Creation of the Chair of Digital Divide and Proper Use of ICT
The rector of the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH), Juan José Ruiz, and the minister of Innovation, Universities, Science and Digital Society, Carolina Pascual, have signed a collaboration agreement to create the Chair of Digital Divide and Proper Use of Information & Communication Technology (ICT). Its aim is to carry out activities that promote knowledge about the causes and consequences of and solutions to the digital divide and proper use of ICT, in accordance with the efforts of the Digital Divide Observatory that is part of the Ministry of Innovation.
Fuente: UMH.
Also attending the signing were UMH vice rector for Knowledge Transfer and Exchange, María José López; director general for the Fight Against the Digital Divide at the Generalitat, María Muñoz; and the regional Secretary of Innovation and Digital Transformation, Jordi Juan i Huguet.
The Generalitat Valencia will contribute 30,000 euros to bolster various chair actions to be completed during the remainder of 2020. For its part, the UMH, through this chair, will facilitate participation, the generation of knowledge resulting from discussion, review, and synthesis of ideas, as well as the transfer of information to other public authorities and citizens through various actions. Likewise, the UMH will advise on planning regulatory actions and strategic documents within the scope of the digital society and fight against the digital divide; it will analyze and diagnose the situation of the digital divide within the Valencian Community; and it will intervene, based on the information it compiles, by providing specific and applicable solutions to prevent and reduce such divide. Lastly, the UMH will ensure coordination with other university chairs at Valencian public universities to carry out research, actions, and joint informative tasks.
Subsequent to signing the agreement, part of the delegation from the Generalitat Valencia and the mayor of Elche, Carlos González, toured some of the companies at the UMH Scientific Park. Accompanying them included the university rector, Juan José Ruiz; vice rector, María José López; and the director – manager of the park, Tonia Salinas. During their visit, the minister learned firsthand about business activities going on at the park and the innovation strategies implemented there. Furthermore, they also visited the spin-off, Emxys, in addition to the firms of Bioarray and Simplicity Works. The former focuses on the design, development, and production of embedded electronic systems for aerospace applications. Bioarray is a technology-based company specializing in genetic analysis using DNA microarrays, while Simplicity Works is dedicated to developing innovative 3D bonding technology to simplify industrial production processes.
