Press Release: Convergence Announces Speaker Lineup and Agenda

Global Blockchain Congress, Jointly Organised by the European Commission, the International Association of Trusted Blockchain Applications (INATBA), the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum and Alastria, Aims to Become the Pre-Eminent Blockchain Conference Worldwide

Inaugural Edition Will Bring Together Politicians, Regulators, Central Bankers, Technologists, Entrepreneurs, C-Suite Executives, Blockchain Thought Leaders, Academics and Activists From Around the Globe to the Trade Fair and Congress Center in Málaga, Spain, Between November 11 and 13, 2019

Brussels - September 10, 2019 - The organisers of Convergence - the Global Blockchain Congress have announced the agenda and a first set of speakers for the inaugural event. The conference will bring together over 1,500 participants from the worldwide blockchain community for an intense dialog with regulators, policy makers, industry influencers and members of the social impact community. Convergence will be held at the Trade Fair and Congress Center in Málaga from November 11 to November 13, 2019.

Initial speaker and participant list includes a broad set of organisations, governments, geographies and specialties.

The first set of speakers being announced includes:

• Roberto Viola, Director General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (CNECT), European Commission
• Egil Levits, President of Latvia, former Judge of the European Court of Justice 
• Eva Kaili, Member of the European Parliament
• Denis Robitaille, World Bank Group Vice President, Information and Technology Solutions, and WBG Chief Information Officer
• Enrique Factor Santoveña, Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD)
• Haroldo Jayme Martins Froés Cruz, CTO, Banco Central do Brasil
• Masanori Kusunoki, CTO, Head of Technology and Design Division, Japan Digital Design, Inc., Executive Advisor to Government CIO of Japan  
• Dr. Bitange Ndemo, Chair of the Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence Taskforce, Government of Kenya 
• Sheila Warren, Head of Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology, World Economic Forum
• Jekaterina Govina, Bank of Lithuania
• Núria Ávalos, Director of Blockchain, RPA and Digital Experimentation, Repsol
• Christoph Steck, Director Public Policy and Internet, Telefónica
• Ken Timsit, ConsenSys
• Stefan Junestrand, CEO, Grupo Tecma Red

A wide range of global organisations, companies, governments, blockchain startups and organisations and universities have confirmed their participation at Convergence. Among those being announced today are:

• Central Banks: European Central Bank, Central Bank of Brazil, Bank of Lithuania, Spanish Central Bank.
• Regulators: European Data Protection Board, Autorité des Marchés Financiers France, Japanese Financial Services Authority, Spanish Data Protection Agency 
• Key European Organisations: European Commission, European Parliament, European Economic and Social Committee, the EU Blockchain Partnership (EBP), which includes representatives working on blockchain from all EU Member States as well as Norway and Liechtenstein
• Governments: All EU Member States will be represented through the EBP; additionally today we can announce participation by individual representatives of the governments of Brazil and Kenya
• Blockchain Companies and Organisations: ConsenSys, IOTA, IBM, uPort, Enterprise Ethereum Alliance  
• Corporations: Telefónica, Repsol, Everis/NTT
• International Organisations: World Bank, World Economic Forum
• International Standards Bodies: IEEE, ISO (TC 307), ITU
• Associations: IoT Congress, IASP (International Association of Science Parks)
• Academia: University of Málaga, University of South Korea, Frankfurt School Blockchain Center

Further speakers and organisations, as well as sponsors, will be communicated over the next several weeks. Up-to-date information on the agenda and participants can be found on the event website at www.blockchainconvergence.com.

Announced agenda addresses wide range of “convergent” topics.

Complete with information on the latest industry trends, as well as future challenges that are top of mind, the agenda features a broad program of presentations, panels, workshops, cultural events and roundtable discussions over three days. Convergence will explore cross-cutting issues of direct importance to the industry:

• A World Ledger: DLT Five Years from Now
• Technological Convergence (IoT, Big Data, Quantum Computing, and Blockchain)
• Blockchain for Sustainability
• Stablecoins and Central Bank Digital Currencies
• Distributed Ledgers versus Data Silos 
• Interoperability of Blockchains 
• Blockchain, Data Protection and Privacy

Moreover, workshops and deep dives will connect start-ups and users across these verticals:  

• Finance
• Energy
• Mobility 
• Supply Chains 
• Healthcare
• Smart Cities
• RegTech 

Global Blockchain Challenge to provide awards for cross-disciplinary solutions to UN Sustainable Development Goals

