EDIH4LT

European Digital Innovation Hub for Central and Western Lithuania

About us

Who we are?

Industry need driven European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) of Central and Western Lithuania consists of 14 partners operating throughout Lithuania and representing different areas of competence and experience.

We are operating in 5 sectors: Manufacturing, Public Sector, Healthcare & Biotechnologies, ICT and Fintech.

Our key competences are Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cybersecurity (CS) in the fields of ​Big data, Automated BMS & WMS, Smart Sensors, ​Robotics, I​oT/IoIT, ​Automation, ​VR/AR, Automatic reporting.

Project: „INDUSTRY 4.0 LAB PLATFORM: DI4LITHUANIANID“ No. 02-016-P-0003

The European Digital Innovation Center DI4LithuanianID is part of the Industry 4.0 Lab platform, which is coordinated by the Innovation Agency Lithuania.

Hub team

Dr. Mindaugas Bulota

EDIH Coordinator (KTU)

Mindaugas Kemzūra

Project manager (KTU)

Milda Karčiauskaitė

Project manager (KTU)

Audrius Jasėnas

Senior Expert (Intechcenter)

Dovydas Zinkevičius

Senior Expert (OIXIO)

Virgilijus Dirma

Senior Advisor (Infobalt)

Egidija Veršinskienė

Senior Researcher (L3CE)

Mindaugas Kieža

Senior Expert (Lighthouse Hub)

dr. Marius Laurinaitis

Senior Researcher (MRU)

Lina Giedraitė

Senior Expert (LINPRA)

Eimantė Survilaitė

Senior Expert (ISM)

Vytis Radvila

IT Manager (Klaipėda University)

Members

Services

Prototyping, Fostering the Integration, Adaptation of various technologies, Concept validation, Testing and experimentation with digital technologies (software), Demonstration activities, Knowledge and technology transfer

1. Test before invest

Prototyping, Fostering the Integration, Adaptation of various technologies, Concept validation, Testing and experimentation with digital technologies (software), Demonstration activities, Knowledge and technology transfer

Access to funding (Fin institutions and investors: ERDF, Horizon Europe, InvestEU, Transition Mechanism and others), Investors support (Venture Capital entities, Bank loans)

2. Support to find investment

Access to funding (Fin institutions and investors: ERDF, Horizon Europe, InvestEU, Transition Mechanism and others), Investors support (Venture Capital entities, Bank loans)

Short-term advanced Digital Skills training courses, Visioning and strategy development, Awareness creation, Mentoring, Hosting or providing training, Technology road mapping

3. Skills & Training

Short-term advanced Digital Skills training courses, Visioning and strategy development, Awareness creation, Mentoring, Hosting or providing training, Technology road mapping

Networking, Incubator/Accelerator support, Voice of the Customers

4. Ecosystem building & Networking

Networking, Incubator/Accelerator support, Voice of the Customers

News

European Digital Innovation Hubs in Lithuania: opening up digitisation opportunities for business
2024 November 25

Lithuania has three European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), whose main objective is to help SMEs integrate digital innovation more effectively into their operations.

These centres provide training and advice to company employees, test digital technologies before investing in them and contribute to the development of new products and services. This is a unique opportunity for those facing challenges in the introduction and use of new digital technologies and in the digitalisation of company processes. The services are provided to companies as State aid or as de minimis aid.

National significance

EDIH4LT, one of the 3 European Digital Innovation Hubs focusing on Central and Western Lithuania, has been operating in Lithuania for the past 2 years and is delivering tangible results.

Genomika, a young but internationally renowned developer of advanced genetic technologies, was faced with the need to structure and protect large volumes of genetic data. The company’s processes for analysing genetic test data have so far lacked a standardised solution for data storage, processing and traceability.

Together with the EDIH4LT digital innovation centre team, the company has developed and implemented a standardised system with procedures to ensure the seamless storage, analysis and reproducibility of the data stream.

