The RODIN (RObotics Digital Innovation Network) project is a pan-European network of networks aiming to bring together European Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) in robotics. Funded under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 framework programme, RODIN helps robotics DIH networks to cooperate to strengthen the competitiveness of the European robotics market.
The RODIN project was launched as a result of the European Commission’s call to develop a sustainable ecosystem of robotics stakeholders. RODIN coordinates activities within four Priority Application Areas (PAAs) that are considered important for existing and emerging market segments with a potential of further robotization: Healthcare, Agile Production, Infrastructure Inspection and Maintenance, and Agri-food. The European Commission granted at least one project, called Innovation Action, in each area to build a network of specialised DIHs.
DIH-HERO focuses on healthcare robotics, DIH² and TRINITY work in agile production. RIMA concentrates on inspection and maintenance of infrastructure, while AgROBOfood aims at building an European ecosystem for the effective adoption of robotics technologies in the agri-food sector. The project also coordinates communication and outreach activities, and promotes the open calls that are issued by the Innovation Actions to support industry, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in their digital transformation. This support is done, for instance, via demonstrators and platforms development, technology transfer experiments, or other services. The first calls are being launched mid-2019.