I4MS, ICT Innovation for Manufacturing SMEs, is a European initiative supporting manufacturing SMEs and mid-caps in the widespread use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in their business operations. Under I4MS, SMEs can apply for technological and financial support to conduct small experiments allowing them to test digital innovations in their business via open calls. The I4MS project is now in its third phase with each phase having complementary objectives.
Phase 1 - launched in July 2013 focusing on creating Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) and establishing a core I4MS community/ecosystem.
Phase 2 - launched in Fall 2015, with the aim of further growth of the core I4MS community/ecosystem.
Of the nearly €110 million funding made available during Phases 1 and Phase 2, more than €26 million was distributed to SMEs and Mid-caps through 15 open calls.
Phase 3 - launched in September 2017, and aimed at reinforcing the I4MS ecosystem. During this phase, European SMEs and mid-caps will be exposed to new approaches and methodologies on business models, access to financing, and training opportunities to re-skill staff. A total funding of €34 million is made available under Phase 3.
Focus under Phase 3 of I4MS project is on four technology areas important to the digital transformation of companies in the manufacturing sector: (i) additive manufacturing, (ii) CPS and IoT, (iii) robotics and, (iv) HPC.
I4MS is also one of the key initiatives of the European Commission to shape the pan-European network of Digital Innovation Hubs.
I4MS offers:
- Innovative technologies: In Robotics, HPC, Additive manufacturing, CPS and IoT.
- Open calls: Funding and technical assistance to support digital transformation.
- Best practices: Success stories and inspiration for SMEs and mid-caps to be more competitive.
- Skills catalogue: In-demand and sought-after skills and access to training opportunities and materials.
- Disruptors Award: Selection and recognition of the best digitisation cases.
- Acceleration programme: Training support on raising funds and matchmaking with peers.
I4MS has also gathered the largest online community of the manufacturing industry in Europe with 1.000+ members, including manufacturing companies, IT providers, competence centres, Digital Innovation Hubs, clusters, associations, investors, experts, and more. Join the I4MS Community now!
| Web resources: |
http://i4ms.eu/
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/768631 |
| Start date: | 01-09-2017 |
| End date: | 29-02-2020 |
| Total budget - Public funding: | 992 283,00 Euro - 992 283,00 Euro |
| Twitter: | @I4MS_Europe |
EFFRA Innovation Portal
Original description
"The I4MS Going to Market Alliance (I4MS-Go) will bring the I4MS innovation ecosystem to the market by creating the largest on-line community of stakeholders, users and service providers, for the digital transformation of manufacturing SMEs and Mid-Caps to a profiled audience of 2 million impacts.This will be achieved by the clustering of 11+ I4MS Innovation Actions; the mobilization of 7 M€ of additional public (ESIF) and private Funding though I4MS-Regions, the I4MS Disruptors Awards and I4MS-Accelerate and the implementation of the I4MS-Skills Observatory under the framework of the Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition;
MADE, recognized by the EC as a best practice example of support to advanced manufacturing at EU level, and active member of EFFRA, will lead the clustering of all I4MS Innovation Actions and the Top-100 European Digital Innovation Hubs, whilst FIWARE FOUNDATION, will lead the liaison with all DSM initiatives.
MWC, organizer of the world´s largest event for Digital Industries, and promoter of the Going Digital Initiative, will position I4MS and the Skills Observatory globally as the biggest and most influential ecosystem for Digitisation of manufacturing SMEs.
FBOX, coordinator of the FIWARE Accelerator IMPACT Growth and partner of 4 piloting DIH supported by I4MS, will manage the on-line community for newcomers and existing stakeholders of the I4MS ecosystem.
The Galician Innovation Agency (GAIN), coordinator of the MONITORIS3 project, the INCOMERA ERA-NET Cofund project and a RIS3 best practice itself, will create the proper liaison with the Smart Specialization Platform and the ERA-LEARN 2020 CSA to leverage further investments following multi-regional collaboration models.
I4MS-Go will demonstrate how an EC funded CSA can broader an ecosystem for European manufacturing that helps turn the EU into the “EU of entrepreneurial states and digital industries""."