According to Dr. Lukas Žemaitis, co-founder of Genomika, the developed processes and described procedures have been implemented in the Confluence platform, which has solved the problems of data storage, backup, documentation and recording of experimental results.

“Large-scale genetic research processes are long-term and involve large volumes of data, so only clearly structured information can ensure the reliability of the data and the experiments. The system developed for the company ensures data availability and reproducibility regardless of staff turnover, computer system failures, or human error,” says Dr. L. Žemaitis.

According to Dr. Mindaugas Bulota, coordinator of the European Digital Innovation Centre for Central and Western Lithuania (EDIH4LT) and head of the KTU National Innovation and Business Centre (KTU NIVC), the development of genetic technologies in Lithuania opens up significant opportunities not only for the health sector, but also for the whole country.

“From an economic point of view, the development of genetic technologies promotes the growth of the biotechnology sector and the diffusion of innovation. In Lithuania, this field is developing rapidly and innovations based on genetic research can be exported, thus making a significant contribution to strengthening the country’s competitiveness in the international market. Investing in research and commercialisation of genetic technologies strengthens the country’s scientific potential, provides highly skilled jobs and attracts international projects. It is very gratifying that with the help of the Digital Innovation Centre, companies such as Genomika are able to improve the efficiency of their processes,” says Dr. M. Bulota.

Also, with the help and advice of EDIH4LT experts, a representative website was created for Genomika, which helps to present the company’s activities more effectively to the general public, establishes contacts with partners and strengthens communication with existing customers. In addition, by integrating the latest technologies and with the consent of the users of the website, the possibility of collecting data and providing valuable insights to improve the company’s performance was introduced.

Changing the routine of medical laboratories

SMO in Kaunas, worked with EDIH4LT experts to address one of the main challenges facing modern medical laboratories – improving the efficiency of routine, time-consuming work. Despite medical advances, many routine laboratory activities are still performed by humans, which limits the speed and efficiency of processes and increases the likelihood of errors. In order to automate these processes, EDIH4LT experts from KTU have implemented automation algorithms and developed an innovative RPA (Robotic Process Automation) platform that simplifies the coordination of research.

According to Ignas Galminas, CEO of SMO, the innovative platform not only integrates patient registration, sample documentation and logistics processes, but also automatically updates the status of tests, transmits the results to the customer and generates invoices.

“The system is currently in the testing phase, but it is already estimated that it has reduced the time needed to coordinate laboratory processes by around 30%. The system has allowed us to do away with the need to use different applications to carry out the process – prior to the automation, we used at least 6 different software tools at different stages. The current system allows everything to be done on a single platform”, said I.Galminas.

Increased efficiency and lower costs

Innovations such as the SMO laboratory automation platform and the Genomika data analysis system are becoming real-life examples of how the European Digital Innovation Centres initiative is contributing to the digitalisation of Lithuanian business. These hubs enable companies to grow and compete in the global marketplace, while fostering a culture of digital transformation and efficiency.

In order to further strengthen the competences of companies’ employees, the EDIH4LT Centre invites the representatives of Central and Western Lithuanian companies to gain knowledge on how to effectively develop an e-commerce website. The training will take place on 7 November. Vytautas Narbutas, head of the digital technology agency Tandemum, will share the best practices of e-shop development, including effective strategies and common mistakes that hinder successful e-shop development.

Lighthouse Innovation Centre promotes drone technology in Klaipeda
2024 November 25

On 27-28 November, Klaipėda will host a unique technology workshop “DroneLab: learn how to build a drone”, where, for the first time in Western Lithuania, all those interested in technology and innovation will have the opportunity to assemble their own drones, which will be a real help on the Ukrainian front. The event is organised by Lighthouse Digital Innovation Centre.

LTMilTech, headed by Algirdas Stonys, one of the five Lithuanian companies specialising in the production of defence drones, will provide full technical quality assurance during the workshop.

Innovation leadership in the Western Lithuania region is priority No. 1

The Lighthouse hub in Klaipėda is well known for its leadership in innovation and technology, for fostering the start-up ecosystem and for creating a vibrant community. The Digital Innovation Centre (DIC), which has been successfully operating in the Lighthouse Innovation and Business Campus for the past two years, is making a significant contribution to the digitisation of innovations in Western Lithuania and businesses across the region.

