During the conference, experts will discuss the impact of these technologies, as well as, debate the various current and future applications of blockchain and AI. The conference will also look at the relevant legal frameworks, with a particular focus on Malta.

“We are delighted to be hosting the ‘Blockchain & AI: Where are they taking us?’ conference,” says Mark Azzopardi from Working Town Events. “Blockchain and AI are set to change our lives — but what do we know about these technologies and what can we expect their impact to be? Have they already had a profound and irreversible effect? This useful and enjoyable conference hopes to answer these questions and more, for those looking to deliver services related to these sectors as well as those who just wish to learn the basics,” Mr Azzopardi adds.

The two-day event will include talks, forums and panel discussions with experts including Helen Burrows, Aviya Arika, Soulla Louca, Godfrey Baldacchino, Joseph Anthony Debono, Claudia Borg, Gordon Pace, Stephanie Fabri, David Galea, Philip Maurice Mifsud, Luis Pallares, Abigail Mamo, Béatrice Collet, Denise De Gaetano, Luis Pallares, Helga Pizzuto, Mark Mallia, Darren Parkin, François Grech, Leonard Bonello, Malcolm Falzon, Ian Gauci, Damian Mifsud and James Muscat Azzopardi.

Working Town Events, an Azure Rock Partners brand, will host the conference in partnership with Blockchain Island Magazine, Zeta, Meta Luminor, the Academy of Business Leaders, Write Me Anything, and Coin Rivet. The event is also accredited by the Malta Institute of Accountants for 8.25 hours of Professional Development in terms of the Accountancy Board’s CPE Scheme.

Tickets for the conference are available online.

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As part of the partnership, SiGMA Group will host exclusive BitAngels networking events in conjunction with the AI & Blockchain Summit events, taking place in Malta this November and in Manila, Philippines, in June 2020.

BitAngels is a community of blockchain investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals with local events hosted in major cities to promote growth and connectivity in the blockchain industry through in-person and online collaboration. This network aims to accelerate blockchain adoption globally by connecting stakeholders through its events.

“With Eman’s extensive business relationships in Malta, ‘the Blockchain Island’, and in Manila, Philippines, he makes the ideal City Leader to broker new blockchain partnerships and introductions across the BitAngels network,” said Michael Terpin, co-founder of BitAngels.

“BitAngels will be instrumental in bringing together the very best that the blockchain sector has to offer,” said Mr Pulis. “Combined with SiGMA Group’s mission to bridge the blockchain sectors from East to West, we expect to supercharge the development of blockchain technologies for the good of the world.”

As part of the partnership, SiGMA Group Founder and CEO Eman Pulis also becomes a BitAngels City Leader for the soon-to-be-launched BitAngels Manila Chapter, while SiGMA Group COO Oliver De Bono takes on the role of City Leader for the forthcoming BitAngels Malta chapter.

The post SiGMA Group partners with BitAngels Investor Network first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

SiGMA Manila and Manila AI and Blockchain Summit will take place on 8 and 9 June 2020 at the SMX Convention Centre in Manila. Asia is leading the way in merging new blockchain and AI technologies with the global iGaming sector. SiGMA Group is strengthening trade ties with the jurisdictions in the region to facilitate fresh business opportunities for European companies, according to the press release. 

“Regulatory turmoil in Europe and increasing appetite in Asia for online gambling and distributed ledger technology (DLT) has led us to take this bold leap forward and launch our two most successful shows in Asia. Whether you are in iGaming, AI, blockchain, or emerging tech, our mission is to support the obvious trend of European brands expanding East, and we are delighted to endorse the great opportunities that exist in Asia”, says Eman Pulis, CEO of SiGMA Group.  

