The first ERNACT network management meeting outside Europe takes place in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada), on the 18th and 19th October, kindly hosted and organised by our core member the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Located in the Atlantic, our Canadian partners are uniquely positioned to act as a digital transformation innovation cooperation bridge between Europe, North America and the Arctic. Its credentials are attested to by its
world-class Ocean and Arctic tech cluster and natural energy resources (including gas and hydro), as well as strengths in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Medtech.
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador have been active members of the ERNACT network for a number of years and are currently participating in a number digital innovation projects in ocean tech, public services and tourism.
ERNACT General Manager Colm McColgan explains that the meeting has provided an opportunity for the European-based ERNACT regions and cities to study the
digital transformation development ecosystem of Newfoundland and Labrador. He mentions that the network also aims to,
"increase collaboration between universities from the ERNACT regions and cities and their participation in the network's projects". In that way, in parallel to the main meeting, an Inter-University Collaboration Roundtable was organised between representatives from Canadian, Finnish and Slovenian universities. In addition, core members have had the opportunity to e
xplore participation by Newfoundland and Labrador organisations in digitalisation projects being developed by the ERNACT network for the EU and Canadian innovation programmes.
Furthermore, during the ERNACT meeting a new Chairperson was elected, Jorge Muyo, General Director of Innovation, Technology Development and Industrial Entrepreneurship at Cantabrian Government (Spain), who has taken it over from Brian Boyle, Head of Information Systems in Donegal County Council (Ireland) and Director of the ERNACT EEIG Board of Management.
One of the highlights of the first ERNACT management meeting outside Europe was the visit to an historic location regarding communications triumph between Canada and Europe during the past century: the
Signal Hill National Historic Site.
Overlooking to the city of St John's, the first transatlantic wireless transmission was received here on the 12 December 1901.
Stay tuned for more digital transformation innovation and research linkages updates between Newfoundland and Labrador and the ERNACT European regions and cities.