12
The Malta Independent | Thursday 14 May 2015
Barcelona experience for coding competition winners
Karen Hautala Hili Karen Hautala-Hili is Project ]Coordinator with Digital Outreach at MITA
I
n March, MITA announced the winners of the 2014 National Coding Competition, ‘Design the Future’, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Employment and the University of Malta. The Hon. Dr. José Herrera , Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Economic Growth, the Hon. Chris Agius, Parliamentary Secretary for Research Innovation, Youth and Sport, and the MITA Executive Chairman Tony Sultana presided over the awards ceremony. In recognition for their expertlycrafted game and hard work, the grand prize winners in the Upper Secondary School category were
awarded a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the IBM Innovation Centre and MareNostrum Computer Centre in Barcelona, Spain. Luke D’Amato and Michael Pulis, and their teacher, Charles Axisa of Savio College were inspired and fascinated by the world of ICT and Science during their 4-day trip. Highlights of their trip included a visit to the MareNostrum Super Computer Centre which houses one of the fastest computers in Europe and the most powerful computer in Spain. They met with the operations teams that takes care of its availability, security and performance and also supports scientists to improve their application and get better research results. The group then visited the IBM Innovation Centre where they learned more about entrepreneurship and how this Centre helps start-ups to build, market and sell their ideas through online and face-to-face training and assistance. The Innovation Centre promotes entrepreneurship by connecting start-ups to IT professionals, academic leaders and entrepreneurs locally and abroad. At the CosmoCaixa Science Musuem, the largest in Spain, the group toured over 30,000 square meters of interactive exhibits, plants, animals and even the planetarium. This museum gave them a truly hands-on experience and they were able to explore different
scientific disciplines, such as chemistry and geology, and participate in several different experiments. They also had free time to enjoy the amazing architecture and soak in the cultural sights of the city, including Aquarium De Barcelona, Las Ramblas, Park Guell and Casa Mila. The teacher accompanying the students, Charles Axisa said that, “It was a wonderful experience with a good mix of educational as well as entertaining activities. For me the most astonishing parts were the visit to the Mare Nostrum Computer and the visit to the IBM innovative centre. At the innovative centre we had the oppor-
tunity to see what IBM is doing in the field of cognitive computing through the Watson Project and also what the firm is doing in banking with a lot of innovative features and ideas that make online bank transaction more usercentred and faster. We also had to opportunity to see how IBM is changing the way users interacts with ATM machines to withdraw and deposit money by making use of their mobile phones rather than the bank card. We had a wonderful time in Barcelona, the people at IBM were really helpful and made our stay an unforgettable experience.” The two winning students Luke
D’Amato and Michael Pulis admitted that winning the competition came as a surprise to them. About their experience in Spain they said, “We enjoyed visiting the Mare Nostrum Supercomputer as we saw a very unusual computer set-up and we learnt a lot about its use – to help the scientific community in research and simulation. We also enjoyed visiting various other attractions, mainly the Camp Nou – Barcelona’s football stadium, and Casa Mila – a great piece of art by Antoni Gaudì. Another visit we made was to the CosmoCaixa Science Museum were we spent a lot of time experimenting with various setups around the museum each demonstrating or proving a scientific concept, most of which we learn at school.” Initiatives such as the National Coding Competition promote student collaboration and enhance their digital and critical thinking skills. They are also critical to raising awareness of e-skills education and careers and integrating these skills across students’ educational and formative experiences. Congratulations are in order for the winners and all the teachers and students who worked tirelessly to participate in this year’s competition. Check out the winning games at mita.gov.mt/codingcompetition
A digital single market for Europe: Commission sets out 16 initiatives to make it happen
T
he Internet and digital technologies are transforming our world – in every walk of life and in every line of business. Europe must embrace the digital revolution and open up digital opportunities for people and businesses and it plans to do this by using the power of the EU’s Single Market. On 6th May, the European Commission unveiled its detailed plans to create a Digital Single Market, thereby delivering on one of its top priorities. At present, barriers online mean citizens miss out on goods and services: only 18% shop online from another EU country (53% in Malta); Internet companies and start-ups cannot take full advantage of growth opportunities online: only 7% of SMEs sell cross-border (12% in Malta). Finally, businesses and governments are not fully benefiting from digital tools. The aim of the Digital Single Market is to tear down regulatory walls and finally move from 28 national markets to a single one. A fully functional Digital Single Market could contribute €415 billion per year to the European economy and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. The Digital Single Market Strategy includes a set of targeted actions to be delivered by the end of 2016. It is built on three pillars: (1) better access for consumers and businesses to digital goods and services across Europe; (2) creating the right conditions and a level playing field for digital
and its citizens make full use of the potential of new digital services and goods. We have to prepare for a modern society and will table proposals balancing the interests of consumers and industry.” The Digital Single Market Strategy sets out 16 key actions under 3 pillars which the Commission will deliver by the end of 2016:
networks and innovative services to flourish; and (3) maximising the growth potential of the digital economy. Commission President JeanClaude Juncker said: “Today, we lay the groundwork for Europe’s digital future. I want to see pancontinental telecoms networks, digital services that cross borders and a wave of innovative European start-ups. I want to see every consumer getting the best deals and every business accessing the widest market – wherever they are in Europe. Exactly a year ago, I promised to make a fully Digital Single Market one of my top priorities. Today, we are making good on that promise. The 16 steps of our Digital Single Market Strategy will help make the Single Market fit for a digital age.” Vice-President for the Digital Single Market Andrus Ansip
said: “Our Strategy is an ambitious and necessary programme of initiatives that target areas where the EU can make a real difference. They prepare Europe to reap the benefits of a digital future. They will give people and companies the online freedoms to profit fully from Europe’s huge internal market. The initiatives are inter-linked and reinforce each other. They must be delivered quickly to better help to create jobs and growth. The Strategy is our starting point, not the finishing line.” Commissioner for the Digital Economy and Society Günther H. Oettinger said: “Our economies and societies are going digital. Future prosperity will depend largely on how well we master this transition. Europe has strengths to build on, but also homework to do, in particular to make sure its industries adapt,
