Editorial

Dear ITEA Community,

When there is a lot of joy and satisfaction in what we do at work or in life, years pass quickly and memories stay fresh. This is exactly how I feel about my experience in ITEA since 2004. It has been a great pleasure to be a member, taking on many different roles within the ITEA Community.

Looking back, there are many good reasons for my dedication to ITEA and its Community, and the articles in this magazine represent these reasons well. Software innovation thrives in an open and flexible environment. As challenges and conditions change rapidly, RD&I must adapt quickly. In the article focusing on Finland and Bittium, you can learn how ITEA became a strong instrument for international collaboration. The ITEA Community has a culture of open communication that makes collaboration in projects very simple, effective, and fruitful. Examples of this can be found in the Equality and Diversity article and the Community Talk.

One of my favourite aspects of ITEA is working with RD&I projects that create an impact on today’s life. What starts as an idea at the beginning of a project can build a direct impact on people’s lives or companies. The success stories of PAPUD and CyberFactory#1 exemplify this characteristic of ITEA. And there is continuous change in ITEA. Based on feedback from the ITEA Community, application forms are updated, processes are adapted, and events are changed. The ITEA Topical roadshow and the updated PO Days format are new ways to bring the ITEA Community together and to learn from each other.

Beyond these factual reasons for my dedication, the more important reasons are related to the soft skills of the ITEA Community and ITEA Office. Friendship, continuous and positive support, trust in sharing knowledge, openness to learning new things, building social connections, working hard, and enjoying freely are some of the skills of our Community. I feel happy, lucky, and honoured to be part of it.

Now, it is time for a change. I am confident and pleased to pass the flag to Dirk Elias. Having worked together for several years within ITEA, I have witnessed his dedication. I also wish great success to Régis Cazenave, the incoming Vice-chairman. I am sure the strong roots and support of ITEA and its Office will preserve its legacy while the new ITEA Presidium will bring new waves to ITEA. I am very enthusiastic about ITEA's future.

A big thanks to the strong ITEA Community, the ITEA Office, and the supportive Public Authorities. The impactful results of ITEA projects are made possible by the belief of Public Authorities in the value of international collaboration and the efficacy of ITEA's initiatives. This global collaboration is facilitated by the structure of Eureka. Thanks to Eureka, HLRs, NPCs, and the ESE office, ITEA has a solid foundation to fulfil its mission.

ITEA will continue to create a positive impact on life. I am honoured and thankful to have played a role in its history.

I wish you a joyful read!

Zeynep Sarılar