Conference Program
Our program is currently a work in process and will be updated regularly in the upcoming weeks leading up to this year's edition.
Quantum Potential: Leaping Your Business Ahead
Quantum Computing pushes the limits of traditional technology, performing complex calculations at a record time, a feat beyond zeroes and ones that traditional computers cannot achieve today. While the field is in early-stage and faces scalability challenges, and many potential applications, promising business cases are starting to emerge from the R&D efforts overtaken. AI and machine learning, the automotive industry, healthcare, finance, transportation and weather forecasting are few realms in which Quantum Computing advancements are expected to completely flip the script, pushing many to advocate for businesses to develop their quantum strategies and gain a foot in the race. Meanwhile, the past few months have seen several major advancements in Quantum, potentially reshuffling the cards and closing on utility. What are the current and future applications in Quantum, and when should they be expected? Which industries are the most likely to reap the benefits of current research in quantum in the near future? What are the biggest barriers to commercial adoption, and when can businesses expect to see real quantum benefits?
Cyber Skills & Talent Shortage: Who and Where to Hire?
Despite its increasing importance in businesses, cybersecurity has faced a persistent talent shortage in recent years. According to the latest World Economic Forum report, only 14% of organizations feel confident in their talent pool and their associated skills. This global deficit is further exacerbated by a widening cybersecurity skills gap, hindering organizations' ability to achieve true cyber resilience. As cyber threats continue to evolve, amplified by the rise of Artificial Intelligence, ensuring organizational security is paramount. And in a job market where the demand for cybersecurity professionals far exceeds supply, addressing the skills and talent gap must be a top priority. Where should we begin? How can the workforce rise to cybersecurity challenges if their skills are outdated? What measures should public and private stakeholders implement to close the cybersecurity talent gap? And how can organizations foster diversity, retention, and attractiveness within the cybersecurity sector?
Tuning Into the Future: How is AI Reshaping the Music Industry
We’re just realizing the scope of possibilities opened by AI tools in the creative field. Questions around copyright, revenue, and the saturation of streaming platforms by AI-generated content are emerging. How can we safeguard the rights of artists against AI-generated content? How can we differentiate “deepfake” music from AI-supported original content? What ethical frameworks should be put in place in the creative fields? New technologies have always disrupted the music world, what lessons can be extracted from history?
Agentic AI, Trust & the Future of Customer Experience
As AI becomes a cornerstone of marketing operations, redefining customer experience (CX) through streamlined processes, powerful analytics, and enhanced creativity, customer expectations are rising in parallel. Today’s consumers seek more meaningful, personalized interactions—seamless across multiple channels yet authentically human. What does the next wave of AI agents mean for the future of CX, and how can businesses prepare for this transformation? This session will explore how Agentic AI is reshaping customer engagement, particularly in sectors like luxury retail, where authenticity and trust are paramount. We’ll discuss how brands can preserve the human dimension of CX, foster consumer trust through responsible data use and transparency, and ensure that AI-driven experiences remain both innovative and emotionally resonant.
NewGame+ : Transforming Esports into a Multimedia Growth Engine
The video game industry is experiencing a shift in growth patterns post-pandemic, adjusting from historic highs to more sustainable rates as it explores ways to regain momentum. Traditional revenue models are evolving alongside fresh opportunities, with the global e-sports market—projected to generate $1.87 billion in revenue this year—serving as a potential focus area. Can competitive gaming and e-sports complement broader industry goals? What are the opportunities for advertisers, streaming platforms, video game producers... that emerge from this booming field? How can viewers loyalty within teams and retention strategies positively impact the space and the video game industry as a whole? Can competitive gaming and e-sport become a growth vehicle for the video game industry? This session examines how these parallel paths might converge to shape the next chapter of gaming innovation.
From Lab to Market: AI-Powered Drug Discovery in Action
Colin Murdoch, President of Isomorphic Labs and CBO at Google DeepMind, reveals the blueprint for translating AI's potential into biotech reality. In this exclusive session, he unpacks Isomorphic Labs' journey, showing how the company has bridged the gap between complex algorithms, life-changing drug discovery – and a market-ready business.
Governance for Growth: The Key to Sustainable Startup Success?
Startups often prioritize short-term growth and gains, overlooking the importance of effective corporate governance. In today's environment, where trust in institutions is diminished, prioritizing transparency and ethical practices is essential for building strong relationships with investors, customers, and employees. How can robust governance frameworks help startups build more resilient – and profitable – businesses by attracting investment, mitigating risks, and fostering a positive company culture? Three experts weigh in.
The Sustainable Edge: Why Doing Good is Good for Business
In a world demanding more than just financial returns, today’s startups and scaleups are poised to redefine success. This panel explores how social and environmental responsibility fuels business growth. From the practical strategies for embedding sustainability into core business models, to the critical importance of accurately measuring and reporting impact, entrepreneurs and investors will share how their commitment to “doing good” is what ultimately gave them their competitive advantage.
Viral Voices, Virtual Walls: What is Social Media’s Role in Shaping Democracy?
