Granada has been the venue for the inaugural meeting of the "AIR-Andalusia" project, an initiative backed by over 5 million euros aimed at promoting digitalization in Andalusia. The meeting, held with the participation of the University of Jaén and other consortium entities, marks the start of a program that will extend until January 2029, seeking to accelerate the digital transformation of SMEs, mid-caps, and public administrations in Andalusia. "AIR-Andalusia" is part of the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH), specializing in Artificial Intelligence and Applied Robotics, and is coordinated by the AI Granada Research & Innovation Foundation. The project, co-financed 50% by the European Union through the Digital Europe Program, has received the "Seal of Excellence" from the European Commission, solidifying its role as a benchmark in digital innovation in southern Europe. Pedro González, a representative of the University of Jaén and deputy director of the Andalusian Interuniversity Institute for Data Science and Computational Intelligence (DaSCI), stated that UJA will provide consulting services, technical assistance, and training in AI and data science to Andalusian companies, administrations, and tech startups, aiming to accelerate their digital transformation. One of the key agreements from the meeting is that in April 2026, the list of services and prices will be validated, and the first call will be launched to select companies and public entities interested in joining the hub. The project plans five closed calls over 36 months, prioritizing initial recruitment to maximize support and impact on participating entities. Among its goals until 2029, it aims to support 1,330 entities and assist over 2,000 SMEs. The initiative will cover all of Andalusia and aligns with the regional strategy S4Andalucía, prioritizing sectors such as sustainable agri-food, smart industry, health, biotechnology, sustainable tourism, circular economy, and renewable energies. After this technical meeting, the consortium will officially present the project to the Andalusian business and institutional ecosystem on March 23. Source: diariojaen.es