<< Objectives >>Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the key technologies of digital transformation offering huge potential for all kinds of organizations. However, in contrast to large enterprises, SMEs lag behind as highly skilled experts are very scarce and AI use cases in SMEs are largely unknown. CoDeAI tackles this challenge by facilitating the collaboration between research institutions having the AI skills and transferring them to their students and SMEs having the need to build AI capabilities.<< Implementation >>CoDeAI aims at leveraging SMEs' AI-based innovation capability by investigating the AI deployment using recent productivity tools like AutoML and supporting the co-creation of AI-based data-driven business models. CoDeAI will implement technology feasibility studies with the goal of developing AI use cases and success stories for SMEs, investigating the knowledge demand of SMEs regarding the AI deployment using productivity tools and incorporating AI capabilities in universities’ curricula.<< Results >>CoDeAI extends the successful finished project VOIL: (1) The digital transformation toolkit is extended by the AI capability perspective and in particular the maturity assessment is extended by a benchlearning methodology for digitalization strategy. (2) The joint innovation space is extended to facilitate AI-based co-creation of innovations. The result will be an extended co-creation platform focusing on higher education and entrepreneurial learning and increasing AI capabilities for students.