The president of Cantabria, María José Sáenz de Buruaga, has presented the Cantabria Digital Agenda I, a road map to drive a change in the economic model and the digital transformation of the region, mobilising investment of almost 400 million euros (397m) until 2028. Of this, some 133 million will be earmarked for the modernisation and digitalisation of public administration and approximately 100 million will be dedicated to the public health care system.

At the event, which took place at the assembly hall of the Instituto de Hidráulica (IH), President Buruaga first expressed his thanks for the participation of all members of the innovation system of the region in defining the actions plan which will “reverse the digital disadvantage” of Cantabria, one of the few autonomous communities lacking a digital strategy.  

According to the president, the digital economy represented some 24.2% of GDP in 2023 and it is estimated to reach 40% by 2030. “This is a train me cannot miss” he added, because “technology is an opportunity and it is the future”.

María José Sáenz de Buruaga explained that the Cantabria Digital Agenda I will be “a powerful tool to improve the quality of life for people”, attracting strategic projects and investment and transforming Cantabria into a “technological leader”.

The document produced by the Ministry of Industry, Employment, Innovation and Commerce, is structured into four lines of action: People, Companies, Digital Government and Infrastructure.

Among the most significant plans, the president announced the launch of three new and “pioneering” training programs to develop talent in Cantabria, involving the creation of specific university degree programs.

The first is the Hybridisation Project, a joint initiative with the University of Cantabria (UC) consisting in the development of advanced digital skills and competences and a parallel study plan for the different degrees.

The second is the “Training for Contracting”, conceived to address the lack of specialised profiles in Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) through a “dual accelerated program” combined with paid work placements with specialised training in this field, including an commitment to subsequent employment in the company.

Third is the incorporation of a training program in videogame development to be offered as an awarded degree at the UC. As noted by Buruaga, this is a growing sector of “enormous interest” due to its significant economic importance, and intensive use of innovative technologies.

 

AI AND CYBERSECURITY

 

The president also noted that the Digital Agenda focusses on two key areas: artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. For this reason, the government announced the launch of the Cybersecurity Centre of Cantabria (CCC), to be located at PCTCAN’s Torre Xtela. The centre will involve an investment of some 3.6 million euros and become operational in the first quarter of 2025 led by SODERCAN in cooperation with then INCIBE (National Cybersecurity Institute) and the Cantabrian Centre for Artificial Intelligence (CIAcan).

In the area of health care, the Digital Health Plan will be presented by the Minister César Pascual and will include actions such as remote medical monitoring and telemedicine. For social services, the DIGICASS project which will enable the digital presentation of the social history of Cantabria, while in education he announced the Plan Cantabria.es Digit@al for the improvement and modernisation of the education system and to prepare young people for the digital world of tomorrow.

Furthermore, María José Sáenz de Buruaga emphasises the “value of data”, presenting as an example the ‘Cohorte Cantabria’ program which aims to position the region “at the vanguard of precision medicine”, attracting investment and talent in the field of ICT and serving to reinforce the Health Sciences and Technology Park initiated by the Cantabrian government on the site of the former Residencia.

Finally, the president stated that the Cantabria Digital Agenda I will be an instrument “to construct together the Cantabria of opportunities“ combined with other measured announced by the government such as lower taxes, the Administration Simplification Act and the plan to support self-employment.

The president was accompanied in the event by the ministers of Industry, Employment, Innovation and Commerce, Eduardo Arasti; of Health, César Pascual; of Social Inclusion, Begoña Gómez del Río; Rural Development, María Jesús Susinos, and Culture and Tourism, Luis Martínez Abad; the rector of the UC, Ángel Pazos; the president of CEOE CEPYME Cantabria, Enrique Conde; the president of the Federación de Municipios, Francisco Javier Camino, and numerous representatives of business people and regional public authorities.

The event also included a presentation by Andrés Pedreño, professor of Applied Economics.

 

LINES AND MEASURES

 

In developing the strategy, four lines of action were identified according to the target of the measures: People, Companies, Digital Government and Infrastructure.

The first, People, is aimed at guaranteeing that citizens of Cantabria can benefit from the opportunities offered by digital technologies, promoting the acquisition of digital skills and competences to ensure fuller participation in society and the digital economy.

This section includes actions oriented towards improving digital competences and other education related aspects such as the promotion of the Centre for Innovation in Educational Technologies -CITED- or the Plan Cantabria.es Digit@l; health care, with the Digital Health Plan, the new Health Care Act or the ‘Cohorte Cantabria’ program, and social service s, most notably the DIGICASS project.

Further initiatives are also aimed at sustainable mobility, such as the implementation of a single rechargeable transport card, programs to facilitate commerce and consumption for consumers, and initiatives related to culture and tourism including the digitalisation of historic heritage sites.

For Companies, the program is focussed on boosting competitiveness and innovation through the adoption and harnessing of current disruptive technologies. The aim is to foster an environment which favours digital transformation of Cantabrian companies particularly through the incorporation of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity systems, developing employee skills, furthering innovation, entrepreneurship, attracting investment and talent.

Here, key programs include the Hybridisation of Knowledge Project, programs such as the “Training for Contracting” or skills training for new professionals and active workers, the Digital SME project or the launch of the Cybersecurity Centre of Cantabria and the Artificial Intelligence Centre of Cantabria.

The third line is Digital Government, aiming to modernise and improve the efficiency of public administration through the incorporation of digital tools in services and processes. This involves the simplification of administrative procedures, harnessing the power of data and providing public employees with training in the use of digital technologies, boosting the efficiency of services and improving cybersecurity.

The fourth is Infrastructure. Here the goal is to make Cantabria a model of digital technologies and sustainable infrastructure that ensure advanced connectivity and the capacity to process massive amounts of data. This will require creating a solid infrastructure to support the digital development of Cantabria, involving the modernisation of technological infrastructure, expanding broadband access, promoting G5 technologies, reinforcing cybersecurity and updating supercomputing systems.

 

THE CANTABRIA DIGITAL AGENDA I

 

This is a document produced and promoted by the Ministry of Industry, Employment, Innovation and Commerce of the Government of Cantabria, in collaboration with the Commission of Innovation Coordination. This is a living document, product of the collaboration of the entire innovation system in Cantabria, with some fifty different agents from the sector participating and presenting almost 250 different initiatives.

The project arose from an initial diagnostic of the situation in Cantabria, one of the few autonomous communities lacking a digital strategy. Compared to other regions, Cantabria presents a series of weaknesses in terms of digitalisation and the harnessing of new information and communications technologies, including a significant shortfall in skilled experts in advanced digital technologies and a lesser application of artificial intelligence, business intelligence, advanced data analytics or cloud computing along with lower investment in R&D and ICT.

 

 

CANTABRIA DIGITAL AGENDA