Drone collecting workshops have already been held in Vilnius and Kaunas, while Klaipėda has never hosted such an event. “After talking to the major social partners of DIC: Klaipėda City Municipality, Klaipėda Port Authority, we realised that the future strategic plans of the interested parties are closely linked to drone technologies. We also organised the first international EUDIS European Union Defence Hackathon in Klaipėda in the summer together with Kaunas University of Technology, and we missed more drone technology ideas from the participating teams. This made it even more of a priority to organise a drone assembly event” – said Mindaugas Kieža, CEO of Lighthouse Hub. Klaipėda is already an important hub for technology development in the Western region and such a hands-on skills development workshop will further contribute to the region’s innovation development.

Assembling drones – putting technology into practice

The Open Drone Workshop is open to everyone, regardless of their technical experience “If a person can assemble an IKEA chair, there will be no problems in the drone workshop – you just need to be thorough,” said Algirdas Stonys, the founder and head of the company LTMilTech, which will be curating both the theoretical and the practical parts of the drone event.

He said that it is very important to participate in the workshop organised by the Lighthouse Innovation Centre: the more people in Lithuania are aware of drone technology and its security applications, the more prepared the country will be for unexpected situations. “Klaipėda lacks a lot of offerings in this field, so the open and free workshop is a great opportunity for Klaipėda residents to get involved in the world of technology,” says A. Stonys.

Drones for Ukraine: a tangible gesture of support

The drones assembled at the workshop will be sent directly to Ukrainian troops to help them carry out various missions. Typically, up to ten drones are needed for an operation, so the number of drones collected during the workshop will be a significant contribution to the frontline.

On the battlefield, innovation and technological advances are becoming vital. As LTMilTech says, in the context of war, innovation means survival. “Innovation and logistics won World War II. Today it is even more important because technology literally saves lives,” says Algirdas Stonys. The company he heads has already delivered over 3,000 drones to Ukraine.

Drone workshop programme

On the first day of the event,  27  of November, there will be a 1.5-hour theoretical lecture on drones, open to all interested participants, during which they will learn all the key information on the technical composition, purpose and uses of drones, helping them to prepare for the workshop.

On 28 of November, a full-day workshop will be held where one stream of 6 participants will assemble 2 drones in 1 hour under the supervision of professional instructors. It is expected that during the whole workshop 5 streams of teams will collect a total of 10 drones. The event will end with a teleconference with the Ukrainian team, where the collected drones will be symbolically handed over. Certificates of appreciation will also be presented to all participating teams.

The Lighthouse Hub is part of the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) network, which helps businesses in the Western region to embrace digital technologies. The event is free of charge and funded by the European Union’s Industry 4.0 Lab Platform: DI4LithuanianID project. The Drone Workshop is open to teams of companies (up to 3 persons) with sufficient de minimis aid balance and no financial difficulties.

Registration for the event you can found here.

Digitalisation: everyone has heard, but knowledge is lacking
2023 December 07

Digitisation received generous attention during the coronavirus pandemic. Digital tools have become a means for many businesses and the public sector to maintain at least a modicum of normality. Everyone has said so much about digitisation that the understanding of its benefits in business and the public sector seems obvious.

However, the partners of the European Digital Innovation Centre’s DI4 Lithuanian ID project say that awareness still needs to be raised, while at the same time moving towards specific, individual problems and targeted training, practical testing of technologies and support for digitisation pilot projects.

A deeper understanding is needed

Although some digital tools were adapted during the coronavirus pandemic, such as remote meetings and digitisation of documents, that was mostly the end of the story. As experts say, it is just a change of form – from analogue, physical to digital.

From the fact that information is transferred from paper to digital form and sent by email, but then it is up to a human being to process it – to read it and take action, the process itself has not changed in the slightest and the real benefits of digitisation have not been felt by the organisation.

