Manufacturing & Supply Chain

AIM Centre has been named the European Winner in the ‘Supporting the Digital Transition’ category at the European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) 2025, held during the recent SME Assembly in Copenhagen, Denmark. This prestigious European recognition celebrates AIM Centre’s leadership in helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Ireland embrace digital transformation – empowering them not only to adopt new technologies but to actively innovate, market, and grow their businesses through advanced digital tools and services.

Organised by the European Commission, the European Enterprise Promotion Awards recognise exceptional initiatives that promote entrepreneurship and support SMEs at local, regional, national, and European levels. Since 2006, the EEPAs have highlighted hundreds of inspiring projects that contribute to economic growth and innovation across Europe. To be named the European Winner in 2025 reflects AIM Centre’s continued commitment to building a digitally capable and competitive enterprise landscape in Ireland.

Driving Innovation and Empowering SMEs
At the heart of Ireland’s northwest, AIM Centre provides mentoring, digital skills programmes, and innovation support to help SMEs adopt technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation, and data analytics. The Centre works directly with businesses to turn digital ambition into real transformation – ensuring that digitalisation becomes an embedded, sustainable part of how enterprises grow and compete. The EEPA jury recognised AIM Centre’s success in helping rural and regional businesses digitise their services, explore new markets, and connect with customers around the world.

Celebrating European Recognition
In August this year, AIM Centre was named the National Winner in the same category, earning the honour of representing Ireland at the European finals. Now, securing the European title places AIM Centre among Europe’s most impactful enterprise initiatives, showcasing how Ireland’s northwest has become a hub for digital innovation and collaboration.

Speaking about the win, Julie Dowling, CEO of AIM Centre, said: “We are absolutely delighted and deeply honoured to be recognised at a European level for our work in supporting digital transformation among Ireland’s SMEs. Digital transformation isn’t just about technology – it’s about people, communities, and creating opportunities for sustainable growth. We’re proud to help enterprises of all sizes and locations turn innovation into real, lasting impact.”

Acknowledgements
AIM Centre extends its sincere thanks to Sligo County Council for their continued support and collaboration throughout the awards process. The Centre also acknowledges its founding partners – Leitrim County Council, Atlantic Technological University, and Enterprise Ireland – whose guidance and partnership have been instrumental in scaling the initiative’s impact across Ireland. Finally, AIM Centre thanks the businesses, partners, and community members who form the heart of its network. This award is a shared success, celebrating the collective effort to build a stronger, more digitally empowered future for Irish enterprise.

The AIM Centre is at the forefront of Advanced Innovation in Manufacturing and Supply Chain. Its ambition is to assist with a range of challenges emerging from Industry 4.0. The AIM Centre engages SME’s and Industry to provide expertise and facilities, with an overarching goal of assisting organisations in bringing their companies into the digitised era. The AIM Centre plays to its strengths and diversity, utilising multi-disciplinary teams whom are multicultural and multi-lingual hold PhD’s, are published authors, patent holders, lecturers and overall are experts in advanced technology. For further information visit www.aimcentre.ie.

CAPTION:

Julie Dowling and Mary Harty accepting the Award on behalf of the AIM Centre.