Pillar I: Better access for consumers and businesses to digital goods and services across Europe The Commission will propose rules to make cross-border ecommerce easier and to enforce consumer rules more rapidly and consistently. Moreover, it aims to make parcel delivery more efficient and affordable and to end unjustified geo-blocking. Additionally it aims to identify potential competition concerns affecting European e-commerce markets and proposes a modern, more European copyright law and a review of the Satellite and Cable Directive. It also aims to reduce the administrative burden businesses face from different VAT regimes. Pillar II: Creating the right conditions and a level playing field for digital networks and innovative services to flourish The Commission will present an ambitious overhaul of EU telecoms rules and review the audiovisual media framework to make it fit for the 21st century. It
will also comprehensively analyse the role of online platforms (search engines, social media, app stores, etc.) in the market and look into how to best tackle illegal content on the Internet. Furthermore, it will reinforce trust and security in digital services, notably concerning the handling of personal data and thus propose a partnership with the industry on cybersecurity in the area of technologies and solutions for online network security. Pillar III: Maximising the growth potential of the digital economy The Commission will propose a ‘European free flow of data initiative‘ to promote the free movement of data in the European Union. It will also define priorities for standards and interoperability in areas critical to the Digital Single Market and supports an inclusive digital society where citizens have the right skills to seize the opportunities of the Internet and boost their chances of getting a job. Moreover, a new e-government action plan will also connect business registers across Europe, ensure different national systems can work with each other, and ensure businesses and citizens only have to communicate their data once to public administrations. For more information on the Digital Single Market, visit http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/digital-single-mar ket
13
The Malta Independent | Thursday 14 May 2015
Roderick Spiteri
Roderick Spiteri is Marketing and Communications Manager at MITA and editor of Malta Independent ICT feature
The Malta Independent ICT Feature
I
n today’s Feature we hear from the winners of the National Coding Competition about their recent trip to Barcelona where amongst other excursions on their jam-packed iteniary they visited the IBM Innovation Centre and the MareNostrum Computer Centre. We also look at how the MITA
Innovation Hub is mentoring two new startups in developing mobile applications for Heritage Malta and MEPA. We also announce another similar call by MITA’s Innovation Hub – this time for the development of digital serious games on three themes. An information and networking event about this call will be held this Saturday.
As the internet and digital technologies transform our world, the EU is looking into ways how to make the EU’s single market fit for the digital age. The goal is to remove barriers online so that citizens do not miss out on goods and services whilst internet companies and start-ups expand their horizons, and businesses
and governments fully benefit from digital tools. All ICT Features are available on www.mita.gov.mt/ictfeature
New mobile APPs developed by startups for MEPA and Heritage Malta
I
n line with government’s policy to stimulate innovation and instill an entrepreneurial mindset among the young, MITA has recently awarded two grants of €15,000 to two startups that won the StartAPP €15K challenge. The announcement was made at a press conference earlier this week (on 11th May 2015) at Tarxien Temples by MITA’s Head of Strategy and Business Department Mr. Emanuel Darmanin in the presence of Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Economic Growth Hon José Herrera. Start-APP €15K was a competition targeting startups which had to propose solutions for the resolution of ‘pain points’ in the area of development planning and cultural heritage using mobile app technology in combination with public data made available specifically for the project by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) and Heritage Malta. During the event the winning startups, OTUS for the cultural heritage solution, and LLUMI for the development planning solution, provided an overview of the mobile application they are developing and also outlined a number of features the mobile applications will have. The cultural heritage solution
seeks to enhance the visual and cultural experience of visitors of the Tarxien Temples through what technology known as ‘augmented reality’, multi-linguality and itinerary planning. The development related application seeks to demonstrate the empowering nature of smart phones for increased citizen participation in planning decisions. Moreover the app will have a feature whereby illegal development can be reported to the authorities. In his address, Mr. Darmanin said that “innovation is the next leap forward to uncharted waters. It is also about what could be done better. At the MITA Innovation Hub, we are taking new approaches, making incremental
steps forward as well as partnering with key stakeholders in order to make old ideas new again and yield greater benefits to society at large while giving opportunities to students and new entrepreneurs”. Commenting on the outcome of Start-App15K, Hon Jose Herrera stated: “I am impressed by the overwhelming response to this call and the quality of work being delivered to date. This proves our vision of the important role that public administration has in stimulating innovation and entrepreneurship. These startups will not only be re-using public data to create a mobile app, but they will also be using public administration processes as a test bed for their innovative solutions.”
Gamify-IT: competitive call for students
T
he MITA Innovation Hub has just published a call for teams of students to build three Digital Serious Games (Digital SGs) to be developed at the MITA Innovation Hub. Each team is being asked to develop an innovatively designed digital serious game in one of the following thematic areas: • the Gamification of Learning Sciences; • the Gamification of National History; and • the Gamification of Information Security Awareness. The submissions received will be evaluated by judges, who will select the best proposal in accordance with pre-set judging criteria. The three selected teams will be awarded a cash prize of €2,000 plus a summer job during which they will work on their concept and build the Digital SG under
the mentorship of a multi-disciplinary team of professionals. On Saturday 16th May an information and networking event will be organised at the MITA Data Centre in Santa Venera purposely to help interested parties understand more about the chal-
lenge as well as to get in touch with other participants and together build a great team and a winning proposal. For more information and to register for the event, visit mitainnovationhub.gov.mt/gamify-it