A Happy New Year’s eve from the SiGMA Group to you
With 2021 coming to a close, it would be good for a summit as forward-thinking as AIBC and the community it unites to instead look back and reflect on how far it’s come. In the ever-evolving field of emerging technology, the year has been a cornerstone in the future of frontier sectors such as the Blockchain, Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning.
Following a long and difficult period of restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Malta Week 2021 saw a grand return of three verticals of the SiGMA Group under one roof. Following our Dubai Summit in May, Malta Week’s AIBC summit went over and above in giving our delegates a glimpse into the near future. During the span of a single week and drawing 13,500 delegates from across the world, we set the stage for a schedule of events like no other. As a hub, incubator and accelerator for innovation, AIBC saw titans such as Brock Pierce, The Moon Carl, John Karony and Michael Saylor talk about the future of the crypto-industry with long-time SiGMA partner Akon discussing crypto’s potential in Africa while also revealing the first ever roll out of his Visa-enabled Akoin card.
The summit also saw the ever-popular Startup pitch with ten participants chosen from a pool of a hundred stands competing for a golden opportunity to win up to €500,000 as well as anything a burgeoning company would need to grow such as consultancy and lead strategies. While the sheer amount of brilliant ideas in the Startup Village was a sight to behold, Mysa took home the prize with the innovative idea of combining the latest in blockchain technology to decentralize real estate investing. With their fantastic pitch, they managed to build the growth of their firm on foundations as solid as their investments.
The AIBC Awards, held in SkyClub under the futuristic ambience of a cerulean setting, succeeded in letting the rising stars of the world of emerging technology earn the recognition they very much deserve. Hosted by the ever-charismatic Trudy Kerr and Dave Crane, the awards concluded in a rousing speech from our very own Keith Marshall, Head of the SiGMA Foundation on the potential this assembled crowd had to make the world a better place. Speaking on the Foundation’s work in Africa, Keith stated that “I implore you don’t turn a blind eye to people engaged in poverty, be there for them. We have the tools necessary for change.” This then progressed to a philanthropic auction that managed to collect just over €10,000 to further education and digital accessibility in the continent.
The year has been a difficult one for most but it also came with the telltale signs of a brighter future, especially in terms of technological progress. It is in the nature of science and technology to find a path forward no matter the situation and hence it was a pleasure to see cutting edge technology with massive potential enter mainstream space. From xenobots that can clean up the oceans and help in surgery to an AI managing to stand its ground in a debate at the Oxford Union, the future may not be certain but it sure seems to be exciting. In terms of regulation, crypto’s massive strides have not gone unnoticed with policymakers around the globe scrambling for a response. With leading figures from the IMF calling for a global policy, we can now truly say that Blockchain has become an undeniable aspect of modern fintech.
With Malta Week behind us, we can now look forward to the bright skyline of Dubai for AIBC Asia 2022!! As a hub for innovation and enterprise, the United Arab Emirates have ensured that the metropolis is constantly at the forefront of the emerging world of tomorrow and we are beyond proud to be able to host our partners and delegates in one of the beating hearts of the Industrial Revolution 4.0.
Finally, we would like to thank the community that had made AIBC what it was. Even with the restrictions placed on us due to the pandemic, you still managed to make the summit the beacon of the future it was always meant to be. To the pioneers at the bleeding edge, we thank you for being a part of what makes the values of innovation and entrepreneurship that the SiGMA Group as a whole holds close to heart shine. We wish you a very happy holiday and a bright new year.
AIBC returns to the United Arab Emirates:
Drawing the leading figures of the emerging tech world to the Middle Eastern metropoles for cutting edge technology, the 2022 AIBC UAE expo plans to unite the policy-makers, developers, C-suite executives, and legal experts of the burgeoning AI and Blockchain sectors. Through three days of educational panels, inspiring keynote speeches, workshops, and networking events, the expo seeks to create the foundation that the Industrial Revolution 4.0 can be built upon. Join us from the 20th to 23rd March 2022, in UAE.
