Swiss ICT Symposium 2017: Under the sign of algorithms and visions
The application of digital media also determined the Swiss ICT Symposium 2017. Especially in the IT sector, new technologies and media are used, but sometimes pose challenges. Swiss ICT organised the symposium for the last time in Lucerne on 14 November 2017 for an open dialogue between the ICT sector, research, business and sport.
The Swiss ICT Symposium showed: In order to illuminate the new media, software and hardware, to be able to safely tread digital paths in IT services, you need framework conditions, know-how, openness and critical questioning. In Switzerland, perhaps also a little more openness towards disruptive business models. This is how one could sum up some of the highly interesting presentations at this year's symposium. "Many see digitization as a threat," said Thomas C. Flatt, President of Swiss ICT, at a conference on the second day of the event. However, one should seize the challenges of the time and actively shape them in Switzerland as well.
No locks
"It makes no sense to declare war on economic sectors by imposing network blocks on online gambling," continued the President of Swiss ICT. In a globalised world, in a liberal society such as Switzerland, anyone who allows and orders blocks is putting protectionist motives above the freedom of the Internet, market ecology and IT development. As other symposium presentations revealed, the IT sector is now working specifically in interfaces between games and science, coordinated data networks and big data.
Even the head of the Reporting and Analysis Centre for Information Assurance MELANI in the Federal Department of Finance stated: "Network blocks would be the wrong approach in Switzerland. Such interventions - except in the case of violations of the law - should be carried out with restraint. After all, you only block the users, not the providers." Lukas Morscher, who gave his talk after Lamia, then also said: "Before critical lobbies want to ban digital models in the free market economy, they should consider three conditions: 1.) Legal guidelines; 2.) Public interest; 3.) Proportionality of a regulation.
Swiss ICT Award
Basically, the above-mentioned keynote speakers aim to sensitize different sectors of the local economy, but also small businesses, to new digital technologies and opportunities. Around 800 guests received insights, recommendations and motivational boosts on 14 November. For example, from the new honorary president of FC Basel, Dr Bernhard Heusler, to make the right decisions for their projects.
On the evening of the event, everything revolved around the ICT Award. The most important award in the Swiss IT industry went to two forward-looking companies: Nomos System AG. The AG developed a universally usable IoT automation software. Advertima AG won the Swiss ICT Newcomer Award 2017 for its experience management system based on learning algorithms. The audience award was won by SwissCognitive, "a hub to meet, exchange, connect, debate and in the future maybe even decide."
The Swiss ICT Award is moving to Zurich in 2018 and will have new organisers. Next year, the "Swiss ICT Award" and the "Swiss Digital Transformation Award" will be presented under the joint title "Swiss Digital Economy Award" on 21 November 2018 in Zurich's Samsung Hall.
