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Convergence - The Global Blockchain Congress

The first edition of the "Convergence" congress brought together the worldwide community of technology start-ups, corporations, regulators and policy makers, researchers and venture capital firms for a 3-day event. The congress gave attendees a chance to develop new networks, hear from experts, and learn how to meet the challenges of blockchain to business and society head on.

banner of the Global Blockchain Congress

European Commission

Convergence

Event details

Agenda

Watch again the event web stream

Check out the latest NEWSLETTER for Convergence and click below to see the pictures of the event

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Masters of Ceremony

  • Claire Doole, Claire Doole Communications-Training & Moderating
  • Pascal van Knijf, Future of Trust CryptoDaily Cuttingwood Academy

Speakers

The speakers at Convergence covered a broad range of expertise - the first set of speakers included:

  • Egils Levits, President of Latvia, former Judge of the European Court of Justice
  • Roberto Viola, Director-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, European Commission
  • Olivier Guersent, Director-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, European Commission
  • Gerard de Graaf, Director Communications Networks, Content and Technology, European Commission
  • Silvio Micali, MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), A.M.Turing Prize Winner
  • Samia Melhelm, World Bank Group
  • Pietro Marchionni, Agencia per l'Italia Digitale (AGID)
  • Julie Maupin, International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications
  • Masanori Kusunoki, CTO, Head of Technology and Design Division, Japan Digital Design, Inc., Executive Advisor to Government CIO of Japan 
  • Cristina Aranda, Taiger
  • Chris Zhong, Blockchain Philanthropy Foundation/ Accenture Australia
  • Denis Robitaille, World Bank Group Vice President, Information and Technology Solutions, and WBG Chief Information Officer
  • Caroline Malcom, OECD
  • Franz von Weizsäcker, GIZ
  • Enrique Factor Santoveña, Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD)
  • Alakanani Itireleng, Satoshi Centre
  • Christoph Steck, Director Public Policy and Internet, Telefónica
  • Caroline D.C. Madagow, Grassroots Economics
  • Sheila Warren, Worls Economic Forum
  • Roberto Fernàndez Hergueta, Everis/ NTT Data
  • Michèle Finck, Max Planck Institute
  • Jesus Ruiz, Alastria
  • Stefan Junestrand, CEO, Grupo Tecma Red
  • Stela Mocan, World Bank
  • Peteris Zilgalvis, European Commission
  • Rebecca Hoffman, OOC Oil & Gas Blockchain Consortium
  • Zenu Sharma, The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, St. John's University
  • Chris Berg, RMIT Blockchain Innovation Hub
  • Núria Ávalos, Director of Blockchain, RPA and Digital Experimentation, Repsol
  • Pelle Braendgaard, uPort
  • Yuuko Kawai, Bank of Japan
  • Haroldo Jayme Martins Froés Cruz, CTO, Banco Central do Brasil
  • Jennifer D'hoir, The French Digital Asset Association (FD2A)
  • Ken Timsit, Managing Director, ConsenSys
  • Amandine Doat, Ledger
  • Dr. Bitange Ndemo, Chair of the Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence Taskforce, Government of Kenya
  • Elizabeth Renieris, Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University
  • George M. Giaglis, Institute for the Future, University of Nicosia
  • Ismael Arribas, Kunfud
  • Emmanuelle Ganne, World Trade Organization
  • Ling Wu, TBCASoft
  • Caroline Anstey, Inter-American Development Bank & World Economic Forum
  • Bart Preneel, KU Leuven/ Tioga capital
  • Narae Lee, Blockcrafters Co. Ltd
  • Jumpei Miwa, Financial Service Agency of Japan
  • Almudena de la Mata, Blockchain Intelligence/ BI Law Institute
  • Sonia Palomo, IASP
  • Dirk Bullmann, European Central Bank
  • Jiang Yu, Zhong Run Huantong CO. L.T.D
  • Harald Gruber, European Investment Bank
  • Ovais Sarmad, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
  • Luz Parrondo, Pompeu Fabra University
  • Tom Baumann, Climate Chain Coalition
  • Bernhard Kowatsch, World Food Programme
  • Takeshi Fukuizumi, Softbank Corp
  • Richard Williams, EBRD
  • Manuel Machado, Worldline
  • Santosh Misra, Government of Tamil Nadu, India
  • Alejandro Pardo Vegezzi, Inter-American Development Bank, LACChain
  • Erich Spangenberg, IPwe
  • Salvatore Moccia, Solbridge University Korea
  • Jakkampudi Adiseshaiah Chowdary, The Blockchain Standards Committee of India
  • Masamba Thioye, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
  • Olivier Zephir, Technoport Incubator
  • Miguel Fernandes, Dengun Digital Group
  • John Karanja, BitHub Africa
  • Greg Medcraft, OECD
  • Soren Gigler, European Commission

Participants

A wide range of global organisations, companies, governments, blockchain startups and organisations and universities also participated at Convergence. Among them:

  • Central Banks: European Central Bank, Central Bank of Brazil, Bank of Lithuania, Spanish Central Bank.
  • Regulators: European Data Protection Board, Autorité des Marchés Financiers France, Japanese Financial Services Authority, Spanish Data Protection Agency
  • Key European Organisations: European Commission, European Parliament, European Economic and Social Committee, the EU Blockchain Partnership (EBP), which includes representatives working on blockchain from all EU Member States as well as Norway and Liechtenstein
  • Governments: All EU Member States will be represented through the EBP; and by individual representatives of the governments of Brazil and Kenya
  • Blockchain Companies and Organisations: ConsenSys, IOTA, IBM, uPort, Enterprise Ethereum Alliance 
  • Corporations: Telefónica, Repsol, Everis/NTT
  • International Organisations: World Bank, World Economic Forum
  • International Standards Bodies: IEEE, ISO (TC 307), ITU
  • Associations: IoT Congress, IASP (International Association of Science Parks)
  • Academia: University of Málaga, University of South Korea, Frankfurt School Blockchain Center

Up-to-date information on the agenda and participants can be found on the event website.

About the organisers

INATBA

On 3 April 2019, the International Association of Trusted Blockchain Applications (INATBA) celebrated its global launch in Brussels in the presence of Commissioner Mariya Gabriel and Director-General Roberto Viola. Since April, the association has grown from 105 to almost 150 members. Numerous governments and international organisations have asked for affiliation as advisors to INATBA’s Governmental Advisory Board.

Alastria 

Alastria is a public permissioned blockchain platform in Spain that supports interoperability with various DLT technologies.

The EU Blockchain and Observatory is an EU-funded initiative regrouping different experts and stakeholders, which organises regular events, workshops and reports around blockchain and other DLT innovation. 

Media Contacts

You can reach the joint PR team of Convergence - the Global Blockchain Congress via email.

Map / Location

Trade Fair and Congress Center of Malaga, Avenida José Ortega y Gasset 201, 29006, Cortijo de Torres II, Málaga, Andalucía

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