The Foundation for Management and Industrial Research, as part of the DigitMak consortium, participated in a European event dedicated to the application of Artificial Intelligence for innovation, efficiency and sustainability

Today, 17 September 2026, Emilija Andonova from the Foundation for Management and Industrial Research, representing the DigitMak consortium, participated in the online event “EDIH Services for Driving AI-Powered Innovation, Efficiency and Sustainability in Maritime”, dedicated to the opportunities offered by the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) and the application of Artificial Intelligence in digital and green transformation processes.

The event brought together representatives of leading European Digital Innovation Hubs from France, Ireland and Türkiye, with the aim of exchanging knowledge, experience and good practices on how Artificial Intelligence can contribute to the development of innovative solutions, improve operational efficiency and support the achievement of sustainability goals.

Particular attention was given to the opportunities that the EDIH network offers to companies and organisations throughout their digital transformation journey, as well as to the potential of AI technologies to enable new ways of working and strengthen the competitiveness of European companies.

The programme featured presentations from EDIH Bretagne from France, the Irish EDIH Network and AI EDIH Türkiye, followed by a thematic session focusing on the use of Artificial Intelligence to foster innovation, efficiency and sustainability within the Irish maritime ecosystem. The event also included an interactive discussion with participants, providing an opportunity to exchange experiences and identify possibilities for future cooperation.

The participation of a representative of the MIR Foundation and the DigitMak consortium in European events of this kind provides a valuable opportunity to follow the latest practices and approaches within the EDIH ecosystem, while also establishing new contacts and exchanging experiences with organisations working to accelerate digital transformation across different European regions.

Although the event was primarily focused on the maritime sector, the approaches and solutions presented have much broader applicability. The integration of Artificial Intelligence, digitalisation of processes, improvements in productivity and efficiency, and the development of more sustainable business models are highly relevant to companies across a wide range of industrial sectors.

For DigitMak, this exchange at European level represents an additional opportunity to explore practical models through which EDIHs support small and medium-sized enterprises, organisations and other stakeholders in recognising and leveraging the benefits offered by emerging digital technologies.

One of the key messages of the event was that Artificial Intelligence is increasingly being recognised as a practical tool for addressing concrete business and industrial challenges. Its application creates opportunities for process optimisation, more effective use of data, the development of new services and solutions, and more efficient use of resources. In this context, European Digital Innovation Hubs play an important role as connecting points between companies, research organisations, technology experts and the wider innovation ecosystem.

The event was designed for companies, technology providers, researchers and other stakeholders interested in using AI to enhance competitiveness and sustainability, as well as for organisations seeking to establish closer cooperation with the European EDIH network.

Connecting with European EDIH ecosystems and exchanging experiences with partners from different countries creates further opportunities for new partnerships, knowledge transfer and the application of successful European practices within the local innovation and business ecosystem.