In 2023, EIT Digital started fully implementing the strategy to strengthen its reputation and position as the leading EU multi-stakeholder collaboration platform for digital technologies, mobilising and deploying private and public funding to address the top priorities on innovation and skills of the European Union. In this framework, we started to actively build and join consortia with our partners for European, national and regional calls dealing with digital innovation and skills. In addition, we opened to the broader EU ecosystem by joining important industrial alliances and coalitions.
These strategic decisions proved highly successful, not only creating new funding opportunities that reinforced our financial sustainability but also strengthening our ecosystem by connecting us with new partners across Europe and beyond. In 2023, we were awarded a total of 15 projects, predominantly from the Horizon Europe and Digital Europe Programme, securing over €100M in funding for our partner network.
One of our greatest strengths lies in facilitating interchange between the business network and the EU digital innovation ecosystem. Our pan-European network uniquely positions us to act as a two-way channel between the public and private sectors. In 2023, we continued our geographical expansion by opening new regional offices in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) and Thessaloniki (Greece). We also renewed external financing for our Edinburgh office and signed a Letter of Intent for opening a regional office in Riga (Latvia). As a result of our efforts in 2023, we inaugurated our 23rd office in Athens, Greece, in January 2024.
We also strengthened our connections with the European digital industry by joining the European Green Digital Coalition and the VR/AR Industrial Coalition. I was honoured to be appointed by DG Connect as a member of the European Multi-Stakeholder Platform on ICT standardization, advising European institutions on ICT standardization policies. Furthermore, we entered strategic collaborations with the AI, Data and Robotics Association (ADRA) and the European Business Angel Network (EBAN). These memberships not only provide new delivery channels for our partners and services but also enable us to influence future European digital industry, technology, and skills policies.
Our innovation and education programmes continued to deliver significant value to our community, with more students and learners joining our education programmes and graduating from our Master School. We added new equity positions to our investment portfolio and closed successful fundraising deals for top European scaleups through our growth services. More details on our 2023 activities and results are further presented in this annual report.
On a personal note, 2023 was a significant year for me as I was formally appointed as the new CEO of EIT Digital in March. I am deeply honoured by this appointment and grateful to the Supervisory Board and our Chairman, Linnar Viik, for their trust. This transition marks a pivotal moment for EIT Digital, as we continue to strengthen our position as Europe’s largest ecosystem for digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and skills development. Our focus remains on expanding our pan-European partnership of Corporates, Universities, SMEs, and RTOs, growing our regional footprint, and supporting EU policy priorities through our innovation and entrepreneurial education programmes.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our members, partners, customers, students, and other stakeholders, as well as the EIT Digital employees, for a successful and productive year in 2023. I look forward to working even more closely with all of you in 2024, which will also mark the conclusion of our legacy collaboration setup with our mother organisation, the European Institute of Technology and Innovation (EIT). Our new relationship with EIT will be formalized in a Memorandum of Collaboration.
Federico Menna
CEO
EIT Digital IVZW
