The European Digital Innovation Hub Dortmund (EDIH-DO) will be funded for another three years. From January 2026, two new partners, Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts and Hammer Wirtschaftsförderung IMPULS, will be on board. The project will continue to focus on supporting small and medium-sized companies in their digital transformation. In the new funding phase, artificial intelligence will play a central role in the portfolio.
The European Commission has announced that an important initiative for the Dortmund, Hamm and Unna region will be extended: EDIH-DO will remain a central point of contact for small and medium-sized enterprises and the public sector as a digital innovation center for the next three years. "This is an important signal for the region," says Maria Beck, Managing Director of Digital Hub Management, who is leading the project as consortium leader. "The renewal of the European Digital Innovation Hub Dortmund strengthens our position as a driver of innovation in the region and enables us to continue providing companies and the public sector with targeted support in their digital transformation."
Digital transformation as a central task
The existing offering will be expanded in the upcoming funding phase and is geared towards the needs of companies in the Dortmund, Hamm and Unna region: EDIH-DO focuses on the application areas of logistics, manufacturing and production. In the field of digitalization, the technological focus is on artificial intelligence, data analytics, the Internet of Things, blockchain, sovereign data exchange and cyber-physical systems. "Companies benefit from holistic support," Beck continues. "First, the individual digital maturity level is determined: Then there are various options ranging from in-depth workshops to specific transfer projects in which, for example, the latest technologies are integrated into the company's day-to-day operations. The topic of artificial intelligence plays a central role in our portfolio and opens up new opportunities for innovation and sustainable digital solutions."
Project partners behind EDIH-DO
A total of seven partners are behind the EDIH-DO: Digital Hub Management GmbH, which operates the Digital Hub Logistics in Dortmund and carries out numerous European projects, TU Dortmund University with the Center for Entrepreneurship & Transfer CET and its subsidiary TU concept GmbH. As a new partner, Fachhochschule Dortmund will provide support in the future with expertise in the field of artificial intelligence. With TZ Net GmbH, Wirtschaftsförderung für den Kreis Unna mbH and IMPULS. Hammer Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH, three regional business and innovation promotion agencies are represented in the project. They have the important role of expanding the existing network and establishing further contacts with local companies.
Duration and project volume
The project volume for the renewal amounts to around 4.58 million euros and is scheduled to run from January 2026 to December 2028. The EU is contributing half of the funding as part of the "Digital Europe" program.
