The Smart Country Convention is back this year, offering an extensive program full of digital solutions for the public sector. Taking place on October 27th and 28th, 2020, the event is dedicated to the theme of digitalization. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the convention will primarily be held virtually, allowing participants to conveniently follow the congress program via livestream from home or the office. However, there will also be a limited number of speakers and decision-makers who will gather in person at the hub27 on the Berlin exhibition grounds.
Focus on E-Government and Smart City
The Smart Country Convention this year has a strong focus on E-Government and Smart City topics. On October 27th, the E-Gov-Day will take place, covering Digital Sovereignty, the latest developments in the Online Access Act (OZG), Electronic Identity, and Cloud solutions in administration. The Bundesinnenministerium will also present its digitalization strategy. The program on the Smart Plaza and Digital Forum stages can be attended both in-person and online. The Deep Dive Sessions, on the other hand, are a purely digital format showcasing solutions for Digital Administration and E-Government use cases.
On October 28th, the Smart City-Day takes place, focusing on themes such as data platforms, digitalization in public services, and mobility. The Smart Plaza and Digital Forum stages will showcase discussions on these topics. Additionally, the new Smart City Index will be introduced, providing a digital ranking of German cities. The event will also feature forums dedicated to digital cities and rural areas, offering insights and discussions on digitalization in these contexts.
Impressive lineup of high-profile speakers at Smart Country Convention
The Smart Country Convention presents an impressive lineup of high-profile speakers who will participate both in-person and virtually. Notable speakers include German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Finnish Minister of Education Li Andersson, EU Commissioner for Internal Market and Services Thierry Breton, State Secretary Anne Katrin Bohle from the German Ministry of the Interior, and Dr. Markus Richter, the German Government’s Commissioner for Information Technology. Representatives from cities and municipalities such as Theo Blackwell, CDO of the City of London, Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus, Hessian Minister of Digital Strategy and Development, Thomas Bönig, CDO in Munich, and Jose David da Torre Suarez, Managing Director of Digital City Darmstadt will also share their experiences. Additionally, partners such as Accenture, Bechtle, Bundesdruckerei, BWI, Google Cloud, Huawei, SAP, Telekom, and Smart City Berlin will showcase their solutions and best practice examples for the digitalization of the public sector.
Smart Country Convention honors outstanding innovations
The Smart Country Startup Awards, a prominent feature of the Special Edition of the Smart Country Convention, recognize exceptional innovations in the fields of Smart City and E-Government. This prestigious accolade, presented by the startup initiative “Get Started” in collaboration with the Digital Association Bitkom and exclusive partners, aims to support young enterprises, talented entrepreneurs, and visionary ideas that contribute to the digitalization of the public sphere.
The Smart Country Convention serves as a unique platform for staying informed about the latest developments in the field of E-Government and Smart City, learning from renowned speakers, and discovering innovative solutions for the public sector. The event offers both in-person and virtual attendance options, ensuring broad participation and facilitating exchange during the times of the Corona pandemic.
