Background

Europe is at a critical juncture in its digital transformation. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), data spaces, and immersive digital tools (augmented, extended, and virtual reality – AR/XR/VR) offer new opportunities for innovation but also bring risks. Ensuring alignment with societal needs, inclusivity, and legal requirements is key to making their benefits accessible to all.

European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), embedded in the Digital Europe Programme, play a mediating role in the digital transformation. They translate technological advances into added value for businesses and public authorities, without neglecting societal needs.

Starting Point

In its initial phase, the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) Crowd in Motion (CIMO) has been dedicated to accelerating the adoption of advanced digital technologies for businesses and society. CIMO’s strength lies in its close alignment with the EU’s digital priorities, its deep regional embeddedness, and its cross-sectoral focus on tourism, sports, mobility, and well-being

The initiative also pursued a user-driven, community-based approach, leveraging open innovation, crowdsourcing, and crowdfunding. It placed a strong emphasis on co-developing solutions that reflect local needs and priorities, as well as Europe’s cultural identity, economic development, and societal resilience.

Aims

The follow-up phase of CIMO-AI builds on a strong foundation of established networks and deep expertise gained over recent years. The lessons learned allow us to sharpen our objectives, fine-tune our approach, and broaden our service offering. A clearer understanding of the needs of our target sectors now guides our mission.

We aim to:

• Strengthen our focus on AI by expanding the service portfolio and addressing client concerns and risk aversion. We emphasize upskilling and reskilling, as well as building and testing AI solutions that comply with regulatory requirements.
• Extend geographical coverage by involving new consortium partners from across the Austrian Digital Innovation Hub landscape.
• Make full use of university partnerships by sharing advanced lab infrastructure and benefiting from the expertise of highly skilled researchers and professionals.
• Leverage the potential of data sharing and data spaces.
• Expand public sector services in line with the Austrian Government’s AI Strategy.
• Promote digital solutions in the wellness and well-being sector, including mental health, nutrition, weight management, personal care, and related areas in tourism.

Impact and Outcomes

The CIMO-AI initiative helps organizations across different sectors make practical use of AI technology. Tourism businesses and regional organizations receive support in using digital tools to better understand their customers, improve visitor experiences, and plan services more efficiently. Mobility providers are introduced to AI solutions that improve transport services, for example by better anticipating demand.

Start-ups and companies in the sports sector receive hands-on support to develop and scale digital products, enhance fan experiences, and improve performance analysis. Similarly, providers in the wellness and well-being sector are supported in using digital solutions to improve their services.

Public authorities and municipalities receive strategic guidance on using digital solutions for smarter public services and sustainability efforts. Digital solution providers benefit from sector-specific knowledge and opportunities to collaborate with partners.

Beyond these users, many others also benefit from the initiative, including regional development agencies, policymakers, industry networks, and citizens. They gain access to improved digital services and become part of CIMO-AI’s open innovation community, which connects more than 21,000 members.