New European Digital Innovation Hubs set up across the Western Balkans
New European Digital Innovation Hubs set up across the Western Balkans
As of January 1, 2025, the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) Network has officially expanded to welcome new hubs from Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. This marks a major milestone in strengthening digital transformation in the EU’s Enlargement region. These hubs will help local businesses, startups, and public institutions access cutting-edge technology, AI expertise and capacities, and funding, driving innovation and growth with a particular focus on AI. As part of the call for proposals, 7 projects were selected from 5 Western Balkans partners. The projects for the EDIHs in the Western Balkans will start at the beginning of 2025 and will last four years. The budget of the call is €5.6 million, with €1.6million going to Serbia and €1 million going to Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia respectively.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will join a dedicated Digital Europe Programme call in Q2, following the publication of the new Work Programme. The country has already pre-selected four candidate entities for the call. Next, these entities will be invited to submit proposals to become European Digital Innovation Hubs.
Digital Innovation Hubs in the Western Balkans
Bringing the Western Balkans into the EDIH Network is a major step in the region’s integration into the EU’s Digital Single Market and is part of the EU’s Growth Plan. The Growth Plan is facilitating Western Balkans’ closer links with the EU’s single market and provides for benefits already ahead of EU accession. Extending the EDIH network to Western Balkans is one of the Growth Plan’s measures that facilitates partners’ integration into the EU Digital Single Market and supports their digital transformation. Its benefits will be felt directly by SMEs, startups, and the public sector in the green and digital transitions.
To ensure a smooth start, the European Commission (DG CNECT) in collaboration with the Digital Transformation Accelerator (DTA), organized an onboarding webinar on January 30, 2025. This session provided the new hubs with practical guidance, best practices, and an introduction to the tools available within the EDIH Network.
Additionally, the pre-financing of 65% of the Digital Europe Programme (DEP) financial contribution has already been made available as part of the Grant Agreement, which has been signed with each EDIH. This demonstrates the EU’s strong commitment to ensuring that these hubs can immediately begin their activities and drive digital transformation in their regions.
The initiative reinforces the EU’s vision for digitally connected, AI-enabled, and competitive Western Balkans, ensuring that businesses and institutions have the support they need to thrive in the digital age.
Background
European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) are one-stop shops supporting companies and public sector organisations in responding to digital challenges and becoming more competitive. These hubs help businesses and public organizations adopt digital and AI-driven solutions through four key services: Test before Invest, Skills and Training, Support to find Investments, and Innovation ecosystem & networking. A strong focus on AI adoption ensures that hubs can leverage AI-driven tools to enhance productivity, decision-making, and competitiveness across Europe. EDIHs are co-financed, with 50% of the funding coming from the Digital Europe Programme (DEP) and the remaining 50% from other national, regional or private sources.
More information,
