The members of the ERNACT International Management Committee (IMC) met in Hof, Germany, on 5 and 6 March 2024. The meeting was also attended by Dr Jure Trilar and Prof. Dr Andrej Kos, as Chair of the Board.

Hosted by the Hof University of Upper Franconian Bavaria, the meeting aimed to review and validate plans to promote cooperation on digital transformation in the cities and regions participating in ERNACT.

The meeting was marked by concrete proposals for development over the coming twelve-month period, focusing on selected technologies, and a comprehensive review of the ongoing operation of the ERNACT network, covering aspects such as communications and finance to ensure efficient operation. The ERNACT Communication Strategy 2024 foresees a focus on the use of artificial intelligence in campaigns on online communication channels.

Participants had the opportunity to take part in interesting study visits, including presentations by the “Empirical Research and User Experience” research group and hands-on experience in a driving simulator and other human-machine interaction tools. Visits to the StartUp Lab, the Maker Space and the aquaponics facility at the Einstein Centre1 gave us valuable insights into innovation ecosystems and shed light on sustainable practices.

Speed-dating between ERNACT partners and members of the Hof Universities allowed for dynamic networking and exploring opportunities for collaboration. At the end of the programme, participants took a trip to Mödlareuth, known as “Little Berlin”, where they experienced a tour of the wall between the GDR and the DDR, a historical reminder that separated the two German states until 1989.

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