The ministry of industry, trade and tourism intends to write shortly draft ministerial order cited in the heading with the main purpose to establish an open and competitive process for the preparation of the list of Digital innovation centres nationals who choose to join the European network of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIH) contemplated in the Digital Europa Program (2021-2027) of the European commission.

In compliance with article 26.2 of law 50/1997 of 27 November, the government, the object of this public consultation prior to the development of the planned ministerial decree is seeking the views of citizens, organisations and associations potentially affected by the same on the desirability of the proposed solution, i.e. on the desirability of establishing a register of Digital innovation centres run by the ministry of industry, trade and tourism with the main objective to develop the list of Digital innovation centres nationals who choose to join the European network of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIH).

The Programme Digital Europe (2021-2027) of the European commission, heir of the current programme of digitizing European industry (2016-2020), has among its objectives the creation of a network of Digital innovation centres (CID) or Digital Innovation Hubs (DIH) that enhance and catalyse digital transformation of industry and the AAPP. The entities forming part of this network will choose to an important part of the programme budget.

There is now a “ catalogue of Digital innovation centres ” created by the European commission in the framework of the “ European Industrial Strategy digitalization ” launched in 2016. This catalogue has been achieved since then as information platform through which the digital innovation centres (CID) or digital innovation hubs (DIH) registered in the same can show their services to potential customers Europeans, in addition to find opportunities for cooperation between them and thus stimulate a pan-European network of this type of facilities.

Nevertheless, to the concrete impact of the creation of the network of Digital innovation centres (CID) or Digital Innovation Hubs (DIH) under the programme Digital Europe (2021-2027), the European commission will not use this Catalogue but, to ensure a balanced and proportional distribution of funds available in the agenda among all member states, request to each of Them a list of potential candidates to respond to the demand of their industries and public sectors. This request is scheduled for over the last quarter of 2020.

Take advantage of the significant opportunities offered by the digital revolution is not always an easy task, especially in the case of small and medium enterprises. In fact, many of them is even complex know when, how and in what technologies invest and, above all, how to successfully address changes by incorporating them in its products, processes, and in their business models.

To answer these questions, there is the idea of the digital innovation centres (CID) or digital innovation hubs (DIH) that are conceived as a “ PSCs ” through which, not only companies, but also public administrations have access to the information, services and facilities they need to successfully address their digital transformation processes.

The expectations that exist on the scope of the economic impact that these centres of digital innovation can generate in its territorial and sectoral environments are really positive, especially in the case of industry, and are also a special significance currently looking for economic recovery we face as a result of the devastating effects caused by the pandemic of COVID-19.

To support these expectations, it is expected that during the period of budgetary programming 2021-2027 of the European Union substantially increases the funding available to them through different instruments such as the structural funds and European Investment (FSE and FEDERA), the program Horizon Europa and especially of the above programme Europa Digital. Available information on the European centres of Digital Innovation in the agenda Europa Digital

As already mentioned in paragraph 3, in the absence of any catalog or pre-registration of digital innovation centres that could be taken as a starting point for the development of the list that will ask the European commission, have been considered the following alternatives:

Instead of the creation of a register, has been taken into account the option to develop a ministerial order laying the groundwork for a specific call for the development of the aforementioned list. As such, the effects for entities selected through this call was confined solely for the purpose stated, i.e., its inclusion in the list requested by the commission in 2020. However, the registration of such entities in a register with a valid for several years extend your eligibility in time to participate in other initiatives and national and European programmes.

The third alternative considered has been the of inaction in the sense of not set at the national level any process for the development of the aforementioned list of Digital innovation centres Spanish with option to participate in the European network of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIH). This path would mean that the European commission take directly the initiative and outside it to carry out the entire process of selection of Spanish entities, leaving Them at a great disadvantage compared to its European competitors.