Development of AI – ICT for Manufacturing EDIH in Latvia

On December 6, 2022, the Latvian IT Cluster signed a European Union grant agreement with the European Commission for the implementation of the project “Development of AI – ICT for Manufacturing EDIH in Latvia” (EDIHLV) (Project No. 101083983).

The aim of the project is to promote the digital transformation of businesses and the public sector, as well as to improve the digital skills of the population, focusing on supporting the enhancement of existing business processes, the implementation and development of marketing and innovative digitalization solutions.

The project activities are implemented by the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH), formed by a consortium of well-known Latvian organizations – the association “Latvian Information Technology Cluster” as the project coordinator and 12 partners (Cēsis Digital Centre, Digital Innovation Park, the University of Latvia, Zemgale Planning Region, Latvian Electrical Engineering and Electronics Industry Association, Latvian Information and Communication Technology Association, Latgale Planning Region, Latvian Food Industry Federation, Association of Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking Industries, Riga Business School of Riga Technical University, Ventspils High Technology Park, and Vidzeme Planning Region). Two associated partners (Latvian Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry Association and Latvian Timber Industry Federation) and several related third-party partners (Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Institute of Electronics and Computer Science, Institute of Solid State Physics of the University of Latvia, as well as technology supplier companies) are also involved in the project implementation, ensuring technology testing opportunities.

EDIH provides services to clients (companies, institutions, and organizations) in four major categories:

1. Raising awareness and defining needs. It is important for companies, institutions, and organizations to understand the opportunities and needs provided by digitalization in order to fully embark on the path of digital transformation. Through various digital awareness activities, training sessions, webinars, and seminars, participants receive the latest information on opportunities to improve the operations of their company/institution, increase productivity, and enhance competitiveness. At this stage, companies are required to complete a digital maturity assessment, which indicates the company’s current level of digitalization and provides initial recommendations for improvement. Based on the assessment results, EDIH experts develop a digital development roadmap with recommendations regarding the implementation of digitalization projects, possible technological solutions, and achievable efficiency indicators. Entrepreneurs with unclear future development plans are also offered the opportunity to participate in practical digitalization courses – Kickstart – during which company representatives develop a digital development roadmap and identify business processes that should be improved.

2. Technology testing and expertise. EDIH helps assess existing business processes and provides recommendations for improving specific processes using both new and existing market technologies. EDIH can recommend potential technology providers, giving companies, institutions, and organizations the opportunity to initially test recommended and market-demanded technologies. If necessary, clients can receive consultations from industry experts, ensuring confidence in technological possibilities.

3. Training and implementation of new technologies. EDIH provides training to clients in various levels of digitalization, ranging from general topics to advanced training in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and high-performance computing. Companies, institutions, and organizations will be able to implement new technologies through various support mechanisms and national support programs. EDIH provides expertise to identify the most suitable program for the client’s needs and prepares a specialized digital development roadmap accordingly.

4. Evaluation. After receiving the above-mentioned services, the client performs a second digital maturity assessment in order to evaluate the impact of digital transformation activities and assess the growth indicators resulting from investments made. EDIH experts will evaluate the implementation of investments based on the results of the second digital maturity assessment and the targets defined in the previously prepared Digital Development Roadmap, and will provide an opinion regarding the fulfillment of the conditions specified in the roadmap.

During the implementation of the project, it is planned to reach at least 1,800 companies and achieve significant digital improvement in at least 600 of them.

Project implementation period: September 1, 2022 – June 30, 2026.

Total project costs: EUR 2,919,281
EU grant: EUR 1,459,640
Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) support: EUR 1,459,641