Welcome to WEDS - WITSA EMERGING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS 2016!
We are very pleased to announce a unique opportunity for digital Entrepreneurs to showcase and be recognized for their innovative digital solutions capable of transforming the wellbeing, prosperity, connectivity or productivity of others around the world. This new WITSA initiative centers around the 2016 World Congress on IT in Brasilia (Oct. 3-5).
If you consider that your company has an innovative solution capable of positively impacting lives around the world, which has already been implemented and effective in one or more locations, WITSA encourages you to apply for WEDS - WITSA EMERGING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS 2016.
The Emerging Digital Solutions program recognizes early-stage or veteran companies, as long as the solution presented is new and largely scalable to other locations throughout the world. WEDS is looking for solutions to be presented to interested policy makers, businesspersons and stakeholders with the potential to boost its development and deployment, aiming to significantly impact individuals, groups and society. Solutions are not limited to any specific area. The following areas provide examples:
Citizenship / Education / Healthcare / Public Safety / Urban Mobility / Financial Services & FinTech / Environmental / Agricultural / Disabilities / Conflict Resolutions / Conservation / Water Utilization / Supply Chain Optimization / Citizen & Customer Relationship / Social Entrepreneurship / and others...
WITSA also welcomes a broad range of innovative technology platforms used to implement the solution, representing the latest trends, such as:
Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud Computing, 4th Industrial Revolution, Blockchains, Wearables, Big Data, Smart Cities, Machine Learning, Autonomous Agents, etc.
Be sure to apply no later than August 10, 2016 at www.wcit2016.com/weds in order to be considered for the WITSA EMERGING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS SHOWCASE, where you will be given an opportunity to present your Solution to potential clients & partners and IT Leaders from around the planet during the World Congress on Information Technology – WCIT 2016, in Brasilia – Brazil, from October 3rd to 5th. If selected, you will be provided the following:
· One (1) Complementary (Economy) Airline Ticket to Brasilia, Brazil
· Four (4) Nights Lodging
· One (1) Full Delegates Registration Package
· An opportunity to showcase your product or service at the 2016 World Congress on IT.
· Your Solution will be a candidate for the WITSA 2016 Global ICT Excellence Awards (Awards Ceremony at WCIT 2016 Gala Dinner on October 4, 2016)
Full instructions and the application form can be found at http://www.wcit2016.com/weds
About WITSA
The World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) is the leading recognized international voice of the global ICT industry, whose members from over 80 countries and economies represent more than 90 percent of the world ICT market. WITSA is dedicated to advocating policies that advance industry growth and development; facilitating international trade and investment in ICT products and services; strengthening WITSA's national industry associations; and providing members with a broad network of professional contacts.
WITSA members are leaders in a globally interconnected marketplace. Because the challenges facing the ICT industry are undisputedly global in nature, WITSA members work together to achieve a shared vision on important issues of common interest. WITSA makes it possible for its members - ranging from Mongolia and Argentina to Kenya and the United States - to identify common issues and priorities, exchange valuable information, and present a united position on industry issues. For more information on WITSA, please visit www.witsa.org
WCIT 2016
The World Congress on Information Technology, which has taken place every two years since 1978, is organized by WITSA. The WCIT is based on four main pillars: speeches, exhibitions, B2B meetings, and social events. These afford a unique opportunity for expanding businesses and investments in companies and ideas, while generating competitiveness in the global market.
With the theme, "Fulfilling the Promise of the Digital Age: Challenges and Opportunities", the 20th WCIT in Brasilia on October 3-5, 2016 will be staging debates on the role of business leaders, best practices, policy challenges and opportunities, as well as digital inclusion and innovations. The goal is to devise innovative technology development strategies as a tool for building an interactive society, which will promote advances in education, healthcare, and transportation, as well as other goods and services that impact the quality of life for people in every corner of the world. The event will address how people can utilize technology to improve growth and accessibility by sharing new and innovative ideas. In addition, it will tackle how citizens can be empowered in bringing about positive changes throughout the world to improve the quality of life for all people.
For more information on WCIT 2016, see www.wcit2016.com.
