INNDIH AI Connect has established itself among the 12 European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) selected in Spain, a recognition that places the Valencian ecosystem at the forefront of European digital innovation and the responsible use of artificial intelligence. INNDIH AI Connect has also obtained the prestigious Step Seal, which accredits the excellence and solidity of its proposal within the European EDIH network. A broad public-private partnership will work together to accelerate the digital transformation of companies and generate impact on society.
The project, coordinated by ITI, a technology centre specialising in ICT, draws on the experience and knowledge acquired at INNDIH to take a new step and focus on artificial intelligence applied to SMEs and public administrations.
The European Commission has approved the INNDIH AI Connect project, which will strengthen the role of the Valencian Community as a benchmark in digitalisation and artificial intelligence. The initiative, coordinated by ITI, a technology centre specialising in ICT, draws on the expertise, knowledge, and experience acquired at INNDIH (2023–2025), the hub that in three years has provided more than 700 services to nearly 500 companies and activated 75 pilot projects in strategic sectors such as healthcare, quality of life, and advanced manufacturing.
The project has also obtained the prestigious Step Seal, a European recognition that certifies the excellence of the proposal, the organisational solidity of the consortium, and its alignment with the EU's strategic objectives in digitalisation and artificial intelligence. This seal acts as a guarantee of trust to consolidate international alliances, attract complementary financing, and strengthen leadership in Europe.
INNDIH AI Connect represents the largest public-private partnership in digitalisation in the Valencian Community.
The consortium is made up of a total of 29 entities that work together and complement each other, combining scientific and technological excellence, business representation, and institutional support. These include five universities (UPV, UVEG, UMH, UA, and UJI) and eleven technological institutes (ITI, AIDIMME, AIJU, AIMPLAS, AINIA, AITEX, IBV, INESCOP, ITE, ITC-AICE, and ITENE), which contribute their knowledge and capabilities to the experimentation and training services. Coordination between technological institutes is supported by REDIT, which contributes to the hub's sustainability.
The health and quality of life sector is represented by the Health Research Foundations FISABIO, INCLIVA, and HULAFE, which make their hospital infrastructure available to drive innovation in this strategic sector. In parallel, the voice of the business and industrial community is articulated through the Business Confederation of the Valencian Community (CEV), the Valencian Metallurgical Business Federation (FEMEVAL), the Textile Entrepreneurs Association of the Valencian Community (ATEVAL), and the chambers of commerce, both at the regional (CCCV) and provincial (Valencia, Alicante, and Castellón) levels.
The consortium also has the institutional support of IVACE+i, which ensures alignment with regional policies on innovation, competitiveness, and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, through IVACE+i, CEV, REDIT, CCCV, and the UA, INNDIH connects with the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN-SEIMED), the largest European support network for SMEs with international reach. This effort is supported by a wide range of collaborating entities that expand the hub's reach and specialisation: CEEI Valencia; Hub Sports Valencia (4iCVesport); VALMETAL; QUIMACOVA; AVIA; Startup Valencia; Orihuela Chamber of Commerce; Alcoy Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services; COIICV; COITCV; IICV; FEMPA; Castellón Provincial Hospital Foundation; ISABIAL; FIHgU; VLC Tech City; COGITCV; as well as AEEC Calzado and the Habitat Federation of Spain (FHdE). All of these contribute to strengthening connections with the region's strategic sectors and transferring the impact of INNDIH AI Connect to the entire business and social ecosystem of the Valencian Community.
This diversity of stakeholders reflects the genuinely collaborative nature of INNDIH AI Connect, an initiative that unites science, technology, business, and institutions to ensure that artificial intelligence and digitalization generate a real impact on the competitiveness of SMEs and the transformation of Valencian society.
“With INNDIH, we gave the first major boost to the digitalization of hundreds of SMEs in the Valencian Community. Now, with INNDIH AI Connect, we want to take a qualitative leap: to ensure that artificial intelligence and advanced technologies cease to be a promise and become an everyday reality for our companies. This European project places the Valencian Community at the forefront of digitalisation in Europe and represents more resources, more opportunities for growth, and more value for society,” says Laura Olcina, Managing Director of ITI.
A hub for businesses and administrations
For the next three years, INNDIH AI Connect will be the access point to high-value services in digitalisation and artificial intelligence for SMEs and public administrations. These services, fully funded by organisations, would represent a significant investment in the market. The offering is structured into four main areas:
- Test before invest: testing technologies in infrastructure and laboratories before investing.
- Digital training: training in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, big data, and robotics.
- Access to financing: support for start-ups and connection to public and private resources.
- Ecosystem and networking: promoting collaboration, connecting with European networks, and creating synergies.
Furthermore, it incorporates a new operational approach in two blocks—Ecosystem and Services—to optimise its functioning. This is complemented by innovative tools such as the INNDIH AI Connect Office, which will act as a reference point and support for companies and administrations; the customer journey in digital maturity, which will allow for personalised evaluation and guidance for each organisation in its technological transformation; and regulatory sandboxes, supervised testing environments for experimenting with new technologies before their deployment. The hub will also connect with AI Factories, European spaces for advanced experimentation in artificial intelligence, and with the AI on Demand Platform, of which ITI is a member through ai4europe, to facilitate access to cutting-edge resources, tools, and repositories. All of this will ensure an even greater impact on the real and safe adoption of digitalisation and artificial intelligence in the Valencian Community.
Continuity and Vision for the Future
INNDIH AI Connect takes over from INNDIH, the hub that for three years has driven the digital transformation of SMEs and public administrations in the Valencian Community.
With an investment of €5.5 million and the support of 48 entities, INNDIH has provided 703 services to 477 companies, 93% of which are SMEs, including more than 280 digital maturity assessments, 75 pilot projects with advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, and HPC, and 40 awareness and training sessions with more than 1,200 participants.
These results demonstrate the real impact of the hub, allowing companies to improve their competitiveness, attract more than €2.2 million in additional financing, and advance their digital maturity.
With INNDIH AI Connect, the goal is to expand these results, reach more SMEs and administrations, activate new artificial intelligence pilots, and multiply the investment raised, thereby generating greater value for companies in the Valencian Community and consolidating the hub's role as a European benchmark.
