Digitalzh 2.0: Supporting Industrial SMEs in Safe and Scalable Digitalisation

Security Delta (HSD) is proud to have joined Digitalzh 2.0 as a coalition partner.  This strengthens collaboration within the region and creates more opportunities to support SMEs in taking the next steps in their digitalisation.

Digitalisation offers huge potential for industrial SMEs, but navigating the path from exploration to implementation can be challenging. Digitalzh has shown over the past years that focused support helps SMEs take practical digital steps. In its first phase, more than 1,000 entrepreneurs explored digital possibilities, and hundreds of companies received guidance on digitalisation challenges, often leading to concrete follow-up actions in their own operations.

Building on these results, Digitalzh has now entered its next phase: Digitalzh 2.0, supported by the European Commission, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the Province of South Holland. In this phase, the focus shifts explicitly to the application and scaling of digital technology in the industrial SME sector, while ensuring that these solutions are secure and resilient.

Strengthening Digital Resilience in SMEs

In this new phase, Digitalzh 2.0 enables industrial SMEs to explore and implement digital solutions securely and sustainably. Companies, in key sectors such as manufacturing, maritime & ports, and horticulture,  can test solutions on a small scale in realistic environments, guided by independent experts and field labs such as RoboHouse. This hands-on approach allows entrepreneurs to experiment, learn, and gain confidence before making larger investments, while also benefiting from access to digital expertise, test environments, and cybersecurity support.

As part of this cybersecurity support, HSD provides practical services to help SMEs strengthen their cybersecurity and digital resilience:

• Cyber Resilience Action Plan: A thorough baseline assessment of your cybersecurity, with a clear report and actionable recommendations. It highlights system vulnerabilities and offers guidance to strengthen digital resilience, including preparation for NIS2 legislation and future requirements.
• Secure by Design Action Plan: Specialist analysis of your product design’s cybersecurity, providing targeted advice to improve security and support compliance with the European Cyber Resilience Act.
• Workshops: Hands-on sessions where SMEs actively work on cybersecurity, covering topics such as Operational Technology (OT) and Secure-by-Design principles.

Collaboration in the Region

Digitalzh 2.0 is carried out by a consortium of knowledge institutions, innovation ecosystems, and industry associations, including:

• InnovationQuarter, coordinating the programme and connecting companies with relevant expertise in regional and European networks.
• TU Delft, Duurzaamheidsfabriek, and Dutch Innovation Factory, providing technological knowledge and access to test environments.
• Industry organisations such as FME and Koninklijke Metaalunie, ensure a strong link to entrepreneurs' practical needs.
• Security Delta, contributing expertise in cybersecurity and digital resilience to help ensure that digitalisation efforts are secure, reliable, and compliant with emerging regulations.

Together, these partners aim to ensure that digital technologies deliver real value in the everyday practice of industrial SMEs, combining innovation with security and sustainability.

Read here the full article on Digitalzh.