, mid-caps and the public sector will be able to test the technologies proposed, including where relevant their environmental impact, and the feasibility of applying these technologies to their business before investing in them Likewise, EDIHs will leverage green digital technologies to advance Europe’s collective climate and environmental goals.

EDIHs will also provide access to finance services, including information on and facilitation of access to public and private funding sources, as well as connections to public and private investors.

The EDIHs will actively network with other hubs, share best practices and specialist knowledge, connect companies within their value chain, and seek synergies with innovators and early adopters who test solutions in novel experiments. These efforts will foster the adoption of digital technologies, particularly AI, in work and business environments in a more human-centric manner. Additionally, EDIHs will serve as brokers between public administration and companies providing e-government technologies.

In all the networking activities, EDIHs will be supported by the Digital Transformation Accelerator (DTA). Therefore, it is compulsory that EDIHs participate actively in the relevant support activities of the DTA, such as matchmaking, training and capacity building events.

The DTA, in cooperation with the Commission, will also host tools such as the Digital Maturity Assessment Tool and will centralise the overall Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the network. As a result, each EDIH must report the necessary information to the DTA. While EDIHs are encouraged to make use of the digital tools provided, they are also free to use their own tools. However, interoperability with the EDIH network tools is a requirement, to ensure a seamless experience for users.

DTA will organize events and activities for the network of EDIH, to share information and experiences, train, build cohesion. EDIHs should foresee active participation in those events and activities.

The EDIHs should closely collaborate with the AI Factories as well as with the High-Performance Computing competence centres, the Cybersecurity centres, the AI-on-demand platform, AI Testing and Experimentation Facilities and other EDIHs seeking complementarities in view of supporting companies and public sector organisations with their digital transformation.

Where relevant, the EDIHs will facilitate access for their customers to the EuroHPC AI-optimised supercomputers. They will also help SMEs fine-tune available AI solutions to their business needs and use cases by providing, wherever needed, also access to AI training.

EDIHs will maintain structured long-term relationships with the relevant local actors like regional authorities, industrial clusters, SME associations, business development agencies, incubators, accelerators, chambers of commerce, and partners of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and Startup Europe by offering joint investor-related events, organising common trainings, workshops or info days, directing SMEs from EEN to EDIHs and from EDIHs to EEN as needed. It is expected that local actors planning mutual support with a local EDIH will sign a Memorandum of Understanding for a proper governance of their collaboration.

Finally, EDIHs will serve as an interface for the European Commission to support the implementation of specific sectorial policies, SME policies and eGovernment policies. This will imply that EDIHs specialised in a specific sector could be consulted on policies related to their sector of competence and could participate in specific actions.

EDIHs will design their operations to ensure sustainability beyond the implementation phase. They will indicate how they plan to build local capacity, foster community ownership, and integrate the initiative into their ecosystems.