- Highlight of the digital initiative 2019 scheduled for October 29 and 30
- Over 20,000 people expected to attend
- VIPs include Sir Richard Branson, Tim Berners-Lee, and Jimmy Wales
- StartupCon to be part of DIGITAL X for the first time
- Presentation of the “Digital Champions Award”
- With the “Cologne Night” the program reaches out into the city
“DIGITAL X 2019” will take place in Cologne on October 29 and 30 for the second time. More than 200 international and national patterns have joined Europe’s largest digital initiative this year. After 8,000 market leaders and digital visionaries last year, over 20,000 people are expected in Cologne’s fair halls in 2019: decision-makers from start-ups, small and medium-sized businesses, large corporations, as well as the fields of politics and science. The aim is to network, exchange ideas, and learn from one another. StartupCon, the conference for founders, will be part of Europe’s largest initiative of and for decision-makers for the first time. Internationally-renowned experts will share their practical knowledge. Flagship projects will bring Germany’s digital upswing to life.
“The digital transformation is the central success factor for small and large companies alike”, explains Hagen Rickmann, Telekom Deutschland’s Director for Business Customers, who conceived the DIGITAL X conference format. “The booming DIGITAL X initiative shows how great the demand is and not only for information. A lively platform that links all of the players together is needed. The finale in October should encourage the companies to continue pushing digitalization.”
High-profile speakers: Sir Richard Branson, Tim Berners-Lee, Jimmy Wales
There will be several stages featuring cross-sectoral topics regarding new ideas and exchange in the digital age. Famous representatives of the digital scene will share their visions of a networked world. In 2020, Virgin boss, Sir Richard Branson, wants to launch the first tourists into space. At DIGITAL X 2019, he will speak about how companies can start on the ground. Tim Berners-Lee, founder of the World Wide Web, is fighting for more data privacy on the internet. And Jimmy Wales, father of the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, will discuss the challenges and opportunities of digitalization. Further speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
StartupCon to be part of DIGITAL X for the first time
StartupCon, the conference for founders, is getting involved in the digitalization initiative. “This year, we are part of DIGITAL X for the very first time. We believe that the initiative brings all of the main players of digitalization – the start-up scene, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations – together”, explains co-founder Ralf Bruestle. “We will only push digitalization forwards in Germany if we all work together.”
Germany on the lookout for “Digital Champions”
At Digital X 2019, a jury in Cologne will present two awards. All 24 winners of the “Digital Champions Award” from the regional rounds will be competing against one another, with the best project receiving the distinction of “Best Regional Champion”. Companies also still have until August 23 to compete for the national “Digital Champions Award”.
„Cologne Night“: a kaleidoscope of topics and entertainment
On the evening of October 29, the “Cologne Night” will bring digital topics to Cologne's city centre. The guests will not only network in the fair halls. The program will be breaking new ground. Various bars and clubs along Cologne’s party mile “Aachener Straße” will each offer a different topic for discussions.
The background
DIGITAL X is Europe’s biggest cross-sectoral digitalization initiative. As part of this initiative, leading companies are working together with Deutsche Telekom with the common objective of fostering the digital transformation. Not only that, the initiative also brought their digital identities to life in six German regions in spring 2019. 24 companies won the regional “Digital Champions Award”. The big finale of “DIGITAL X 2019” will take place on October 29 and 30 in Cologne. You can find further details on the final event in Cologne here and on www.telekom.com/digitalx.
Whether associations, companies, start-ups, or founders – everyone can contribute their knowledge and experience and be part of the initiative. The LinkedIn account “Telekom Business” provides regular updates about the digitalization of the economy. In the Digital X LinkedIn group you are invited to network and exchange ideas.
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