Social media has irrevocably altered the landscape of political engagement, transforming how we organize, protest, and participate in democracy. From the #ArabSpring to #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo, digital platforms have become vital tools for mobilizing global movements. Yet, this power comes with a double-edged sword: the same platforms that amplify grassroots voices can also be used for manipulation, censorship, and the rapid spread of misinformation. As governments and tech platforms grapple with the complex challenges of regulation and digital rights, the future of online political engagement hangs in the balance. How do we navigate the algorithmic influence that shapes our discourse? Can we safeguard against political polarization and the erosion of truth? And what ethical frameworks are necessary to ensure social media remains a force for democratic empowerment, rather than a tool for its subversion?
The Algorithm of Affection: AI and the Future of Love
AI is actively shaping our connections, acting as an architect of potential relationships: algorithms curate our social feeds, recommend partners, and promise to optimize our search for love. This raises a fundamental shift: the attempt to reduce human connection to data points. The promise of AI-powered matchmaking exists, but can technology truly predict compatibility? Or does it increase isolation, diminish the spontaneity of connection, and ultimately sacrifice the essence of human intimacy?
Autonomy & Sovereignty: Securing Strategic Technologies
Countries are intensifying efforts to control strategic technologies like artificial intelligence, leading to significant investments and fierce competition for top talent. AI is becoming central to national agendas, reshaping economic policies and priorities. Industries are pooling resources to gain technological advantages, while the drive for autonomy prompts nations to build independent supply chains to reduce reliance on foreign entities. This focus on tech sovereignty has the potential to transform job markets and alter global power dynamics. How will this pursuit of technological self-sufficiency affect innovation and collaboration across countries? What implications does this have for businesses and individuals as control over technology becomes a strategic advantage?
Winning Strategy: How Should Europe Play its Cards in the AI Race?
Europe finds itself at a pivotal moment in the global AI landscape, challenged by the immense scale of American and Chinese tech giants. Lacking their sheer size, Europe can leverage its highly skilled workforce, focus investments on strategic areas, and foster unprecedented collaboration across borders. But where exactly should investment and other resources be concentrated? How can the regulatory framework cement local growth? And how can Europeans innovate to create successful ventures that punch above their weight?
Regulation vs. Attractivity: Creating a Strong(er) Tech Market
Can smaller nations outmaneuver tech giants from colossal domestic markets? Some countries with modest home markets are not just keeping pace but excelling on the global tech stage, turning size into an advantage through innovation and adaptability. The delicate balance between regulation and market attractiveness plays a crucial role—overregulation can stifle growth, yet thoughtful policies can foster a vibrant ecosystem. Access to venture capital and alternative funding is equally pivotal in empowering startups to scale beyond borders. How can smart regulation remove barriers and enhance expansion? What lessons can be learned from nations that defy the odds, and how can others replicate their success to create stronger, more competitive tech markets?
AI Now, AGI Next: Shaping Tomorrow’s Workforce
Today's AI solutions promise to deliver impressive productivity gains—streamlining operations, accelerating decision-making, and empowering skilled workforces across industries. In this session, we examine where these improvements are emerging and uncover the reasons behind their success, highlighting the essential skills that unlock AI’s full potential. From there, we shift our focus to the horizon of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and explore its potential to amplify these trends on a global scale. How might AGI redefine workforce dynamics? What strategies and skill sets will empower individuals and organizations to flourish in this transformative landscape?
Is the Labor Market Keeping Up? Tackling Today's Economic Demands
Is the labor market evolving fast enough to keep up with our rapidly changing economy, or is it being left behind? As innovation and technology disrupt industries at unprecedented speeds, traditional career paths are giving way to new, unconventional trajectories. Around the globe, regulations aim to protect workers—both employees and freelancers—while striving to maintain economic agility, yet a persistent mismatch between job seekers and available roles remains. How are careers taking shape today, and where does this gap between supply and demand originate? How can we anticipate future trends and prepare the workforce accordingly? Who is adapting most successfully, and what are the secrets to their resilience?
Smart Gains: How Are AI Agents Unlocking Productivity?
Amid relentless technological innovation, autonomous AI agents are quietly reshaping the landscape of consumer engagement and operational efficiency. Evidence suggests that such systems can boost productivity by streamlining tasks while simultaneously enhancing personalized consumer interactions. Yet, these gains come with pressing concerns over oversight, accountability, and the evolving role of human labor. Are we witnessing the dawn of a transformative era or merely a sophisticated iteration of existing processes? How should regulators and businesses alike recalibrate their strategies to manage this emerging frontier?
What’s next for DEI?
In North America, DEI strategies are in flux. What was once a mainstream practice now faces political scrutiny, prompting us to reexamine the social and economic bases of those practices, and to assess whether traditional approaches yield systemic change. While DEI has spurred progress, efforts sometimes risk tokenism. At is best, DEI must extend beyond ethical obligations to harness diverse perspectives for genuine innovation. As regions worldwide navigate their own challenges and opportunities, the global DEI conversation is evolving. What are the limits of our current DEI strategies, and how can we refine them to address the root causes of inequity? Are we merely checking boxes, or are we crafting environments where unique perspectives can thrive? How can organizations move beyond standard approaches and uncover deeper, more systemic pathways to inclusion?