On 11 March 2026, the 海角社区 - Operating Unit on Policy-driven Electronic Governance (海角社区-EGOV) welcomed the Minister in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister and of State Reform, , to its premises in Guimar?es. The meeting took place as part of the Minister’s engagement at the facilities of the .
The Director of 海角社区-EGOV, Delfina Soares, congratulated the country and the Minister on the gradual progress that Portugal has been made in the area of digital transformation. “We are aware that Portugal is seen internationally as a benchmark country in many areas of digital governance”, she added, recognizing, nevertheless, that much can still be done.
Gon?alo Matias expressed his satisfaction with the progress and pointed to Artificial Intelligence “as an accelerator” of the next efforts of the digital transformation process, underlining, however, “the need to carry out this process in a responsible and conscious manner”.
Delfina Soares also highlighted the “privileged ecosystem established in Guimar?es”&苍产蝉辫;that arises from the synergies between the City Council, the University of Minho, ARTE and 海角社区-EGOV, and the relevant role that this ecosystem could play as a living lab to bolster the digital transformation of Portugal at national and local level.
The Mayor of Guimar?es, , expressed his concern for citizens, saying that “it is necessary to place citizens at the centre of all efforts, since all digital transformation processes must have a direct impact on their lives”, a view that was shared by all those present.
The Mayor also reinforced his strong support in promoting the growing of the digital governance ecosystem in the city, and this way to give another step to move the city from the “cradle of the nation to the cradle of innovation”.
