The consortium Connect5 was officialized on September 22nd, 2021, with the protocol signing session held at the University of Aveiro.

The agreement formalizes a partnership between 12 partners: Instituto de Telecomunicações (IT) and the CeiiA Interface Centers, Pole of Digital Innovation, composed of Cluster TICE.PT, the Colab DTx, and the higher education institutions: University of Aveiro, University of Beira Interior, University of Coimbra, University of Minho, University of Porto, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, and Polytechnic of Leiria.

This set of actors will allow deepening and transmitting know-how in terms of the digital transformation of SMEs and public administration, leveraged on digital technologies, namely in 5G, Cloud, IoT, BigData/analytics, and cyber-physical systems and supported in areas of knowledge such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), High-Performance Computing and Cybersecurity.

IT is also a member of PTCentroDiH, which was recognized by the Portuguese Government as a Digital Innovation Hub, allowing its candidacy to be recognized as EDiH (European Digital Innovation Hub).

PTCentroDiH integrates the Region's Clusters, Universities, Polytechnic Institutes, as well as some of the main regional R&D Centers. The PTCentroDiH consortium is, therefore, in a leading position to identify the main needs and technological requirements of the region's stakeholders and provide adequate services in "Testing before investing", "Skills and training", "Support to find investment" and " Innovation and networking ecosystem”.

The network of recognized Digital Innovation Hubs will be interconnected with the European Network of Digital Innovation Hubs to be promoted by the European Commission within the scope of the European framework programs for 2021-2027.

Official pages of the hubs: 

https://www.ptcentrodih.pt/en/

https://connect5.pt/