With great participation and commitment by DEN4DEK partners, the project Kick-off meeting was successful in integrating project partners to the Digital Ecosystems Community.

The highlights of the presentations done by Project Partners are detailed below. The presentations are available for downloading by clicking on link of interest

Foundation for the Promotion of Industrial Quality and Technological Development of Galicia

Antonio Pérez Casas gave a presentation of XUNTA, including general activities by the Foundation. He also presented the highlights of the ‘Strategic Plan of the Information Society of Galicia’. DEN4DEK fits well in two of the Sectoral Strategies of the Plan: Development of the business sector of the Information Society (1); and ICT applications for business (EMPR) (2). The region of Galicia has also been very active in promoting ICT use in the private sector; including open source, interoperability and free and open knowledge in an innovative way. Antonio also presented the ‘Plan PEME Galega’ in the support of Galician SMEs.

Antonio introduced Juan Antonio Sánchez Pérez that will be the main contact point for DEN4DEK. Juan is the co-ordinator of the Office in charge of the Strategic Plan for the Information Society in Galicia (PEGSI).

Regarding contacts with other regions where XUNTA can disseminate knowledge regarding Digital Ecosystems we find: North Portugal, and the region of Asturias.

Instituto Tecnologico de Aragon

Carolina Benito Lahuerta gave a presentation on ITA, including Mission and Vision, the Company Profile (model and structure), functions and ITA’s tasks and objectives in DEN4DEK. She underlined that ITA was one of the three Regional Catalysts of the DBE Project.
ITA’s objective in DEN4DEK is to share all the experience it acquired in the DBE project, providing close support to Techideas in the co-ordination of the Network. Thanks to this practical experience, ITA will advice regions in advance on the challenges that regions will come across while planning the deployment of Digital Ecosystems in their regions

Regione Lazio

Silvano de Iesu gave a brief presentation of the Lazio Region, including elements of excellence, and the strategies for the introduction of ICTs to the region. He also presented the program iLazio2010 – from e-government to the Knowledge Society, including general objectives and Action Lines. He highlighted that Digital Ecosystems are part of the e-Inclusion section in iLazio2010.

Istituto sui Trasporti e la Logistica Fondazione

Stefano Dondi gave a synthetic presentation of ITL, highlighting that ITL is part of the Living Labs Network, mainly driven by a Public-Private Partnership. ITL provides tools for SMEs, thus supporting policy-making. Its main aim is helping the public administration in the logistics policy-making. ITL is also the co-ordinator of the Region-Enterprises Forum on Logistics and has implemented 20 pilot projects on the logistics sector.
Stefano and ITL collaborate closely with Prof. Flavio Bonfatti (Flavio.bonfatti@unimo.it), manager of the SEAMLESS Project, promoting cross-border co-operation among SMEs. ITL is interested in exploring the applications of the Digital Ecosystems to the logistics and transports industry.

National University of Ireland, Maynooth

Dr. Chris van Egeraat gave an informal short presentation on NUIM. NUIM is a partner of the OPAALS Network of Excellence, researching on the ways business operate and communicate, in order to understand what is the impact of Digital Ecosystems.
Chris and NUIM are strongly linked to Bertrand Dory (bertrand.dory@calypso-management.com), working as a catalyser in Ireland for the dissemination of the Digital Ecosystems approach. Chris mentioned as possible regions for community enlargement the Great Dublin Area and the cross-border region of Northern Ireland. Possible industry of interest is biotechnology.

Fachhochschule Vorarlberg GmbH

Dr. Ing. Jens Schumacher gave a brief description of the Vorarlberg region in Austria, including facts and figures. He then gave an introduction to FHV, highlighting that FHV is strongly involved in the CoreLabs Project financed by FP6, and holds good relationships with partners in Switzerland and Germany. He presented the Living Lab Roadmap, underlining that the initiative has a strong support from the French Presidency of the European Union.
He gave a short introduction to the Mobile City Bregenz Project. FHV’s interest in DEN4DEK is the study of using the infrastructures developed by the Digital Ecosystems community in order to use them for the Living Labs Initiative. Customisation of the DE is essential for the Living Labs Community.

Dirección General de Modernización (Generalitat de la Comunitat Valenciana)

Carolina Marco Bellver represents the Directorate General for Modernisation of the Valencia regional authority. She gave a brief presentation on the Valencia region; the ICT strategic plan for the region (AVANTIC); a short description of outstanding initiatives in Valencia; and the process of internationalisation. Carolina underlined that DEN4DEK was subscribed as one of the EU Projects on RTD and innovation, central for the Valencia region.
Generalitat Valenciana is also a member of the REDEN.

University of Szeged

Patricia Frittman gave a brief presentation of the Homokháti Small Area Living Laboratory: Collaboration at Rural – the only Living Lab for agriculture and the rural sector. She also gave a short introduction of the Software Engineering Department of USZ, highlighting that the university is strongly active and involved in Open Source communities.

Helsinki School of Economics (Helsingin kauppakorkeakoulu)

HSE’s presentation was given by Patricia Frittma in the name of Patrizia Hongisto and Hans Schaffers. The presentation made a short description of the Center for Knowledge and Innovation Research (CKIR) of the HSE, including profile and key areas of research. The presentation also highlighted the interest of HSE in DEN4DEK, including the propagation of policies to promote Living Labs and regional innovation ecosystems and their networking and synergies creation.
HSE is also a founding member of the European Network of Living Labs.

Fundación para el Desarrollo de Ciencia y Tecnología en Extremadura

Luis Casas made a presentation on FUNDECYT, described as a Think-Tank on Free Software Strategies. He found that the Digital Ecosystems approach is quite compatible with FUNDECYT’s philosophy on ‘Libre’ software. He suggested an Ecosystem in Extremadura as the logical link between the administration, enterprises, civil society and universities in the region.
He highlighted the necessity of a ‘Knowledge cluster’ in the Extremadura region: a cluster working on an Ecosystem model through an e-Platform that facilitates SME’s cooperation. He sees and expects the DEN4DEK project to be a logical continuation of the PEARDROP project. Open channels offered for dissemination of DEN4DEK’s activities are the PEARDROP and the ERISA Network.

ESI Tecnalia – Fundación European Software Institute

Unai Calvar gave a brief presentation of the ESI-Tecnalia, including mission, patrons, organisation, goals, schemes, technologies and services. He then presented the Information Society Unit of ESI-Tecnalia including Action Lines, Initiatives and Main Project References.
He highlighted the strong relationship that ESI holds with the Basque Country regional authorities (SPRI) and the high interest of the region on Digital Ecosystems.

Polo Cientifico e Tecnológico da Madeira, Madeira Tecnopolo, SA

Clemente Aguiar presented briefly Madeira Tecnopolo, including mission, strategic areas, MT’s intervention and relevant projects at the regional level.
He highlighted that MT is a Free Science Park. MT is a member of the European Network of Living Labs, and a member of the ERISA Network.

Umbria Innovazione scarl

Cathleen Foderaro made a synthetic presentation of Umbria Innovazione, including roles and a description of regional projects for the promotion of innovation.
UMI is the co-ordinator of the EFFORT project, which is part of the DE projects Cluster.