A consortium led by Verian, integrating the expertise of PPMI, has been awarded the Digital Transformation Accelerator Phase II (DTA Phase II) contract by the European Commission (DG CNECT). This critical four-year assignment is designed to address the urgent need to boost Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption amongst European companies, particularly Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
The DTA Phase II will act as a foundational pillar in transforming Europe’s digital support system and focus on three key mandates:
- Accelerating AI uptake: Driving the digital transformation and deployment of AI across European companies and public administrations.
- Creating a unified AI ecosystem: Ensuring the network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) operates as a seamless ‘one-stop-shop’. This will enable clients to easily access the vast EU AI innovation ecosystem, including AI Factories and Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs), based on their specific needs.
- Boosting core services and visibility: Enhancing the quality and delivery of the four essential EDIH services: ‘test before invest’, ‘skills & training’, ‘support to find investment’, and ‘innovation ecosystem & networking’.
In parallel, the DTA will ensure a professional online presence and execute a proactive communication strategy to significantly increase the visibility of the EDIH network towards European companies and public administration.
Intensive capacity building and community engagement
Capacity building and community engagement form a central, high-volume component of the DTA Phase II. The project mandates an intensive calendar of events, led by the large, annual EDIH Network Summit (targeting at least 700 participants) for physical community building and matchmaking. This flagship event is complemented by:
- Matchmaking: At least one large online community event annually, and a total of 16 quarterly matchmaking events over the contract duration, facilitating collaboration and addressing competence needs in both AI and non-AI digital transformation.
- Focused training: Approximately 20 focused online sub-network training events per year to exchange best practices on specific technologies or sectors, alongside approximately five major network-wide online training events annually.
- Key topics: The scope of training covers critical areas such as AI uptake, trustworthy AI, implementation guidance for the AI Act, and leveraging EU funding programmes like InvestEU and Horizon Europe.
The project will also deliver a mix of major network-wide thematic online events and continuously support EDIH working groups. These activities ensure continuous knowledge transfer and circulation within the network and guarantee that EDIHs are deeply integrated with the wider European innovation and financing ecosystem.
Quantifiable results and lasting legacy
The project is strategically designed to culminate in demonstrable, quantified results, establishing a lasting legacy for Europe's digital future.
Key anticipated achievements include:
- Operationalising the EDIH network: The network will become a truly unified "one-stop-shop" through the establishment of formal Referral Protocols and robust Memoranda of Understanding connecting clients to the wider EU AI innovation ecosystem.
- Standardising skills & training: The project will deliver a fully consolidated DTA Training Curriculum and a permanently updated Guide to Available Training and Documentation, reflecting the latest developments in AI and regulatory compliance.
- Ensuring future readiness:All project knowledge and service methodologies will be consolidated in the Final Handover Manual and a strategic Roadmap for Future Actions. The project’s overall success will be summarised in the Final Impact Assessment, ensuring seamless transition and continuity for the subsequent phase of support.
The consortium will implement a robust impact assessment framework, including supporting the European Commission in developing and deploying a new set of sub-indicators focusing specifically on AI uptake. By the project’s conclusion, this framework will document the measurable acceleration in the effective uptake of AI amongst European SMEs and public sector organisations through a sophisticated multi-layered KPI framework.
