Small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany can get professional support and information about constantly evolving digital technologies and innovations, and how to use them to become more competitive, at the Berlin Centre for Digital Transformation. The goal is to encourage technology transfer and increased cooperation between companies, universities, and research institutions.
Berlin Centre for Digital Transformation helps SMEs access innovation and technology
- 11 May 2020
Our goal is to position Berlin as a beacon for the next wave of digitisation.
With the help of the ERDF, the centre ensures that companies and research institutions develop innovative solutions in four areas: mobility and city of the future, industry and production, healthcare, and critical infrastructure and energy.
This cooperation increases the competitiveness of German industry and Berlin’s status as a business and research location. Companies, start-ups, universities and research institutions work closely together, both regionally and internationally. Companies benefit from the latest technologies and learn how to apply them to business practice.
SMEs the mayor beneficiaries
Preparing for the digital future costs time and money, which is beyond the scope of many SMEs. To fully exploit the benefits of digitisation, diverse technical domains systems must be integrated.
Thus, the centre, with the combined expertise of the Heinrich Hertz Institute, Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems, Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology, and Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Micro-integration, helps SMEs keep up with digital advances.
Scientific achievements and social benefits
The centre is part of Berlin's digitisation strategy. With ERDF funding, the exchange between research and the economy is significantly strengthened and advanced. This increases the region’s innovative ability and competitiveness.
The centre also secures an interrelation between non-university research and industry. This helps ensure that scientific achievements have social benefits within Germany. At the same time, it allows the state of Berlin to strengthen its role as a beacon for digital networking.
Companies and other partners benefit from: knowledge transfer and training so that the possibilities of digital applications are recognised and understood, joint development and implementation of solutions, and support for the integration of technologies so that partners can test and implement innovative ideas.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Berlin Center for Digital Transformation” is EUR 10 400 000, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 5 200 000 through the “Berlin ERDF” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Innovation”.