Following recognition as a Digital Innovation Hub in June 2021, Digital Innovation Hub CONNECT5 presented its application to the European Commission within the scope of the Digital Europe Program on the 22nd of February.

CONNECT5 focuses on the area of connectivity and data (from the source of the data to its processing) and is composed of 12 entities specialized in the areas of information, communication, and electronic technologies, namely the TICE.PT Cluster, the Interface Centers CeiiA and Instituto de Telecomunicações, Colab DTx and higher education institutions the 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 the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria. 

The first meeting of the CONNECT5 General Council took place on the 15th of February, where the President and the Executive Committee were elected. Drª. Helena Vala of the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu was elected to the presidency of the General Council of CONNECT5. The Executive Committee is made up of the TICE.PT Cluster, the Instituto de Telecomunicações, the University of Aveiro, and the University of Beira Interior.

Based on knowledge, experience, and technological infrastructures in the areas of Cyber-Physical Systems, IoT, 5G, Cloud, BigData/Analytics and also supported in the areas of knowledge of Artificial Intelligence, High-Performance Computing, Cybersecurity, and Business Innovation, CONNECT5 enables the transfer of fundamental skills to the digital transformation of the target customers of its services (SMEs and Public Administration), as well as the creation and strengthening of value chains in the EU, which are essential for competitiveness and social cohesion at national and European level.