INFAB HUB holds its kick-off meeting and embarks on a new phase as a European cross-border digital innovation hub

• The INFAB HUB held its launch meeting at the Asime headquarters in Vigo, marking the start of a new phase as the only cross-border European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) between Galicia and northern Portugal.
• The project will strengthen its focus on artificial intelligence, integrating it as a cross-cutting theme across all its services to drive the digital transformation of industry.
• During the period 2026–2029, the hub will provide businesses with access to advanced technologies, specialist knowledge, funding and European innovation resources.

Today, Tuesday 2 June, the Asime headquarters in Vigo hosted the INFAB HUB kick-off meeting this morning, officially marking the start of a new phase for this European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) – the only one recognised in Galicia and the first of its kind to be cross-border between Spain and Portugal.

The event brought together the project’s beneficiary partners—ASIME, CAG (Galician Aeronautical Consortium), CITMAGA, FEUGA, the University of Vigo, the University of A Coruña, MeraSys and Cuatro Digital—for a strategic meeting aimed at sharing the hub’s vision, strengthening collaboration between organisations and aligning the objectives and lines of action that will guide its development over the next three years.

A new phase to drive digitalisation

The opening address was given by Justo Sierra, president of INFAB HUB, who emphasised that “the project’s mission is to support industrial companies in Galicia and northern Portugal in their digital transformation process, facilitating the adoption of advanced technologies, improving their competitiveness and providing access to new opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence, process digitalisation, technological innovation and funding for business growth”.

During the meeting, the strategic importance of this new phase was highlighted, in which INFAB HUB consolidates its role as a key node within the European network of Digital Innovation Hubs, designed to bring advanced technologies to companies and accelerate their digital transformation.

This recognition strengthens Galicia’s position within the European innovation ecosystem and enables the Galician business community to connect with technological capabilities, specialist knowledge, leading-edge infrastructure and opportunities for international collaboration.

In the same vein, Luz López, technical secretary of INFAB HUB, emphasised that “being the only recognised European Digital Innovation Hub in Galicia allows us to connect our companies with the European innovation ecosystem and bring the opportunities offered by technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation and advanced digitalisation closer to our business community”.

The meeting marks the starting point for the coordinated launch of the hub’s services, the consolidation of joint work between partners, and the transfer of opportunities to the business communities of Galicia and northern Portugal. The aim is for industrial SMEs to find in INFAB HUB a strategic ally for incorporating technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital twins, automation and cybersecurity, thereby enhancing their competitiveness and innovation.

Six lines of action

INFAB HUB’s activities for the next three years are structured around six Work Packages, led by different partner organisations and developed collaboratively by the entire consortium. This structure allows the specialised knowledge of universities, technology centres, business associations and innovative companies to be combined, offering industrial SMEs a comprehensive portfolio of digital transformation services.

Key activities include specialist consultancy to guide companies’ digitalisation processes. Through this service, the technological needs of each organisation will be analysed, prospective studies will be carried out, strategic advice will be provided, and access to public and private funding opportunities will be facilitated to drive innovation projects.

INFAB HUB will also promote the convergence of technologies, encouraging the combination of different digital solutions and industrial expertise to develop, validate and integrate new tools into companies’ production processes.

Finally, SMEs will have access to advanced facilities and demonstration environments where they can test technologies, validate digital products and services under real-world conditions, and assess their potential before making investments, thereby reducing the risks associated with digital transformation.

A specialised consortium serving the industry

During the event, the role of each of the partner organisations in launching the project was highlighted.

Diego García from Cuatro Digital emphasised that the project offers SMEs “facilities and tools for their digitalisation”, highlighting in particular the hub’s practical approach, which allows them to “test before purchasing technological solutions”.

For his part, Daniel Llanueva from the University of Vigo explained that his work focuses on coordinating training, structured around seminars and short courses, as well as participating in proof-of-concept testing, prototyping and technology watch.

MeraSys highlighted its role as a technology partner, contributing capabilities for technological adaptation and service monitoring in the development of the projects.

In the case of CITMAGA, Rubén Galloso pointed out that the project will enable Galician SMEs to access advanced mathematical technologies such as simulations, statistical models, optimisation and digital twins.

Finally, FEUGA highlighted the strategic value of the project for small businesses and its role in securing public and private funding, with the aim of facilitating their digitalisation processes.

INFAB HUB: a cross-border digital innovation hub

INFAB HUB is the industrial Digital Innovation Hub of the Galicia–Northern Portugal Euroregion and the first cross-border digital innovation hub in this region. Its aim is to drive the digital transformation of the industrial sector through the adoption of advanced technologies that enhance the competitiveness, resilience and innovative capacity of businesses.

The project focuses on four strategic sectors: automotive, metalworking and transport; aeronautics and aerospace; shipbuilding and maritime; and textiles and fashion. To this end, it offers specialised services that facilitate the integration of solutions such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), digital twins, robotics, cybersecurity, data analytics and 3D printing.

INFAB HUB is supported by business organisations, universities, technology centres and innovative companies from Galicia and northern Portugal, which are collaborating to accelerate the industrial digitalisation of the Euroregion.

Recognised by the European Commission with the Seal of Excellence, the hub is approaching the 2026–2029 period with an enhanced offering and a primary focus on artificial intelligence, based on the creation of collaborative ecosystems, the validation of technologies prior to investment, digital skills training and access to funding.