“We do not just want to react to what is going on out there, but we want to take an active, leading role in not only bringing the Asian and European community together but also building long-lasting commercial opportunities,” commented Mr Pulis. The joint expos in Manila are expected to welcome over 600 exhibitors and 11,000 attendees from across the globe. With the launch of SiGMA Manila 2020 and the Manila AI and Blockchain Summit the group hopes to support European companies in forging closer relations with their Asian counterparts and introduce themselves to global companies.

The post SiGMA Group announces summits for Manila 2020 first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

“This year the government has once again increased the allocated budget by 30% to the tune of €800,000 for the Student Placement Programme,” said Mr Schembri. “This is proof of the government’s commitment to give an opportunity to our youths to have hands-on working experience in the industry of the future. This preparedness can only be achieved however if we are able to build on the academic prowess of our youth and provide them with opportunities such as these,” the minister said.

“The number of companies requiring employees having knowledge of emerging technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, internet of things, and virtual reality is always on the increase,” Mr Schembri added. “This is an opportunity for you all and focusing your studies in these areas will surely contribute for you to have a successful career.”   

In addition, MITA’s Head of Strategy and Business Emmanuel Darmanin underlined that MITA, together with employer partners, has been able in the last five years to offer over 1,600 placements in all sectors which have provided exposure to the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and ICT using industry, as the press release says. 

“In line with the various initiatives related to emerging technologies, this year’s event has been created with a direct focus on some of these technologies. I encourage to also make use of MITA’s New Emerging Technologies Lab, experience the practical use of these technologies, and above all make the most out of your Student Placement Programme,” said Mr Darmanin. 

Moreover, the students took part in workshops related to virtual reality, artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain amongst others through which the winners were awarded Delta Tech Week. 

During the event, it was also announced that the government official blockchain event Delta Summit will be transformed into the Government Tech Week between 30 of September and 6 of October 2019 and will cover different areas such as AI, IoT, blockchain, eSports, game development and space research.

The post MITA student placement to host 380 students in 2019 first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The show brought together key players from the sectors of artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and other emerging technologies to discuss and shape the future.

Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat said in his keynote speech that emerging technologies should not be feared but rather embraced and utilised for offering a better life. He also said his government will keep supporting these verticals.

“The results have been overwhelming. We are staying a step ahead, helping the government bring all these great minds to Malta, fueling the Maltese economy by supporting the tech ecosystem,” commented Eman Pulis, Founder of Malta A.I. & Blockchain Summit and CEO of SiGMA Group. “There are plenty of incentives for A.I. and blockchain companies to relocate to Malta, so what better forum than a summit like this to bring everyone together. I think it is safe to assume that it is the largest show in its category worldwide so far this year.”

The list of VIP speakers included Brock Pierce, Ben Goertzel, Larry Sanger, Patrick Chang, and Noel Sharkey, all sharing valuable insights and enriching the audience in the process. Moreover, keynotes from industry giants Noel Sharkey and Bobby Lee had a fundamental meaning for the audience, with Bobby Lee emphatic on bitcoin’s staying power, saying he believed it would eventually go up to a million dollars, as the press release says.

The post AIBC Summit attracts 5,500 delegates for spring show first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The prime minister said that Malta is investigating ways to provide assurances through blockchain and distributed ledger technologies (DLT) not only for the island nation but also for Europe.

He said that moving beyond the initial “buzz”, Malta indeed is becoming the “blockchain island”. Tagging Malta as the first country that provides certainty and assurances in the sector, the PM mentioned that since the three landmark bills were passed last year the blockchain space has gone through rapid development.

Mr Muscat said that unfortunately automation is often received with scepticism, however artificial intelligence-based solutions enable services to operate more efficiently and accurately. Emphasising the importance of technology, the prime minister said that within the next five years, there will be more than five billion internet of things devices.

‘High-flying’ sector

Taking the floor after the prime minister, Junior Minister for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation Silvio Schembri started by tagging the blockchain sector as a “high-flying” one, confirming that Malta has changed since the first blockchain summit was held in November 2018.

