…as Messe Berlin scores another world’s first in organising solution-focused event
By MKPE ABANG
Governments around the world now have a unique opportunity to sharpen their digitisation programmes for efficient public sector operations. It is the introduction of Smart Country Convention, a new event which focuses on the digitisation of the public sector. Organised by Messe Berlin, it makes its debut in Berlin, Germany, this November.
With the launch of the Smart Country Convention, Messe Berlin scores yet another first in absolute superlative form at a time the world stands much in need of specifically focused platforms for applying hi-tech to transform public sector administrations.
But Messe Berlin, whose history dates back to 1822, is not new to being first with revolutionary events that would set the tone for global growth. In 1822, Messe Berlin launched the first industrial exhibition.
A century and two years later, in 1926, the company launched the first “Große Deutsche Funkausstellung,” today known as the IFA Consumer Electronics Unlimited, the world’s leading exhibition for home appliances and consumer electronics.
The Smart Country Convention is co-organised by the digital association, Bitkom and Messe Berlin. The three-day event will take place annually in November on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds and gather all the relevant players representing administrations, politics, the digital economy, associations and science. This debut year, Smart Country Convention holds November 20 – 22.
Combining a congress, workshops, expo and networking events, the Smart Country Convention will examine the digital transformation of cities, communities and the public sector. The focus will be on digital administrations as well as the digitisation of public services in the fields of energy, transport, safety, waste disposal, water distribution, education, healthcare and housing.
Messe Berlin formally announced the introduction of Smart Country Convention during the recently concluded IFA Global Press Conference 2018, held in Rome, Italy.
Already the event has received high level support of Germany’s Federal Minister of the Interior, Building and Community, Horst Seehofer, who will be acting as patron of the new event.
Seehofer explained: “Modern and efficient local authorities and public institutions are important for ensuring social equality throughout Germany. Digitisation opens up completely new opportunities for administrations to represent citizens and enterprises in the best possible way in the future as well. The Smart Country Convention provides a platform for discussing how the digital future can be shaped. That is why I am delighted to be acting as patron of this event.”
Concurring, president of Bitkom, Achim Berg, said: “The digital transformation of administrations, cities and communities is extremely important for Germany’s future. The support offered by the Federal Minister of the Interior underlines the role of the Smart Country Convention as a focal point for discussing innovative digital solutions for local authorities, offices and public enterprises.”
Dr. Christian Göke, Chief Executive Officer of Messe Berlin, whose responsibility it is to see to the success of the event, as he sees to over 100 others, stated: ”In Germany alone, the digitisation of the public sector represents a market that is worth over 50 billion euros. For the first time we will be setting up an independent platform which caters to the specific needs of this market’s players.”
Leading enterprises representing the digital economy, including Deutsche Telekom and SAP, Europe’s biggest software company, had previously pledged their support for the Smart Country Convention.
The partners representing the public sector are the three leading organisations representing local government – the Association of German Cities, the German County Association, the German Association of Towns and Municipalities – as well as the Association of Municipal Companies (VKU) and the National e-Government Competence Centre (NEGZ). The media partner of the event is ‘Behörden Spiegel’, the leading source of information for administrations.
During the three-day event the CityCube Berlin will be showing digital solutions for the public sector. The Smart Country Convention targets tech companies, representatives of administrations and local authorities at federal, state and communal level, municipal companies and other public enterprises, as well as bodies supporting educational establishments and healthcare institutions.
The new event comprises four different formats:
▪ Congress: combining keynotes, discussions and a public sector forum, the three-day congress is made up of traditional, innovative and interactive elements, for which three large stages will be provided.
▪ Expo: the exhibition of digital solutions will present a wide-ranging display of digital solutions from leading companies representing the digital economy and serving public administrations and their branches, private and public local utilities, as well as bodies supporting educational establishments and healthcare institutions.
▪ Workshops: throughout the event six workshop areas will provide high-quality training on the subject of digitalisation. The workshops will target employees in the public sector and its contractors. The advanced training programme will be supplemented by interactive formats which will include the Open Data Startup Hackathon.
▪ Networking events: at the networking areas at the CityCube, organised meet-ups, side events, at the Pioneer’s Dinner or over a beer during the evening Blue Hour, this is where one can meet new people and exchange views with like-minded participants.
After 2018 the Smart Country Convention will continue to be held at the end of the year at the CityCube Berlin. Information is available online at www.smartcountry.berlin.
Bitkom
Bitkom represents over 2,500 companies in the digital economy, over 1,700 of whom are direct members. With their IT and telecoms business alone, annual turnover is 190 billion euros, including exports worth 50 billion euros. Bitkom members in Germany employ a combined workforce of over two million. Among Bitkom’s members are 1,000 SMEs, over 400 start-ups and practically every global player.
Messe Berlin
Based on turnover and growth, Messe Berlin is among the world’s 10 leading trade fair companies. Each year it develops, markets and hosts hundreds of live events in Berlin and around the world. Its wide-ranging portfolio includes IFA, InnoTrans, ITB, FRUIT LOGISTICA and the International Green Week, all leading global trade fairs, as well as major conferences and outstanding events such as the street celebrations at the Brandenburg Gate.
Messe Berlin has around 90 foreign representatives who market events in over 170 countries. Each year some 30,000 members of the media from all parts of the world obtain accreditation for events on the exhibition grounds in Berlin where the company has its headquarters.
Thus, Messe Berlin acts as a driving force of the metropolis that is Berlin. Its aim is to be an outstanding host for visitors to every event at Messe Berlin, to give individuals an optimum boost for their business and to ensure fair conditions for everyone. This approach is reflected in the company slogan: ‘Messe Berlin – Hosting the World’.