Transilvania Digital Innovation Hub - Transilvania DIH

Overview

Transilvania Digital Innovation Hub (TDIH) is a not-for-profit DIH which is a regional consortium of 14 organizations, 6 partners and 8 associated partners, created in 2017 by the main innovation actors from the North-Western region of Romania, with the mission of strengthening the regional innovation ecosystem and accelerating the digital transformation process and innovation of SMEs and public sector. Orchestrated by Transilvania IT Cluster, TDIH delivers value at regional, national, European, and international levels based on the synergies between its members: 8 clusters and/or professional associations representing the fields of IT&C (3), furniture manufacturing, new materials, energy, creative industries, and agro-food, the largest 3 universities in the region, Babeș-Bolyai University, the Technical University in Cluj-Napoca and the University of Medicine and Pharmaceutics, 1 national R&D institute (INCDTIM), 1 business support organization (OLI Hygia - Industry Liaison Office), and the municipality of Cluj-Napoca. Our primary specialisation is on AI, Big Data & HPC technologies applied primarily in the fields of Digital Health and Industry 4.0, correlated with priorities I.3 Health and II.2 Advanced Production Technologies from the region’s RIS3 strategy.

TDIH is based in the North-Western region (NUTS 2-RO11) of Romania, ranked among the “Emerging innovators” category in the 2021 Regional Innovation Scoreboard, with an increase in the innovation index from 26.8 points in 2014, to 36 in 2021, slightly higher than the national average (35). Also, according to the 2021 DESI, Romania is ranked 27th in the EU, with an aggregate score of 32.9%, whereas the EU27 average is 50.7%. Therefore, Transilvania DIH is one of the key instruments that supports the green and digital transition of the region’s industry and public sector, by offering digital and innovative business support and modelling, accelerating the uptake of digital technologies (AI, Big Data & HPC) in the provision of services and products, thus increasing the competitiveness of SMEs, the quality of public services and social well-being.

 

TDIH’s list of services is continuously developed and updated based on market needs, providing digital transformation and innovation of (i) business processes and models, and of (ii) services and products. Our main target group is represented by SMEs and the public sector, from the North-Western region of Romania, but also those in Europe interested in solutions that fall under our main specialisation areas. Our services are grouped into four categories, based on the main functionalities of TDIH:

Networking and ecosystem building – services provided primarily by Transilvania IT Cluster and Hygia Consult, consisting of (1.1) networking opportunities and active engagement among regional and European innovation and digital transformation actors, primarily SMEs and public sector; (1.2) matchmaking and brokering services between technology/solution providers and beneficiaries; (1.3) support services for regional SMEs and public sector for finding European solution providers (in areas other than our primary specialisation); (1.4) hackathons.

Test before invest – services provided primarily by TDIH’s technology organisations - UTCN, UBB, UMF, INCDTIM consisting of (2.1) digital audits and innovation scouting; (2.2) access to business and technology specialists expertise; and (2.3) access to testing, validation and rapid prototyping facilities (platforms, laboratories and infrastructure) and showcasing opportunities represented by digital transformation processes.

Skills and training – services provided by all TDIH partners on areas relevant to their expertise (business support - Transilvania IT and Hygia, digital skills and technologies - UBB, UTCN, UMF and INCDTIM) meant to build capacities for innovation and digitalization, by uplifting people’s skills; we provide trainings and skills development services covering the topics: advanced digital skills, technology, digitalization, business and management. 

Support to find investment – provided mainly by Hygia and Transilvania IT, include services for supporting SMEs and public sector in building their business cases and pitch decks for meetings with investors; identification of funding sources needed to implement digital solutions and other types of business support and financial instruments.

Digital technologies.