DigiFed launches open call for big companies searching for digital solutions from start-ups and SMEs

On 22nd February, the DigiFed project kicked off a new series of match-funding opportunities that can help to accelerate access to advanced digital technology and solve real-world challenges. The support will be provided for so-called “Digital Challenge Owners” that aim to address digital needs in a cost-efficient and agile way. Digital Challenge Owners shall collaborate with start-up companies to prototype potential solutions in the field of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) & Embedded Systems.

DigiFed and Digital Challenge Owners will jointly offer grants of up to € 100k as well as technical and business support for the development of smart applications in Europe. Participants to the DigiFed Digital Challenge Owner scheme would be willing to co-fund the experiment anywhere between €30,000 to €50,000 for 9-12 months.

In return, they will gain access to a network of tech innovators and experts from startups or SMEs that can develop a customised solution to address their business challenge. Challenge Owners will also benefit from partnerships with leading Digital Innovations Hubs across Europe who will be able to accelerate their innovation journey, marketing capabilities, and access to new markets.

Innovation management

The DigiFed project will provide innovation management support by helping the lager enterprises frame their challenge and leading the search for the appropriate provider start-up or SME with the skills to address their business need. The selected startup or SME will then receive 100% funding from DigiFed and Digital Challenge Owner to addresses the digitisation challenge within Challenge Owner’s business.

The startups and SMEs will be selected through an open call application process which will start in May/June 2021.

Apply for the Digital Challenge Owner Open Call now! Visit: Digital Challenge Owners Open Call – DIGIFED

What is DigiFed?

DigiFed (Digital Innovation Hubs Federation For Large Scale adoption of digital technologies by European SMEs) is an EU funded innovation action on the H2020 programme. Its main goal is to drive innovation across European SMEs & Midcaps via large scale adoption of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) & Embedded Systems.

There will be 3 Open Calls and 3 main innovation pathways to help European companies digitally transform their operations, products and service offerings.

Lead by the Research institute of CEA Tech, Leti, the Horizon 2020 project brings together 12 European partners such as research institutes, universities and key members of the electronics-industry value chain including Zabala. Zabala is a leader of the Communication and Dissemination Work Package and supports Project Management.