Pandemic, war, climate change, staff shortages - since 2020, we have arrived in a new age of crisis that presents companies with particularly large, diverse and simultaneous challenges. We are convinced that those companies whose business model transformation encompasses the three pillars of digitalization, sustainability and resilience will be fit for the future in the long term.

The trend towards the digital transformation of the economy and society poses major challenges for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and requires them to take measures to adapt to the changes brought about by advancing digitalization. Due to limited human and monetary resources, SMEs not only in the Hamburg metropolitan region have a great need for support in the implementation of digitalization projects.

The aim of the project is to sensitize SMEs to the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation and to create the technical and methodological skills for the implementation of digitalization projects in these companies. To achieve these goals, the project consists of four task areas: Informing, Qualifying, Implementing and Networking.

The Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Hamburg offers various formats in these areas, providing information about barriers, potentials and success factors in the use of digital technologies and showing possible ways to implement digitalization projects in companies. The center's offerings range from information events for an initial introduction, workshops and training courses to individual company support as part of implementation projects.

The Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Hamburg is one of more than 25 Mittelstand-Digital Centers nationwide. These are part of the "Mittelstand-Digital" funding priority, which is supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate (BMWK). The Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Hamburg is aimed in particular at small and medium-sized companies in the Hamburg metropolitan region and supports them in the implementation of digitalization projects. The consortium leader of the center in Hamburg and central contact for companies is the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce Service GmbH (HK). Further project partners in the Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Hamburg are (in addition to HK & TUHH): The Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW) and the Hamburg Chamber of Crafts (HWK). Further information is available on the project homepage (https://www.kompetenzzentrum-hamburg.digital).

The EDIHHamburg is a European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) - embedded in the network of EDIHs - with a focus on the Hamburg metropolitan region.

The aim of EDIHHamburg is to equip small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), mid-sized companies and public sector organizations (PSOs) in the Hamburg metropolitan region in particular for the challenges of tomorrow. The requirements for critical infrastructures are changing and new solutions need to be evaluated and implemented - from general digitalization issues to cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, distributed infrastructure and high-performance computing.

Hamburg, known worldwide not only as an important European logistics and business location, but also as an award-winning "Smart City", offers both the expertise and the network to meet these challenges. Our group of 6 local partners, including universities, trades, industrial centers and technology organizations, offer our target group a wide range of services - and thus strengthen the ecosystem in a targeted and efficient manner.