The ICT 2015- Innovate, Connect, Transform Conference took place in Lisbon, Portugal, last week, 20-22 October 2015 at the Centro de Congressos de Lisboa. Organised by the European Commission, together with the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia.
"The ICT 2015 Conference presented the new Commission policies and initiatives with regard to Research and Innovation in ICT, Excellent Science and Societal Challenges."
It was focused on how we can "Innovate, Connect and Transform" the Digital Society.
It was focused on how we can "Innovate, Connect and Transform" the Digital Society.
Near 6 000 people attended #ICT2015! Wow ! Amazing number! And it was so true. I attended the ICT2015. The CCL was full of good vibration, animated talks between the sessions. People of so different coutries, not only from Europe.
credits : ICT 2015
The ICT 2015 event comprised a huge number of activities:
- A policy conference presenting the new Commission's policies and initiatives on Research & Innovation in ICT;
- An interactive exhibition showcasing the best results and impact of most recent EU ICT Research & Innovation;
- Many networking opportunities to enhance quality partnerships, help participants find partners, connect Research and Innovation and trigger collaboration;
- Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2016-2017 thematic sessions, offering detailed information on the funding opportunities in ICT sector;
- The Startup Europe Forum, offering a set of activities profiling EU policy actions for startups and SMEs, innovators, private and public investors.
5,723 participants, 120 networking sessions, 127 speakers, 150 successful EU-supported projects displaying their results, glass pavilion in the heart of Lisbon and thousands of visitors including Commissioners Günther H. Oettinger and Carlos Moedas, 7,000 followers & 18,000 tweets it's been a record-breaking #ICT2015. Impressive numbers, awesome event.
Besides, The ICT 2015 off-site exhibition took place between 18th-22nd October 2015 and was being held in a custom-built panoramic pavilion on Praça do Comércio, in the centre of Lisbon, Portugal.
Under the theme, What European ICT is doing for you it gathered five EU-funded ICT projects chosen to illustrate direct applications in citizens’ lives.
I wrote about this off-site exhibition Escolas : Visitas de Estudo Exposição ICT 2015 inviting teachers and students to visit it. I think it would be an interesting school experience about science, innovation and IT outside the classroom. It was a great success.
Hope you have been there with your students. Did they interact with the robot Alfred, one of the hosts of the exhibition? Hope so. Students love robotics.
Exhibitions are powerful resources to explore and include into the school curriculum. Students learn better when evolving competences outside the classroom in live events.
Exhibitions are powerful resources to explore and include into the school curriculum. Students learn better when evolving competences outside the classroom in live events.
First day, on the 21 October, I started visiting, in different moments of the day, the interactive exhibition - the ah-ah of innovation, creativity, science and technology. A dynamic showcase of "the best-in-class results of the existing European ICT Research & Innovation".
The exhibition encompassed innovation at "the interconnection of science, technology and art".
Art elements, artistic representation of a project idea, artistic creativity on-site were foreseen to be streamlined throughout the exhibition.
The exhibition design was really awesome. Looking around for some time, I was fascinated with all I could see, the advanced research, future visions. Inspiring ideas. Amazing projects.
ICT 2015
credits: GSouto (via iOS)
https://twitter.com/gimst
After the exhibition my priority, as a creative educator, and a specialist in Education and Innovation, was to participate in the Plenary sessions: Opening Ceremony ; Innovation Potential in the Digital Age ; Transforming Research and Innovation into Growth and Jobs, Prizes Award Ceremonies, Final Plenary: The Transformative Impact of Excellence Science.
The better way to have a good panoramic idea about all the good things at ICT 2015. I couldn't reach all the sessions with so many parallel sessions. I was not there for business. So I focused myself on the Plenary sessions.
But I participated in two parallel sessions on Digital Learning. Not so interesting. Traditional networks, no interacting or presenting innovative ideas about ICT in Education. This event deserved better parallel session in Education (Schools).
To me the real creative session was the Plenary 6 : Driving Innovation through Creativity and the Arts. It took place at the Auditorium 1, first day October 21. Awesome projects through Arts and creativity. Inspiring talks by an awesome panel. I would like to highlight Simona Maschi CIID, Denemark "From Inspiration to Impact", Gerfried Stocker, Ars Electronica Linz GmbH.
Starting from the idea "How can creative ideas be brought in from the edge to transform how we live and work?", the speakers explored through inspirational examples in education, in industry, and in academia, on what more can be done to benefit from this exciting nexus and stimulate it further.
The aim of the session was to discuss how stimulating the crossovers of creative ideas, particularly from the Arts, can drive innovation in Europe.
Speakers addressed how crossovers from culture/the Arts to innovation is done in industry, in education and in academia.
Speakers addressed how crossovers from culture/the Arts to innovation is done in industry, in education and in academia.
Visual summary from the 6th #ICT2015 Plenary Session
Think Doodly | Verity Harrisson, visual storyteller
The visual storyteller Veronica Harrisson used the graphic illustration to capture the fundamental ideas of the speakers and gave us her own interpretation on this clear graphic facilation panel. Creative graphic facilitator. Applauded by the participants and the speakers.
As I wrote before ICT 2015 hosted an exhibition of 140 Projects financed with European funds. The projects have been divided in 3 Categories : Innovate, Connect, Transform. There has been also the main Prize of the overall exhibition.
And the four winners are:
Interactive exhibition
credits: ICT2015
And the four winners are:
- Best Exhibition Stand: USEMP, User Empowerment for Enhanced Online Presence Management
- Innovate winner: Human Brain Project
- Connect winner: No One left behind
- Transform winner: Rockin Monarch
Rockin Monarch directed to children in hospitals & No One Left Behind directed to kids inclusion were my favorites, of course. My higher interests are the young people, special needs, inclusion and equity. I congratulate those two interesting projects.
Some considerations or a (im)possible report:
For three long days, speakers, researchers, practitioners, producers, skate holders and participants shared interesting ideas and experiences.
I joined key speakers at Plenary sessions and two parallel sessions on digital learning, my area
I am an independent specialist in Education innovation (Schools), a European micro innovator (VISIR), I was very curious to hear about the new ideas.
Digital learning and innovation potential in the Digital Age (arts, culture, technologies) were on my best interests. Heard inspiring talks about innovation through arts, culture.
Well, what can I say more? Impossible to describe the feeling of being a part of this incredible event. I had a fantastic time in Lisbon attending the ICT 2015 conference.
Amazing event incubating a multidimensional mass of sciences, art, technologies and culture.
Best event I ever been ! Inspiring talks, creative vibes, excellent organization, awesome exhibition design, innovation, technologies.
Of course this is a (im)possible report of an impressive event. Some notes about the areas that touch my interests in this excellent and innovative big event.
"While a new idea is a thought about something new or unique, and making that idea real is an invention, innovation is an invention that has a socioeconomic effect. Innovation changes the way people live."
Bijker, 1995 - The social construction of technology
G-Souto
28.10.2015
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ICT 2015 : (im)possible report by G-Souto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References:
ICT 2015 website & social networks (videos, some photos, and information)
Bijker's quote: thanks to Simona Maschi