The junior minister emphasised that both the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) and the Malta Digital Innovations Authority (MDIA) have rolled up their sleeves to work on helping businesses and startups enter and navigate in the sector.

In order to make sure that businesses looking for investors are safe, virtual financial asset (VFA) agents and auditors are being appointed by the related authorities, who will serve as gatekeepers in the space.

Mr Schembri praised the “diverse pool of talent” Malta has, expressing his high-hopes that these players will help boost Malta’s economy. He said the government is committed to upskilling talent, and mentioned the recent launch of the first DLT Masters course at the University of Malta.

Times today experience a fast digital revolution happening, which will not stop at blockchain, according to the junior minister, therefore Malta is committed to exploring further emerging technologies.

Mr Schembri once again stressed their work for turning Malta into an AI launchpad where businesses can prototype their products before springboarding them to the world. He also mentioned the commercial potential related to space, hence the set up of Malta’s Space Task Force.

He further elaborated on the emerging importance of eSports, ensuring that Malta is already investigating the sector’s potential and is ready to make related steps.

The post Technology should be embraced not feared, Maltese PM says first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

The move will take advantage of expanding interest in the Middle East for the emerging technology of online gaming due to “its potential to invigorate the economy and shake up governance,” the event organisers say. While Malta continues its focus on regulation, the Emirates and its neighbouring states are looking at blockchain with fresh eyes which SiGMA hopes will help its operations flourish.

The company says that its move to the Middle East coincides with “other major companies looking to get a finger in the blockchain pie, with industry players instead eyeing the United States as their base for business,” according to the press statement sent to BM.

“As part of the company’s strategic growth, the plan for 2020 will focus on strengthening core events in Malta and on the smooth running of the inaugural opening of the Emirates A.I. & Blockchain Summit. Rounding off an ambitious expansion plan, 2020 will also set the stage for the launch of SiGMA in the Philippines, with the event making its Asian debut in Manila,” says Eman Pulis, CEO if SiGMA.

Quick evolution

SiGMA — which is used interchangeably for the organising firm and the iGaming event — has gone through a rapid transformation since the first event was held in 2014. That year the firm says it moved into an untapped niche of opportunity within the local iGaming market. By 2015, SiGMA expanded operations and doubled its numbers. With attendance figures on the rise, 2017 marked entry to Europe, however, organisers say the plunge for becoming a world-class event came in 2018, “with an elite selection of delegates, policymakers and thought leaders pouring in from across the globe,” according to the press statement.

“It is this kind of international support and interest that has helped propel SiGMA into truly becoming the world’s iGaming village. Through a commitment to quality and years of successful operations, SiGMA has nurtured the development of a strong brand, allowing for its evolution into a global influencer on the iGaming world stage,” the press statement says.

Expanding operations

In 2018, the company expanded operations and launched a show dedicated to the emerging blockchain sphere; the Malta Blockchain Summit, which received positive feedback from the players in the industry. The show was also the launchpad for three pieces of Maltese government regulation; on blockchain and distributed ledger technologies (DLTs), and the initiation of a government Artificial Intelligence Task Force.

The blockchain summit in November 2018 attracted 8,500 participants and brought speakers such as W. Scott Stornetta, John McAfee, the Winklevoss Twins and Sophia the Robot to Malta’s stage. The organisers say that their summit took the scene by storm and has secured its place as the “leading event in blockchain tech”.

As of 2019, the show has expanded focus into exploring more niches and today runs rebranded as the Malta AI & Blockchain Summit. This year, two blockchain shows will be held in Malta — in addition to SiGMA’s iGaming summit and the first Cannabiz Summit World—; one in May and another one in November. The shows aim to attract a global crowd of exhibitors by boosting its offering to include artificial intelligence, quantum tech, internet of things and big data.

Cannabiz Summit World

The company will also host a medical cannabis summit; Cannabiz Summit World, where it hopes to offer a platform for leading researchers and regulators to explore the revolutionary cannabis industry to boost economic growth and revitalise the health industry.