Applications are now open for the Global Blockchain Challenge that will be held on November 11. This is an open innovation initiative to bring together developers, regulators and business people to address challenges around the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Objectives (SDGs) and deliver impactful, cross-disciplinary blockchain-based solutions. Members of the European Parliament will be among the many mentors, and prizes include a European Acceleration Ticket worth 10,000 euros. For more information and to apply please visit: www.blockchainconvergence.com/global-blockchain-challenge/
 

"Blockchain is a transformational technology that is impacting business already. However, many issues around regulatory compliance, interoperability and new business models need fresh thinking from public authorities, policymakers and companies alike. In Málaga, we will have the best occasion to engage with all relevant stakeholders to create solutions and bring the use of blockchain to the next level," comments Christoph Steck, Director Public Policy and Internet for Telefónica.

“Blockchain for Smart Cities offers disruptive functionalities for social change, with the capacity to revolutionise governance, citizens’ participation, and public services. These are the main subjects and opportunities that I look forward to communicate during my talk, and also to meet and discuss with all the industry key players that will be present at the congress,” comments Stefan Junestrand, PhD Architect, CEO Grupo Tecma Red, member of the "EU Blockchain Observatory" and a main contributor to the forthcoming "Blockchain 4 Cities" report by U4SSC (United Nations / ITU).
 

Convergence enables attendees to shape the industry by connecting with thought leaders and influencers, regulators and policy makers. The event is a unique opportunity and can help set blockchain priorities for the coming years. Participants will receive global exposure and a vision of the blockchain “big picture.”

At Convergence, attendees will enjoy a number of exclusive networking opportunities not available at any other blockchain gathering. 

The full agenda, info about the registration and info about sponsorship can be found on the event website at: www.blockchainconvergence.com. dfdsf

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About INATBA

INATBA, the International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications, offers developers and users of DLT a global forum to interact with regulators and policy makers and bring blockchain technology to the next stage. Initiated by the European Commission and launched in April 2019, the association already has a membership base of more than 150 organisations, from start-ups to key industry players of various sectors. The association is additionally supported by an Advisory Board including organizations like the OECD, World Food Program, the World Bank, and the United Nations.

The core objectives of the association are to:

• Establish a permanent dialogue with public authorities and regulators.
• Promote open, transparent and inclusive global governance models for blockchain and DLT.
• Support the development and adoption of interoperability guidelines and global standards.
• Develop sector-specific guidelines and specifications.
• You can find out more about INATBA by visiting inatba.org.

About the European Commission's DG CONNECT

The Directorate‑General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology is the Commission department responsible for developing a digital single market to generate smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in Europe.

The European Commission’s policy for blockchain and other Distributed Ledger Technologies aims at developing a common approach for the EU in the international arena. Blockchain may bring great improvements for the European industry: from start-ups to large corporates, administrations and citizens. It can enable the provision of more efficient services and the emergence of new ones. This in turn can contribute to economic growth, boosting jobs, competition, investment and innovation in the EU.
 
About the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum

The European Blockchain Observatory and Forum is a European initiative to accelerate blockchain innovation and the development of the blockchain ecosystem within the EU, and so help cement Europe’s position as a global leader in this transformative new technology.  

Created as a European Parliament pilot project, the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum is being run under the aegis of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT). Its mission is to:

• Identify and monitor blockchain initiatives and trends in Europe and globally on an ongoing basis.  
• Produce a comprehensive, publicly available source of blockchain knowledge through original research as well as gathering and collating expertise from the best European and global sources.  
• Create an attractive and transparent forum where all of Europe’s blockchain stakeholders, from thought leaders and entrepreneurs to early adopters and the general public, can share experience, debate issues, and reflect on the future of this new technology.  
• Make recommendations on the role the EU could play in accelerating blockchain innovation and adoption.  

You can find more information about the initiative here: www.eublockchainforum.eu
 
About Alastria

Alastria is a non-profit association that promotes the Digital Economy through the development of decentralised technologies/bBlockchain. Alastria is a multi-sector consortium to which more than 500 entities of all sizes and sectors have already joined. The members of Alastria collaborate and compete within a permitted public network, which has the basic tools for the development of blockchain strategies thought in the distribution and organisation of products and services for the Spanish and European market. 

You can find more information about the Alastria here: alastria.io/en/

Media Contacts

You can reach the joint PR team of Convergence - The Global Blockchain Congress via: convergence-prinatba [dot] org (subject: Media%20Inquiry%20for%20Convergence%20-%20The%20Global%20Blockchain%20Congress) (convergence-pr[at]inatba[dot]org)