World Congress on IT Background
First held in 1978, the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) is unique in its global perspective on ICT issues and its ability to draw users, providers, media and academia from around the world. Global business, government and academic leaders discuss emerging markets, legal and policy issues, political and economic trends, emerging technologies, ICT user perspectives and business opportunities in the global marketplace.
Among the featured speakers are internationally recognized leaders from government and industry. As an example, the 1998 World Congress had over 1900 delegates from 93 countries, with over 100 sponsoring organizations. WCIT 2000, held in Taipei, and WCIT 2002, held in Adelaide, Australia, were equally successful, with Former US President, Bill Clinton, Prime Minster Thatcher, President Mikhail Gorbachev, Bill Gates and other notables featured in the programs. WCIT 2004 took place in Athens, Greece, and WCIT 2006 in Austin, Texas. WCIT 2006 hosted some 2,000 delegates from over 80 countries and featured keynote speakers such as General Colin Powell, Steve Ballmer, Paul Otellini, Michael Dell, Anne Mulcahy, John Gage, Don Tapscott and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The 2008 World Congress on IT took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. WCIT 2008 hosted over 3,000 delegates. The 2010 World Congress on IT took place in Amsterdam also included delegates from over 90 countries and won the European Best Event Awards (EuBEA) Award as the best European Congress and Convention in 2010. The 2012 World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2012) took place in Montréal, Canada from October 22 to 24. The event brought together 2,500 participants, including delegates and exhibitors, from 62 countries at the Palais des congrès de Montréal for a three-day conference under the theme of "ONE Vision or a Global Digital Society". The program was extremely well received by the information and communication technology (ICT) community: over 75 keynotes and panelists took the stage including Larry King who chaired a roundtable of senior ICT executives. Don Tapscott was also onsite as WCIT 2012 host to integrate the many conversations and make sense of the different perspectives about the digital society. The economic impact of the WCIT 2012 Congress was estimated at 5.5 million dollars for the city of Montréal and the province of Québec. WCIT 2014 was held from September 29 to October 1, 2014 at the Expo Guadalajara Convention Center; Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. With the theme "Creating Collaboratively the Digital Age", this spectacular was attended by 2,671 delegates from 49 countries. It offered a high-level program featuring 107 speakers participating in 14 panels, 10 keynotes, 14 workshops and 11 special events. The exhibition area had 11 international pavilions, 52 exhibitors from the IT industry and more than 1,000 business meetings took place during the congress.
The next WCIT will be held on October 3-5, 2016 at the CICB Brasilia International Convention Center; Brasilia, Brazil, with the following theme: "Fulfilling the Promise of the Digital Age: Challenges and Opportunities".
The following is a list of those WITSA member associations which have either hosted or are scheduled to host a World Congress, through 2021:
2016
October 3-5, 2016
CICB Brasilia International Convention Center; Brasilia, Brazil
Theme: "Fulfilling the Promise of the Digital Age: Challenges and Opportunities"
http://wcit2016.com/
2017
September 10-14, 2017
TWTC Exhibition Halls and TICC; Taipei, Taiwan
Theme: " "Fulfilling the Promise of the Digital age"
2018
March 2018 in Hyderabad, India
2019
October 1-5, 2019
Meridian Expo Center; Yerevan, Armenia
2020
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2021
Dhaka, Bangladesh
WCIT Host Sites At-a-Glance
2021 – Dhaka, Bangladesh 2002 – Adelaide, Australia
2020 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2000 – Taipei, Taiwan
2019 – Yerevan, Armenia 1998 – Fairfax, Virginia, USA
2018 – Hyderabad, India 1996 – Bilbao, Spain
2017 – Taipei, Chinese Taipei 1994 – Yokohama, Japan
2016 – Brasilia, Brazil 1990 – Washington D.C, USA
2014 – Guadalajara, Mexico 1988 – Paris, France
2012 – Montreal, Canada 1986 – Toronto, Canada
2010 – Amsterdam, Netherlands 1984 – Tokyo, Japan
2008 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1982 – Copenhagen, Denmark
2006 – Austin, USA 1980 – San Francisco, USA
2004 – Athens, Greece 1978 – Barcelona, Spain