Funding Program: The Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Hamburg is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as part of the Mittelstand-Digital Network.

Project Focus Areas:

Raising Awareness & Providing Information

• Informing about the opportunities and risks of digitalization

• Introduction to technologies and process automation

Qualifying & Empowering

• Practice-oriented training sessions, workshops, and consultation hours

• Building digital and technological competencies among employees and managers

Testing & Implementing

• Implementation of digitalization projects

• Demonstrating practical applications and the benefits of digital solutions

Focus on Artificial Intelligence

• Implementation of the nationwide AI trainer program

• Strengthening AI readiness and promoting the practical use of AI in companies

Networking & Knowledge Transfer

• Active participation in the nationwide Mittelstand-Digital network

• Vendor-neutral, free-of-charge services and promotion of peer exchange

The project consortium brings together five partners from Hamburg who combine their diverse expertise from academia, business, and the skilled crafts sector to successfully advance the project:

• Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, DE

• Hamburg Chamber of Skilled Crafts, DE

• Hamburg University of Technology, DE

• Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, DE (associated partner)

• Logistics Initiative Hamburg, DE (associated partner)

Within the framework of the project, the Logistics Initiative Hamburg assumes a key operational role and contributes its many years of experience in cluster management as well as its extensive network. As an associated partner of the Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Hamburg, it supports the center in tailoring its services specifically to the needs of the logistics sector. In addition, it is involved in organizing joint events, workshops, and information formats in order to promote innovation, digitalization, and knowledge transfer within the industry and to anchor these sustainably within the network.

Digitalization is fundamentally transforming business models, work processes, and value chains. For small and medium-sized enterprises in particular, it offers enormous opportunities – but also complex challenges. Many companies are aware that digital technologies can increase efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness. At the same time, they often lack the expertise, human resources, or clear strategies needed to effectively leverage this potential.

The Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Hamburg supports small and medium-sized enterprises in the Hamburg metropolitan region with a hands-on approach throughout all phases of digital transformation – from awareness-raising and knowledge transfer to qualification and the concrete implementation of digitalization projects. It brings together the expertise of regional partners from business, academia, and public administration, and fosters exchange and networking among companies to enable mutual learning and cooperation.

The center addresses key aspects of digital transformation:

• AI and AI readiness programs

• Digital strategies for business development

• Digital networking

• Profitability and resilience

• Work 4.0: leadership, organization, and skilled workforce

• Sustainability through digitalization

• Digitalization in craft enterprises

The objective of the funding program is to:

• bring knowledge of digital technologies and their applications into companies,

• build competencies to strategically shape digitalization processes,

• strengthen AI readiness by enabling companies to identify AI potential, assess opportunities and risks, and implement initial AI applications,

• make technologies tangible and support their implementation,

• and strengthen regional networks that integrate digitalization, sustainability, and innovation.

The center also flexibly addresses emerging topics relevant to digitalization and applies a comprehensive transfer approach: information events, presentations, and publications make the opportunities and risks of digitalization tangible; training and professional development programs strengthen digital skills; demonstrators and pilot projects enable hands-on testing of technologies; and individual consulting supports concrete implementation. In this way, digitalization is not only explained but made directly accessible and actionable for companies.

The project has not yet been completed. Project progress and results are regularly published on the official project website.