Organisers hope that the event will lay the foundations for an evolutionary leap into medical cannabis as the worlds of science, technology, and agribusiness converge.

“The summit is a reflection not only of Malta’s efforts through Malta Enterprise and the Medicines Authority in attracting the most reputable firms to the islands but is also a reflection of the direction many states worldwide are taking in creating the right legislative framework for medical cannabis research, production and/or consumption,” the press statement says.

The post Malta’s SiGMA expands operations into Middle East, Asia first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

Last year’s summit brought W. Scott Stornetta, John McAfee, the Winklevoss Twins and Sophia the Robot to Malta’s shores along with 8,500 delegates. Although last year’s summit predominantly focused on distributed-ledger technology solutions and blockchain, as of this year the organisers are expanding their scope of view.

“We are moving beyond the hype by discussing not only blockchain but also AI [artificial intelligence], quantum tech, big data, and IoT [internet of things] this year,” says Eman Pulis, Founder of the Malta AI & Blockchain Summit. “Before the big show in Malta in November, we are also hosting a number of networking dinners across the world,” Mr Pulis says, referring to the end-year AIBC.

Throughout the year, the AIBC is organising a roadshow of exclusive C-level dinners entitled the Knights of Blockchain. The Knights of Blockchain dinners are “lavish invite-only events with no expense spared in the company of 200 C-level Executives from the industry”, the organisers say about the series. “I strongly believe that business is not made between companies, it is made between people,” Mr Pulis adds.

“We are moving beyond the hype by discussing not only blockchain but also AI, quantum tech, big data, and IoT this year.”

To support startups within the sector, the AIBC has also invited 100 startups to claim a booth on the expo free of charge, giving them access to 700 attending investors. “We had overwhelming feedback from all the disruptive startups that we welcomed to claim their free booth last year,” says Mr Pulis.

“However, as we had so many interesting and promising projects that we could not accommodate in the fierce competition of the available space that we had, we are happy to increase to 100 free booths this year to boost innovation and facilitate connections between startups and investors so that this sector can flourish,” he adds.

The speaker line-up for May’s summit includes world-renowned names in the AI and blockchain space, including Tim Draper; Roger Ver; Ben Parr, Co-Founder of Octane AI and world-famous author of Captivology; Patrick Chang, Director at Samsung NEXT; Tone Vays, renowned bitcoin/blockchain researcher with more than 80,000 YouTube subscribers; Brock Pierce, Chairman of the Bitcoin Foundation; Alexander Borodich, Founder of Universa; Eric Van Der Kleij, CEO at Centre for Digital Revolution, and many more.

Last minute passes are still available for visitors, while exhibitors and sponsors can reach out to the organisers to explore possibilities.

The post Malta AI & Blockchain Summit’s spring edition opens doors 23 May first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

MRO19 was previously known as the Malta Robotics Olympiad — hence the abbreviation MRO — and will feature six competitions including the Robo Sumo, the Malta Robo League, DiY Bots and the E-Sports festival. These events are aimed at giving students, their families and gamers the opportunity to showcase their skills against international competitors, says the press release.

The Digital Careers Expo and the Gadgets Expo are two new expos which will be featured in MRO19. The Digital Careers Expo aims at bridging the gap between digital education and digital recruitment and will feature information about employment opportunities from large digital industry recruitment agencies. The Gadgets Expo will feature the MRO19 in the consumer digital world.

Entrance to this event is free and their opening times are as follows; Friday, 10 May, from 16:00 to 22:00, Saturday, 11 May, from 9:00 to 22:00 and Sunday, 12 May, from 9:00 to 18:00. The MRO19 will be helping raise funds for the Alive Charity Foundation and the visitors who make a donation will be able to try out an electric car or a Segway.

The post Malta’s renamed tech and gadgets expo opens today first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.