Digitisation is therefore a necessary but not a sufficient condition for digitisation, where digital technologies are applied to change certain processes. For example, by automating production, information reception, processing and response, where this does not require human decisions.

“Companies and organisations often do not have specific knowledge, although they have heard of digitisation and digitalisation, but do not know what it would mean for them and their processes”, says Mindaugas Bulota, Head of the National Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), the coordinator of the “DI4 Lithuanian ID” project.

According to him, a significant obstacle is also the natural resistance of employees, because in order for an organisation to use digital technologies to change certain processes, it has to learn, and additional activities arise. “In the beginning, you have to spend more time, more effort, but in the long term it helps to reduce costs,” he notes.

Benefits – and exchange of experience

The EU-funded DI4 Lithuanian ID project, which started a year ago and will continue for the next couple of years, aims to help businesses and organisations take those initial steps towards digital transformation.

The core competencies of the project consortium, which consists of 14 partners, are focused on artificial intelligence and cyber security, big data, automated BMS and WMS, smart sensors, robotics, IoT/IoIT, automation, VR/AR, and automated reporting.

The consortium operates in 5 sectors: manufacturing, public sector, healthcare and biotechnology, ICT and financial technology.

It starts with an introduction to the technologies, then goes deeper, exploring how specific problems can be solved with them.

“The interest is there. Around 150 companies have already participated in our training. They range from one person to large companies with 500 or more employees, as well as public sector bodies,” says the head of KTU’s National Centre for Innovation and Business.

“One of the most important benefits of these initial events and trainings is the opportunity to network with each other. Representatives of organisations come with a certain vision of digitalisation, and at the event they talk to their colleagues, share that vision, their practice and experience”, says M.Bulota.

He said that clients have very individual questions, which is why targeted meetings are organised in the later stages for companies to examine their specific cases.

Digitalisation in its various aspects

According to M.Bulota, the great value of the consortium is that its members cover the whole spectrum and clients can get not only the technological knowledge, but also the legal knowledge that is necessary for digitisation, and can look at potential investments from different angles.

“System integrators who are among the partners and who implement technological solutions on a daily basis can point out from their own experience what works, what to look out for, and what might not be valuable,” explains the head of the KTU’s National Centre for Innovation and Business.

The training and the development of certain solutions for testing are free of charge. “The aim is to give our clients the opportunity to test solutions and technologies before investing in them, to gain the necessary knowledge,” says Dovydas Zinkevičius, Director of Columbus Lietuva, one of the partners of “DI4 Lithuanian ID”.

According to him, the project programme provides an opportunity to clarify one’s need, helps to form a reasoned investment decision after trying one or another tool.

Some of the project’s clients have already matured into concrete implementations. “We hope to share good examples in the near future”, says D.Zinkevičius.

M.Bulota noted that it would be useful to provide support to companies in the later stages of digitisation, when pilot deployment projects are carried out on a limited scale. “This would further encourage digitisation in our industry, public sector and other organisations,” he noted.

 

  • https://edih4lt.com/ project offers training, educational programs, and digitalization services catered to the public and private sector in Central and Western Lithuania.
  • Other projects developed a set of trainings based on ENISA European Cybersecurity Skills Framework and made them available for wider audience.

With over 4000 Lithuanian organizations set to be impacted by the NIS2 directive. Thus, consolidation of existing tools, initiatives, projects and expertise in the field could significantly help in streamlining this challenging process and minimizing disruptions to business activities.

Open Digital Maturity Assessment

Events

2024-11-13 09:00
Digital Success: the Synthesis of Neuromarketing and AI

Improve your strategy – discover digital success today!

Imagine how your business could reach new heights with the power of artificial intelligence and neuromarketing insights. Today, this fusion is no longer just a vision of the future, but a real opportunity to deliver an effective, innovative approach to customer behaviour and marketing.

We invite you to a series of FREE trainings, which will take place from 13-27 November and will be focused on professionals in the Western Lithuania region looking for modern solutions and ways to increase brand influence and apply AI tools to achieve successful results.

