Conference News: What I learned this week – January 11, 2019
IoT is A-OK: Heading into its fourth year, the IoT Tech Expo brand is gearing up for a sustained increase in attendance at its 2019 events (London, Amsterdam, Silicon Valley) by moving to larger venues – like the Olympia Grand in London, and the Amsterdam show moving to a larger hall within the RAI. They also added a new conference stream addressing Enterprise IoT and plan to add 1:1 meetings, in response to feedback from event partners. No changes to the co-located programs, however – Blockchain, Cybersecurity & Cloud, and AI & Big Data will still be top of mind in 2019.
What’s In a Name? In 2019 Mobile World Congress Americas is changing its name. The event will henceforth be known as MWC Los Angeles. With this “new name for a new era of intelligent connectivity,” MWC LA will continue to offer influencers and executives in the broader mobile industry a robust conference program and expo hall with access to over a thousand companies showcasing their latest innovations.
Leaving the DEN: Last year, The Telegraph debuted Digital Enterprise Networks, or D.E.N. Live, for short. This gathering included traditional conference content and free seminar programmes as well as several immersive experiences. While it was well received, the organization has decided to move in a different direction with its events. In 2019, The Telegraph is launching a full series of tech events, continuing their focus on the digital enterprise. One of the first of this series began last month with Smart Mobility Summit. The series will consider a range of industries – including cybersecurity, business transformation & voice/customer service– impacted by technology next year.
Speaking Opportunity: The 16th annual Games for Change Festival will take place June 17 – 19, 2019. Exploring most exciting new games, ideas, partnerships and business models for digital games that drive positive social impact and inspire learning and engagement, the festival will include four main tracks of programming. These include the Games for Learning Summit; Health & Wellness; Civics & Social Impact; and XR for Change Summit. If you have a relevant idea for a talks, panel, workshop or demo, submit via their online form by 21 January.
Lunchtime Learning: IGNITION is Business Insider’s flagship conference and was held last month from 3 – 4 December in New York. The agenda discussed topics such as the future of TV, print, audio, journalism, and marketing. Attendees considered how to survive the era of “peak content,” audience development in a platform world, and building trust when media and social media platforms have never been more under fire. The sessions, featuring the biggest names in business, tech, and media, are now available online. Hear from celebrity entrepreneurs such as Mark Cuban and Danica Patrick, as well as the CEOs of Match Group, the New York Stem Cell Foundation and Zipline.
Coming Up Next Week: The retail world descends upon New York when NRF2019 – “Retail’s Big Show” – gets underway 13 January. Considered the industry’s largest global event, NRF pairs a huge exhibit floor with networking and content, including three special sessions presented this year in partnership with Fast Company. Over in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show, AutomobiliD (14-17 January) offers show attendees content via keynotes and panels designed to “spark conversations and connect professionals who do business in the new mobility industry.” Meanwhile in Miami, professionals in industrial control system security gather at S4 for new ideas and practical, implementable tools in ICS security and IoT. And in Zurich on 17 January, the World Web Forum will be held for more than 2,000 attendees keen to learn about successful implementations of digital strategies, with the ultimate goal of bringing “Silicon Valley to Switzerland.”