![ER2Digit: the Italian EDIHs and the Project Officer meet at R2B - Image](/sites/default/files/styles/small/public/field/image/2024_08_ER2Digit_sito_0.jpg?itok=DzpG--W1)
On June 27th 2024, on the occasion of R2B, an operational meeting was held between the 13 Italian EDIH with the participation in-person of the Project Officer (PO) of the EU Commission, Alvaro Hernando.
An overview of the Italian EDIHs of which ER2Digit is part was provided: 40 sectors are involved, mainly including manufacturing, healthcare and public administration; the technologies used mainly include AI, Cybersecurity and IoT, with a total of 35 technologies used.
On an European scale, 10 thematic working groups which gather every EDIHS’ partners have been established in order to deeply explore the most relevant themes of every sector and meet at the EDIH Network Annual Summit on November 26-27th in Brussels.
From the comparison between the Italian EDIHs it emerged that they all need to accelerate the provision of services: in fact, only 4 of them, including ER2Digit, have already provided services. In order to incentivize the use of AI through the EDIHs network and the creation of AI competence centers, the PO has also communicated that the European Commission management of EDIHs has been transferred in the new AI Office, a structure that was established in May.
In this context, it’s worth noting that Lepida will also work on “Test Before Invest” services that might facilitate for PAs the adoption of IA, thus aligning itself with the new directives and initiatives promoted by the AI Office.