FIT EDIH – Leader of Digital Innovation in the Central Region, Romania
FIT EDIH distinguishes itself as the only Digital Development Center in the Central Region, Romania, dedicated to improving the competitiveness of organizations by integrating advanced digital technologies.
Our vision is to transform the Central Region into a model of digital excellence, where organizations are equipped to understand and properly test new technologies. We imagine a region where SMEs, public institutions and all stakeholders are empowered to be part of the digital and innovative future. FIT EDIH is the essential partner in this journey, significantly contributing to the development of a dynamic innovation ecosystem.
Our method consists of offering a carefully selected portfolio of services, technologies and testing facilities, designed to support both low-level and advanced digital maturity organizations. Our goal is to assist 131 SMEs and 17 public institutions in their digitalization process over a period of 5 years, thus contributing to increasing their digital maturity and attracting funding of over 4 million euros.
History of FIT EDIH
FIT EDIH was born from the merger of two Digital Innovation Hubs (DIH) consortia from the Central Region: FIT DIH and LAB4COM, both of which successfully passed the national selection phase. This collaboration aimed to consolidate efforts to become part of the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) network, thus obtaining co-financing from the Digital Europe Programme.
Year 2017 marked the recognition of ALT BV Cluster, a founding member of FIT EDIH, as one of the first three DIHs in Romania by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. Between 2017 and 2019, the future FIT DIH members (ALT BV and ASIMCOV) participated in technical assistance programs, supporting the development of DIHs and facilitating the transfer of knowledge and skills.
In parallel, LAB4COM DIH, initiated by ULBS in 2015, focused on developing the local technology and manufacturing community in Sibiu County. By August 2020, the LAB4COM consortium had expanded to include smart city and health communities from Alba and Brașov counties. These collaborations were supported by projects funded at European, national, and industrial levels, coordinated by the ULBS team of the Research Center in Connected Intelligence (INCON).
European Consolidation and Recognition
After successfully passing the national selection for the European Digital Innovation Hub network, the LAB4COM and FIT DIH consortia merged in October 2021 under the FIT EDIH brand. In February 2022, we applied to the European call and were officially selected in June 2022 to be part of the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) network, obtaining 50% funding from the Digital Europe Program.
