An Amazing Event and time!
My partner and I were part of an incredible event this week. The EDD22 where experienced and young entrepreneurs came together to discuss moving forward in a digital world and how to have complete inclusivity for all countries.
My partner, Geoff, was a moderator for the Digital Studio (2) and I was basically there to help him and to take bullet point notes for each session. I must say, it was an impressive two days and a lot went into and behind it.
The event took place in Brussels, surrounded by beautiful structures and land marks. So, not only did we enjoy and learn a lot while at the conference, but we made sure to enjoy some of our beautiful and fun surroundings while there.
Day One
During the conference, in Studio 1, from the first session, we heard how there is an initiative to work with Africa’s green growth and progress, affordability and capital, climate resilience, guaranteed digital and infrastructure and what is called twin transition. Twin transition is meaningful connectivity, greener internet and there are three things it concentrates on. Those three things are accept the circular economy (use, recycle, reuse); impact assessments, minimize by sharing, affordability in connectivity; and wholistic response.
From the second session, we heard about startups and young entrepreneurs. The panel discussed AfriLabs, one of the most growing entrepreneurships; using digital tools to reach the smaller entrepreneurs and smaller financing; the global gateway; software sustainability objects; partnerships being so important; and having a growth place for young entrepreneurs and startups.
The third session dealt with innovations between Europe and Africa. The panel discussed the importance of designing programs, having programs to help entrepreneurs, people who know how to adapt the network, trust and funding, and how feed back from entrepreneurs is so important to listen to.
In Sessions four, the panel discussed the EU bringing priorities to open and secure internet, being more open to connectivity and making the internet stronger in protection against malwear and censorship. They talked about the importance of digital education and rights for children and women in more friendly technology and understanding. Inclusivity being so important in today’s world.
Session five had a panel discussing connection struggles; tech for democracy and human rights; internet shut downs, India being the number one country last year with 109 shut downs; so many factors shutting down the internet; human rights being limited and key word filtering; and about tools being abused and misused.
Session six was a panel of Spanish speaking women discussing the online gender-based violence and how there needs to be advancing digital rights in Latin America. They talked about having a public campaign of literacy; hope to reposition the topic of gender violence online; work to find out what happens with children online; violence normally found in society is now showing up online; and how sometimes it takes 8 years for a case to get in court.
And this was only the first day! It was filled with so much information and in such a short period of time, but so enlightening. We followed that up the next day with three more sessions.
Day Two
In session seven, the panel discussed digital technologies for inclusive climate and responsive development. They talked about how it took a pandemic to bring out the digital means of communication to the forefront; financial services being important; the role of digital, solution or pollution; ethical and social issues are now environmental issues; developing guidelines for including digital in financial sustainability; mobility services working with public transport; work on biodiversity, destination earth; and blockchain (per Wikipedia: a growing list of records, called blocks, that are securely linked together using cryptography.[1][2][3][4] Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data).
Session eight, the topic was catalyzing young agri-entrepreneurs successes. The panel discussed the importance of starting businesses that use the resources in the area to produce product and providing that product to the local areas. There was a Mango farm and the products they produce and what they plan to do in the future; an organic waste company turning that organic waste into bio-fertilizer; as well as a company called The Market Movers that began providing products to the locals online (a digital platform) that has grown so quickly, starting 10 to 10 thousand and they now reach 500 thousand people by delivery. You could just feel the pride of what they had done.
The last session, session nine, was on tracing textiles and advanced technologies for sustainable value chains. The panel discussed global gateway in textiles for clothing and shoes; the importance of transparency and that it is becoming more available; collaboration across the value chain, facing a lot of problems and complexity but making visible what is invisible; the need to build capacity; and having traceability components.
Needless to say, the information that was shared in the two days we were there, we learned so much and that was just in the studio we were in! There were five topics you could tap into. Those were Digital (where we were), Transport, Climate & Energy, Health, and Education & Research, along with meeting rooms and exhibits you could join.
To learn more you can go to the EDD22 website at: https://eudevdays.eu/programme#anchor-174
While in Brussels
So, while there at the conference, we had to see some sights as well.
We went on a ride of the ferris wheel called The View. It was so great to see all the area in one place!
Then we went to the Grand Place. One of the most beautiful and ornate central squares I have seen yet. I understand that it is extra beautiful at Christmas time with the snow and lights adding to the atmosphere!
We also took in some amazing food, saw the Atomium (picture up top – went inside the structure) and the gorgeous Our Lady of Laeken church. It was all so amazing and I hope we can go again soon.
I look forward to our next journey and where it leads us. 🙂
Belle xo
