The SME Digital Center Magdeburg supports businesses, especially SMEs, in their digital transformation. The approach combines informing, qualifying, implementing, and networking to specifically promote companies with limited experience in digital technologies.
The center focuses on five main areas:
- Digital Business Models: Design of innovative value propositions and new revenue mechanisms.
- Sustainable Automation & Networking: Development of digital products and services, resource-efficient infrastructures.
- IT Strategies and Security: Support for the introduction and restructuring of digital systems.
- Acceptance & Organization: Support for operational change processes.
- AI and Machine Learning: Basic understanding and support for AI applications.
These focus areas contribute to a total of 13 “support and networking paths” and are supported by various formats such as lectures, workshops, e-learning units, and interactive demonstrators. This also includes innovative concepts such as the “Elbfabrik,” a 20 million-euro demonstration infrastructure, and a playful escape room.
The support services for companies are structured in:
- Inform: Providing insights into the services through digitalization tastings and consultations.
- Qualify: 23 workshops, 9 seminars, 1 simulation game, and 2 blended learning offerings.
- Implement: Potential analyses and technology roadmaps, continuation in flagship projects.
- Networking: Experimental formats for connecting SMEs with the IT industry.
The center is part of the working group “Mitteldeutschland / Ostsee,” which includes 8 centers in the eastern German region. It actively works on networking regional and transregional centers. This includes joint on-site events in border areas between individual centers to encourage SMEs to take advantage of offerings from neighboring centers.
Participations:
Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg
Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF
Other partners:
Mittelstand-Digital Center Chemnitz
Mittelstand-Digital Center Ilmenau
Center for Product, Process, and Process Innovation GmbH
Institute for Automation and Communication e.V.
Chamber of Crafts Magdeburg
Project duration: 01.08.2022 – 31.07.2025
Founding provider: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
Link to the Website: https://www.mittelstand-digital.de/MD/Redaktion/DE/Artikel/Mittelstand-4-0/mittelstand-40-kompetenzzentren.html
