African European Digital Innovation Bridge Network (AEDIB|NET)

AEDIB|NET’s vision is to strengthen digital innovation ecosystems in Africa and bridge them to Europe to shape a single African-European Market for Digital Innovation. Three main elements support the process:

Inspire!  - First, partners develop an innovation support framework with policymakers to build capacity for marginalised groups and to incentivise ecosystem actors. A Digital Entrepreneur Skills Academy will strengthen the entrepreneurial and digital skills of start-ups and build their capacity.

Create!  - Digital innovation by SMEs and start-ups will be promoted through the establishment of African Digital Innovation Hubs (ADIHs), virtual marketplaces and investor networks. The ADIHs will focus on four themes: Climate smart agriculture, smart cities, digital commerce and clean technologies.

Connect! - Promoting dialogue and partnerships between European business angels and Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) and facilitating access to finance are other building blocks in the project. The vision is for European and African digital innovation actors to work together in a common transcontinental innovation ecosystem.

The Steinbeis Europa Zentrum takes on the following tasks as communication partner:

• Project branding and communication (website, social media, etc.)
• Public relations to increase the local, regional and global visibility of the opportunities for digital innovative start-ups.
• Management of the AEDIB|NET Innovation Portal, the main infrastructure for knowledge sharing within the project ecosystem.

AEDIB|NET is funded by Horizon 2020 (grant agreement no. 101017105) under the broader policy initiative AEDIB. 14 partners from African and European countries are involved, including SMEs, investor networks as well as policy actors and think tanks.

Project Duration: 02/2021-01/2024

Participating Countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland

EU-Funding: 4.88 Mio Euro