• Valentín González Formoso held a meeting with the research staff to learn about the center’s strategic projects in the third sector, the application of ICT in public policies, and the main implementations of AI.

• The head of the provincial entity visited spaces of the center such as the Technological Demonstrator Room, a unique space in Galicia dedicated to the dissemination of ICT research and innovation projects, where prototypes, products in development, educational material, and the OitoBits Collection are exhibited.

A Coruña, September 12, 2024.- The Center for Research in Information and Communication Technologies (CITIC) of the University of A Coruña received this Thursday the visit of the President of the Deputation of A Coruña, Valentín González Formoso, who was able to learn firsthand about projects and programs promoted by the center, through which the use of technology is being promoted from an equal and inclusive point of view in areas such as the third sector.

The visit of the president of the provincial entity was attended by the rector of the University of A Coruña, Ricardo Cao, and the director of CITIC, Manuel González Penedo. After the visit, Formoso held a working meeting with the research staff of the center who lead innovative initiatives that are favoring the inclusion of groups such as people with disabilities through the use of technology and, more specifically, AI.

The rector of the University of A Coruña, Ricardo Cao, highlighted the collaborations that the UDC and the Deputation of A Coruña are having in the field of ICT, particularly in the City of ICT; with the virtual set whose works are progressing very well; but also in programs such as Inclusive Talents and other initiatives such as “Green Power,” which is being developed in the town of As Pontes de García Rodríguez. He also highlighted the cooperation of both institutions in the First Lego League of the Industrial Campus and in other cultural projects, thanking the Deputation for its collaboration in all these initiatives, as well as in the cession of the Pazo de Mariñán for the Ibero-American Administrative Law Conferences. “We are having a very close relationship with the Deputation,” commented the rector, “which we want to intensify in the field of ICT,” he added.

The director of CITIC, Manuel González, emphasized “the importance of collaboration with public institutions for the technological and social development of Galicia. At CITIC, we believe that innovation should be a tool at the service of the whole society, and that is why we work to ensure that our advances in AI and information technologies translate into greater inclusion and equal opportunities for all people.” In this regard, he highlighted that “projects such as Inclusive Talents are a clear example of our commitment to making technology a means for integration” and added that “collaboration with administrations such as the Deputation of A Coruña is essential to continue promoting projects that focus on collective well-being. Our common vision of fostering inclusion through technological innovation allows us to move towards a fairer and more equitable future, driving new initiatives that allow us to continue leading the digital transformation with a positive social impact”.

Precisely, the Deputation of A Coruña has just joined the Governing Council of CITIC of the UDC, with its president, Valentín González Formoso, as a representative, who highlighted that “talent, science, and knowledge are the foundations of a progressive society, so it should be a priority to support it from public administrations.” In this regard, Formoso stated that “we are far from reaching that 2% of GDP allocated to science and research recommended by the European Union” and called for increased investment for this purpose.

Visit to the facilities and meeting with researchers

The president of the Deputation also held a meeting with the center’s management, and CITIC researchers Amparo Alonso and Nieves R. Brisaboa, through which he was able to learn about the center’s strategic research lines in areas such as the third sector, in which CITIC is a reference at both the regional and national levels, as well as various applications of artificial intelligence in areas such as health or the environment and its implementation in public policies.

In addition to the meeting, Valentín González Formoso made a brief visit to the facilities of the ICT center of the University of A Coruña, visiting spaces such as the Technological Demonstrator Room or the OitoBits Collection, which will be part of the future CITIC museum.

The Technological Demonstrator of CITIC is a unique space in Galicia dedicated to the dissemination of ICT research and innovation projects, where prototypes, products in development, and educational material are exhibited. Through this room, projects such as an artificial vision application for ocular diagnosis, virtual realities for rehabilitation, and an educational robot, among others, are presented. This space facilitates training and interaction with new technologies, contributing to the dissemination of knowledge to the social and economic spheres.