The training will be conducted by:

Programme:

  • 13 November. | Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT and Automation with Antanas Bernatonis.
  • 15 November. November 18 | Email. Email Efficiency with Matas Pocius.
  • 18 November. | Neuromarketing and digital tools with Indrė Razbadauskaitė-Venskė.
  • 20 November. | Marketing 6.0 and the future of digital marketing with Benas Maslauskas.
  • 26 November. | Data-driven solutions with Radvilas Šeputis.

Full training programme here.

Find out how AI, neuromarketing and advanced digital tools can take your business to the next level!

To be approved for registration and to attend the training free of charge, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Your company must not be in financial difficulties;
  • The company has a sufficient de minimis aid balance (not having used EUR 300,000 in the last 3 years);
  • The company must be physically active in Western and Central Lithuania.

In order to verify the eligibility of the company, the following documents will have to be filled in: Single Company Declaration, SME Declaration, Hardship Assessment Table, Digital Maturity Questionnaire (which will be sent to you upon registration).

The registration form can be found here.

IMPORTANT: The number of participants is limited. Places are subject to completion of de minimis documents and confirmation. The training is funded by the European Union project “Industry 4.0 Lab Platform: DI4LithuanianID” (Training value 3000 EUR).

If you have any questions – sandra.liekyte@lighthouse.lt

Location: Lighthouse SIC, Liepų str. 83a, Klaipėda

Register and get ready to gain knowledge that will help your digital transformation!

2024-11-27 15:00
DroneLab: learn how to build a drone

Want to dive deep into digital technology and see how drones are made? The Lighthouse Digital Innovation Centre aims to promote a culture of innovation and invites you to join the DroneLab event, where you will not only learn how drones work, but also build one with your own hands!

This event is for all tech enthusiasts who want not only knowledge but also a real hands-on experience.

HOW WILL IT WORK?

Theory + practice

  • On 27 November from 15:00 to 16:30, we’ll dedicate to theory: you’ll learn all about drones, their working principles and real-life applications.
  • On 28 November from 8.00 to 16.00, it’s all for real! Throughout the day, we will hold a technology workshop where we will work together with veteran soldiers who fought in Ukraine to assemble drones for the frontline. Each team will be given a 1 hour slot. 16:00 Official closing of the event: thanks to the participating teams, music, snacks, drinks, networking

TECH PARTNERS

LTMilTech + Algirdas Stonys and 6 drone instructors = ultimate tech team. With their help and mediation, the drones you create will reach those who need them most.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE AND HOW TO REGISTER?

Participation is free for business teams of 3 people who meet the following criteria:

The registration form can be found here.

IMPORTANT: The number of participants is limited. Places are subject to completion of the de minimis documents and confirmation.

The event is funded by the European Union project Industry 4.0 Lab Platform: DI4LithuanianID.

Register now and be part of DroneLab! It’s not just a celebration of technology, it’s real help for those who defend freedom.

2024-11-25 09:00

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Registration you can found here.

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Registration form here.

IMPORTANT: The number of participants is limited to 30 places. Only 1 person per company or organisation can register. Places are confirmed by completing de minimis documents and receiving confirmation. The training is funded by the European Union project “Industry 4.0 Lab Platform: DI4LithuanianID”.

https://forms.gle/rVocBJ1LaQEtTtt5A

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To be confirmed and receive the training free of charge, you must meet the following criteria:

  • The company must not be in financial difficulties,
  • The company must have a physical presence in Western and Central Lithuania.

In order to verify the company’s eligibility for the registration of State aid, we will need to complete the following documents:

  • one company declaration,
  • declaration of the services received.

IMPORTANT: The number of participants is limited to 30 places. Places are subject to the completion of the State aid documents and confirmation. The training is partly funded by the European Union project Industry 4.0 Lab Platform: DI4LithuanianID.

Please hurry up and register, the number of places is limited.

Registration -> https://forms.gle/Hgq6134MVQmDiN5dA