Thinking in Billions is an official side event of Latitude59. In 2024, the yearly summit for government representatives and innovators from all industries will meet on May 22 at the Nobel Hall in Noblessner. Read more about the event, programs and speakers on the official web page or sign up here – Thinking in Billions 2024 is open to all with a Latitude59 2024 pass.
Thinking in Billions was designed to shed light on the various measures that innovative policymakers are testing out locally in collaboration with the private sector. Governments and the public sector plays a pivotal role by facilitating regulatory sandboxes, offering guidance, resources, and flexibility. This collaborative effort empowers innovators, regulators and investors to navigate emerging technologies effectively, fostering a dynamic ecosystem of innovation.
Regulations can either encourage innovation and economy or slow it down. In 2024, Thinking in Billions is focusing on how governments can offer a legal playground for experimentation, allowing companies to navigate through regulatory requirements while developing groundbreaking solutions. A special focus will be on the term “regulatory sandboxes” as the enablers of transformational innovation for the private sector and an endless learning accelerator for the public sector.
The stage program will deliver discussions on the latest developments in the use of AI and Data. Another focus-point will be on Health Tech – what kind of policies are needed for the vertical to truly thrive and benefit the wider population. In addition to fostering innovation, we must also focus on resilience. Dual use in Defense Tech is crucial for both military and civilian applications, serving as a catalyst for innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The 3 blocks of the stage program
AI and Data
AI is everywhere and we can feel its impact daily. However, we must not turn a blind eye to regulations that we are about to face regarding AI and how these can either foster innovation or slow it down. The AI and Data panel is focusing on ethical, regulatory, technical and innovation framework to enable AI development.
Our experts from various backgrounds will discuss what is the impact on the AI act, what support is actually needed from the private sector side, what is the role in international regulative sandboxes, how sandboxes can raise trust regarding AI and enable innovation, and what startups have to look out for regarding the EU AI act.
Health Tech
This part of the stage program will be looking for a formats that allow innovative solutions to reach the market faster in the field of Health Tech, in Estonia and beyond. Regulations can be an obstacle rather than a driving force – as a country, how can we offer Health Tech companies an easier way to chew through the field; how can we reach faster solutions in cooperation with the state and the private sector, so that we can test innovative and new ideas.
Dual-Use and Defence Tech
We will be focusing Dual-Use and Defense Tech, as well as how the Dual-Use startups can contribute to the Defence Tech industry. What kind of “playground” might be needed for success? The keynotes will explore and share best practises on how we can foster innovation faster in the defense tech sector and what dual-use startups can do today to contribute in the defence industry as well as we will hear about the insights regarding importance of civil-military cooperation.
The panelists will dive into the topic and share concrete practices on how and where dual-use startups can test out their products legally with real impact, what is urgently missing from defence tech, what investors are looking for in their next success story, errors and possibilities regarding regulations and sandboxes surrounding defense & dual-use tech today, and why is it now more important than ever to create value both in the civil and military sector.
Thinking in Billions 2023 Keynote: “How to Think in Billions” by Alexander de Carvalho, CIO and co-founder of PUBLIC
Thinking in Billions 2024 is organised in collaboration with Latitude59, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication, Accelerate Estonia and Startup Estonia. Attendance is free with a Latitude59 ticket but prior registration is needed – join the list of attendees by signing up here.
