The Palacio de la Generala, headquarters of EBS in the city of Cáceres, was the venue for the opening of the Public Digitalization Program (PDP), which in its second edition brings together 36 senior officials from local government in northern Romania. This international meeting, promoted by the EBS Foundation, aims to strengthen the exchange of experiences on digital transformation and public governance in Europe.
The opening day took place at the emblematic Palacio de la Generala, headquarters of EBS Business School, where Carlos Ongallo, program director, welcomed participants with a message focused on institutional cooperation and shared learning between regions.
The first block of presentations began with José Javier Berrocal Olmeda, vice president of Technology at the University of Extremadura. His presentation offered an overview of how digitization is impacting the university environment, from e-government and academic management to advanced research in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. He particularly highlighted the role of universities as living laboratories for experimenting with new forms of digital management and as a bridge between the public and technological sectors.
He was followed by Fernando Doncel Blázquez, Dean of the Official Association of Industrial Technical Engineers of Cáceres. His presentation focused on the crucial role of professional associations as agents of modernization, detailing how these entities are promoting continuous training, digital certification, and technical advice to public administrations, especially in the fields of industry, energy efficiency, and smart urban services. It should not be forgotten that the Association was a pioneer in the implementation of basic online training for its members.
The morning concluded with an official reception in the Plenary Hall of the Cáceres City Council, where Mayor Rafael Mateos and Councilor Emilio Borrega shared their vision of municipal digital transformation with the Romanian delegation, highlighting projects in e-government, digital citizen participation, and improving public management through smart platforms.
Digitalization expert Diana Bravo, from Ayuntamiento de Cáceres staff, explained the brief history and evolution of municipal digitization processes and answered questions from some of the mayors in attendance.
This first day marked an excellent starting point for a program that, throughout the week, will visit various Spanish cities and showcase practical examples of public innovation at different administrative levels.
