The Telecommunications Software & Systems Group (TSSG) represented South East Technological University at the Transatlantic ICT Forum workshop held in Brussels on 16-17 November, 2016. The Transatlantic ICT Forum was established as a platform to support policy debate and to provide opinions and recommendations for cooperation between Europe and North America (US & Canada), on matters of ICT research and innovation.
The Transatlantic ICT Forum focused on three key thematic areas in ICT – funding mechanisms for ICT R&I, ICT policy and regulations and cybersecurity and it is composed by European, US and Canada’s experts in the respective subject matters. Currently, 38 experts are members of the Transatlantic ICT Forum. Jim Clarke of the TSSG group of SETU is Chair of the cybersecurity group and chaired a panel session of members during the Forum.
The two-day event comprised of a combination of informative panel sessions and interactive breakout sessions, which were both designed to spark discussions and action plans in relation to transatlantic collaborations in ICT research and innovation. The goal was to create a dynamic environment for networking, business dialogues and policy debates between both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Forum provided opportunities for ICT stakeholders to extend their reach and connections beyond their borders.
Topics addressed in the Forum:
- Digital Economy Trends, capital market financing, funding mechanisms for joint calls, and IPR;
- Requirements for transatlantic cooperation on prioritized R&I topics on the scope of cybersecurity;
- How to promote best practices and identification of current obstacles in joint ICT collaboration between Europe, the US and Canada.
Who was in attendance?
- DISCOVERY partners, representatives from Transatlantic ICT networks, European Commission representatives, and other collaborators from H2020 projects;;
- ICT R&I industry leaders seeking transatlantic ICT partnerships, in areas related to ICT cybersecurity in particular;
- Researchers interested in learning about international funding schemes;
- Policymakers keen on facilitating transatlantic ICT collaborations through a myriad of ICT policy and regulations;
- Entrepreneurs, engineers and all interested in international networking and projects’ building.
Waterford Institute of Technology – TSSG was represented by Jim Clarke and Bríd Walsh.
The Transatlantic ICT Forum was hosted on day 1 by the European Commission, DG CONNECT and on day 2 by the Embassy of Canada in Brussels.