Euronews, “Europe’s number one news channel” which reaches 160 countries, has selected DEVISE project to be promoted through their ‘Smart Regions’ programme.
The programme visits “cities and towns where Cohesion Policy projects are reducing regional disparities and bringing real, tangible benefits to communities across the EU”. In reference to this opportunity, Jose Manuel San Emeterio Project Manager at ERNACT and DEVISE Project Leader stated that, “we are delighted for having been selected by Euronews to explain what we are doing in the DEVISE project and in particular in the North West region in Ireland. It is very important for peripheral regions, like the ones involved in DEVISE, to have the opportunity to present our challenges and how are we embracing digital transformation for more developed and sustainable places where companies can grow offering the same opportunities than in the main urban areas”.
Euronews visited the North West of Ireland while recording the video. DEVISE project partners ERNACT in Donegal and Northern and Western Regional Assembly in Sligo had the chance to share the local expertise that is being carried out through the interreg project. DEVISE aims to increase by 15% the number of digital tech SMEs enabling competitiveness in smart and strategic sectors through improved policy instruments.
As an example, two local SMEs involved in the project were brought into the spotlight. On the one hand, viewers could discover Dara Burke's virtual reality start-up, Show VR, located in CoLab, a business incubator in Letterkenny Institute of Technology in Donegal. Daragh develops virtual reality solutions solving hands-on problems before an engine is built.
On the other hand, the programme focused the attention on Ward Automation, based in Sligo Institute of Technology. This company specialises in robotic solutions for the medical sector. “It was a great experience to promote the DEVISE project and the region on Euronews. Showcasing companies in Donegal and Sligo and the knowledge been transferred from IT Sligo and LYIT into industry helps promote the North West as a Smart Region. The Digital Transformation of SMEs and the need to support SMEs with this process so they can remain competitive in a global market has been recognised as vital to the economy, which is one of the reasons I believe Euronews were interested on reporting on the DEVISE project and this subject”, explained Patrick Devine, EU Projects Officer at the Northern and Western Regional Assembly.
