Jose Manuel has extensive experience leading and managing EU cooperation projects and assisting partners in digital transformation. He has an MSc in Telecommunications Engineering from the University of Valladolid and a BSc in Telecommunication Engineering from the University of Cantabria. He is also a Project Management Professional (PMP®). He previously worked for private multinationals, such as France Telecom and Siemens, in the deployment of wireless broadband networks and for the Regional Government of Cantabria in Spain implementing Digital Agenda projects.

ERNACT is an acronym for European Regions Network for the Application of Communications Technology. The regions within ERNACT have been working together since 1990 to help decentralise the benefits of the Digital Agenda to regions within the European Union. The network is practical and project driven, and has a successful track record in assisting participating regions to participate in EU interregional, transnational and crossborder Digital Agenda related programmes and community initiatives including INTERREG IIIB, IIIC and the Framework Programmes. We have long established region-friendly management structures, project development and management systems and a professional and multinational staff team located at our European network administration unit in Ireland.

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) is one of the largest multi-campus universities in Ireland, serving a diverse group of learners, staff, communities and organisations from our region and further afield. ATU offers a rich combination of academic and research excellence, quality of life and opportunity – all of which can be experienced in the most beautiful part of Ireland. ATU has the critical mass and academic depth to attract, educate, nurture and retain talent in the west, north-west and cross-border region and seeks to address the major challenges facing society and the world. As a northern and western multi-campus technological university, we are dedicated to enabling sustainable economic, social and cultural development; connected to our region and with a mindset that reaches far beyond it.

Daragh McDonough is a B.Sc. graduate of UCD and M.A. post graduate in Geographical analysis from NUI Maynooth. Daragh started with Donegal County Council in 1999 and has been to the forefront of developing and implementing GIS systems and solution within the Council. Daragh has a particular interest in engaging with the public through mapping and creating “crowdsourcing” applications to tap into that local knowledge. Daragh has been chair of the National Local Authority GIS User group. In 2018 Daragh was appointed as Broadband Officer for Donegal County Council to liaise with NBI on the rollout of the National Broadband Plan. He has led out on IoT implementation pilot projects, public WiFi networks including WiFi4EU, and the creation of 12 Broadband Connection Points for public high speed broadband access around the county.

Donegal County Council, as the Local Authority for County Donegal (Ireland), provides an extensive range of public services for residents, businesses and visitors services in the County. These range from Planning Control, to the provision of Social Housing, to the upkeep and improvement of Roads, to Pollution Control, to Fire, Library and Sanitary Services. The Council also plays a proactive role in the development of the County, including growing the economic welfare of County Donegal in an effort to make the County a better place in which to live, work, relax and invest.