The European project DIVA has been awarded the prize "Les étoiles de l'Europe" in the innovation category from the French Ministry of Research and Innovation, during the forum of Horizon Europe in Paris, celebrated last December 2021. This honorary award recognizes and highlights the work carried out by this project that contributes to the digitization of the agrifood, environmental and forestry sectors in Europe. The award was received by the project coordinator, the French Agri-Sud Ouest Innovation cluster.

DIVA aimed to provide support to the emergence and development of new industrial digitech value chains with applications to the agro-food, forestry and environment sectors.

The European label of DIVA supported 134 projects involving 180 SMEs or start-ups located in 9 European countries. It provided visibility and credibility to attract investors and 34 SMEs benefited from an equity investment worth 3,9 M€. Adding the 4,8 M€ budget investment made by the SMEs, this represents a total of 8,4 M€ of private investment, that is a leverage effect of 3,1 for the EC investment (2,7 M€ grant).

Recommendations to encourage SMEs and to improve support mechanisms have been produced also. DIVA contributed to creating dynamics that find an echo at regional and European level. The Digital Innovation Hub (e-DIH) initiative will typically build on some of the DIVA regional actions. The community will be further valorised through the Green Deal and Horizon Europe programs to meet the European digital transformation and environmental sustainability objectives.

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