From August 25th to September 1st, 2023, Norway played host to a remarkable event - the International Digital Festival. Spanning three picturesque locations in the country - Trondheim, Grimstad, and Oslo - the festival drew the attention of hundreds of enthusiastic participants, transforming Norway into the epicenter of digital innovation and extraordinary virtual experiences.

A Journey Through Norway

The festival kicked off on August 25th in Trondheim, where 100 participants had the opportunity to explore a wide range of digital technologies, from virtual reality to artificial intelligence. Here, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology hosted the event and contributed to creating an innovative and educational atmosphere.

See more about the event in Trondheim here!

Continuing, the festival moved to Grimstad from August 28th to 30th, where an impressive 400 participants brought the festival's digital spirit to life. The University of Agder provided a friendly and interactive setting for all those present.

See more about the Grimstad event here!

The final of the festival took place in the capital city of Oslo on September 1st, where more than 450 participants concluded the event in a grand way and where we also enjoyed the presence of the official participants from the Embassy of Romania in the Kingdom of Norway, His Excellency Mr. Cristian Bădescu, who had a pleasant experience visiting the streets and buildings of the city in the digital world.

Cristian Bădescu, Romania's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Norway, said:"It's a new experience, new sensations. We all know that we are moving towards a world in which the real is becoming increasingly and deeply accompanied by the digital [...], on the other hand, this experience was a homecoming.“

See more about the Oslo event here!

Discovering Timișoara Through Virtual Reality

One of the most notable aspects of this festival was the opportunity for participants to become "virtual tourists" in Timișoara without leaving Norway. Using virtual reality and digital applications created by students and professors from the Polytechnic University of Timișoara, participants had the chance to explore the city of Timișoara in a novel and captivating way. Heritage buildings and landmarks of the city were 3D scanned with the assistance of our partners at Cyberscanning, offering an authentic experience of Timișoara in a digital format.

Support and Collaboration

The project was realized with the support of the University of Agder and the Embassy of Romania in Norway, showcasing the power of international collaboration in the fields of technology and education.

The International Digital Festival in Norway brought together a community of mentors, teachers, and technology enthusiasts, providing a unique platform for the exchange of knowledge and ideas. Through innovation and collaboration, this festival transformed Norway into a reference point for digital technology development and the promotion of unique experiences in the world of virtual reality.

This event demonstrated once again that in the ever-evolving digital world, there are no boundaries, and imagination and technology can create new and captivating worlds, even when we are physically thousands of kilometers away from them. The International Digital Festival in Norway was a unique and inspiring experience, opening doors to the digital future of innovation and creativity.

Digital components of the project are accessible online at https://spotlight-timisoara.eu/ and through mobile applications which can be downloaded from the Android and Apple stores by searching for "Spotlight Timisoara".

• App link for Android users: https://is.gd/SjiIgv  
• App link for iOS users: https://is.gd/y6JxeV  

Event information is also available on:

• Web page:: https://spotlight-timisoara.eu/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpotlightHeritageTimisoara/
• Twitter: @spotlight_TM21
• Instagram: @spotlight_tm

The event is part of the Spotlight Heritage Timișoara digital cultural initiative, part of the Cultural Programme Timișoara 2023 European Capital of Culture and is co-funded by EEA and Norway Grants.