Digitalization has already reached industrial SMEs – not as a vision, but as a daily challenge. More complex products, rising customer expectations, and the need for more efficient processes are colliding with a new wave of momentum around AI. For many companies, this means taking action while keeping day-to-day operations running.
At the DIGITAL HUB INDUSTRY Bremen, one thing becomes clear again and again: SMEs are not looking for more abstract talk about digitalization. They need spaces for honest conversations about real challenges — spaces where companies can learn from one another, share what works, and take the next steps together.
That is exactly why the Next Level Mittelstand HUB NORD now exists — located here with us at the DHI.
Why the HUB NORD matters
On April 23, 2026, the HUB NORD was officially launched during LEAD 2026 by Next Level Mittelstand together with encoway. For us as a hub, this marks an important step, as it addresses exactly where many companies find themselves today: between insight and implementation.
Many SMEs already know they need to become more digital. The real question is: how can this be achieved within ongoing operations? How can AI, automation, or digital sales processes be introduced in a way that supports teams, better reaches customers, and creates real business impact? There are rarely standard answers. But it helps to connect with others facing similar challenges.
LEAD 2026 showed how much momentum can emerge when SMEs, technology partners, and startups enter into open dialogue. Across keynotes, workshops, and spontaneous conversations, the focus was less on ready-made answers and more on honest insights: What is already working? Where are the sticking points? And how can we move into implementation faster?
You can find more impressions and voices in encoway’s original article (German only): https://www.encoway.de/news/eroeffnung-des-hub-nord-auf-der-lead-2026/
Bremen as a place to move from concept to action
The fact that the HUB NORD is located at the DIGITAL HUB INDUSTRY Bremen fits our ambition: we bring together industry, startups, science, and digital talent to turn ideas into concrete applications.
Especially in Northern Germany, many companies are working through similar transformation questions. The HUB NORD creates a shared meeting point for them – close to practice, open to new perspectives, and focused on practical solutions.
What happens next
With the HUB NORD, a new space for collaboration within the SME community is taking shape at the hub. Here, you can bring your questions, share experiences, and connect with others facing similar challenges – from AI in business and smart manufacturing to digital product communication. We look forward to welcoming companies that want to exchange ideas, learn from others, and gain new impulses.
Want to join the community?
Explore membership with Next Level Mittelstand and add your perspective to a network focused on turning ideas into action.
Want to connect first?
Reach out to DIGITAL HUB INDUSTRY Bremen. We’re happy to get to know you and explore how you can best become part of the innovation ecosystem.
