<p>At the Advanced Factories event in Barcelona, one key question took center stage: how can European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) collaborate to accelerate Europe’s digital transformation? Representing Oost NL – EDIH Boost Robotics East Netherlands, Farah Aziz and Marieke Smidt joined the event, connecting with partners and experts from across the continent. The result: new knowledge, fresh inspiration, and valuable connections for the future of digitalisation and AI.</p><h3>New connections, shared ambitions</h3><p>Representatives from 22 EDIHs across ten European countries gathered in Barcelona. Through interactive speed-dating sessions and plenary discussions, participants explored new opportunities for collaboration, including with partners such as DIH4Cat and AICS. “It was inspiring to see how many shared challenges we face – and how many opportunities there are to strengthen each other,” said Farah Aziz.</p><p>Topics included funding, implementation, and scaling up – all aimed at strengthening the European innovation ecosystem. The open exchange of experiences helped shape concrete next steps for the programme.</p><h3>Insights into technological progress</h3><p>On the Advanced Factories expo floor, participants explored the latest developments in smart manufacturing. They visited companies such as Beckhoff and Aritex, both leading players in automation, digitalisation, and robotics. These real-world applications provided valuable insights for the ongoing work of EDIH Boost Robotics in East Netherlands.</p><h3>Looking ahead: EDIH 2.0 and AI</h3><p>A visit to the Barcelona Supercomputing Center offered participants a glimpse into Europe’s technological future. The focus was on the preparations for EDIH 2.0, in which Artificial Intelligence (AI) will play a central role. Lessons learned from the first EDIH call were also shared – providing important takeaways for building stronger, more effective collaboration in the next phase.</p><h3>What did it deliver?</h3><p>“The event brought us new knowledge, inspiration, and – most importantly – strengthened relationships with European partners,” said Marieke Smidt. “We established many valuable connections. It’s truly motivating to see that we’re all working toward the same goal: a stronger digital Europe. These encounters provide both energy and direction for our next steps.”</p><p>Want to know more about EDIH Boost Robotics? Visit <a href="https://boostsmartindustry.nl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Boost </a>for more information.<br>&nbsp;</p>

EDIHs strengthen collaboration at Advanced Factories 2025

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