“A Mexican national AI strategy will allow Mexico to align sectors’ interests and funding strategies, to boost the country’s competitiveness, and to democratise knowledge around AI development and adoption, with a focus on ethics and social impact,” Ms Martínez says when introducing the country’s AI vision.

Mexico published its national white paper entitled “Towards an AI Strategy in Mexico: Harnessing the AI Revolution” in June 2018, a collaboration project between Oxford Insights and C Minds, commissioned by the British Embassy in Mexico. The report gives an international overview of AI policies, assesses opportunities in Mexico and offers recommendations for the development of a Mexican national AI strategy. The project provides estimates of the impact of AI in the Mexican labour market in the next 20 years and gives policy recommendations in five key areas: governance, government and public services; research and development; capacity, skills, and education; data infrastructure; and ethics and regulation. “The main challenge to first creating and then sustaining and implementing the strategy is the change in administrations both federal and local levels. The existence of AI champions on all levels — public servants and legislators — is key for the strategy to succeed,” Ms Martínez says.

“The main challenge to first creating and then sustaining and implementing the strategy is the change in administrations both federal and local levels. The existence of AI champions on all levels — public servants and legislators — is key for the strategy to succeed,”

says Cristina Martínez Pinto of C Minds.

Participants of the project started by mapping the ecosystem’s key actors across sectors: public sector, industries, start-ups, academia, and civil society. They interviewed 68 experts to understand, from their different viewpoints, the main challenges and opportunities for accelerating AI development.

“The policy recommendations developed in consultation with key actors of the ecosystem led to the creation of two relevant policy mechanisms. One is the creation of an AI Subcommission in the Interagency Commission for the Development of Electronic Government (CIDGE in Spanish), on the federal level. The other is the creation of IA2030Mx, cofounded and co-led by C Minds, a cross-sector coalition that is working to develop a more comprehensive national AI agenda and that recently published the results from their national AI survey, which had a reach of over 1,500 respondents across all states of Mexico,” Ms Martínez describes how their work contributed to the AI progress in the country.

Markets welcome AI recommendations

Sectors have appeared to receive C Minds’ recommendations well, as the report provided a basis for new collaborations and catalysed networking opportunities. Even though these are only initial steps towards a needed AI agenda, C Minds believes that current progress has led to a better articulation of the ecosystem and a better understanding of both the potential and risks of the AI revolution for Mexico.

Adopting a clearly transparent and democratic approach, the report is handled as a “living document”, and is available for further strengthening and editing online by anyone. “Through C Minds’ AI for Good Lab and through IA2030Mx we aim to deepen the debate and understanding of artificial intelligence in Mexico. Considering the current speed of technological development and evolution, it is important for the input toward a future Mexican AI strategy to be flexible and allow for multiple iterations, as it will be for the strategy itself,” Ms Martínez says.

Mexico sports a vibrant and diverse AI ecosystem. “We believe that a national AI strategy will help this ecosystem thrive even further and should recognise that AI, like any other technology, is a mere tool at the service of humanity. The strategy must be built about people and focus on harnessing the potential of responsible AI for both social and economic development,” Ms Martínez says, expressing ideas that echo the main cornerstones of Finland’s AI strategy, as Maikki Sipinen, Artificial Intelligence Specialist of Finland’s AI Strategy, discussed their progress with Business Malta earlier.

“We believe that a national AI strategy will help this ecosystem thrive even further … [and it] must be built about people and focus on harnessing the potential of responsible AI for both social and economic development,”

says Cristina Martínez Pinto of C Minds.

Ms Martínez finds that creating an AI strategy is a fascinating journey, one of continuous learning and experimentation, as AI itself is an emerging technology.

“Understanding Maltese values, ethics and having a country vision is vital for creating a unique strategy tailored to the country’s needs,” Ms Martinez weighs in when asked to share their experiences in order to provide insight for the Maltese progress. “How will the strategy impact Malta’s population in their daily lives? How will Malta’s AI strategy differentiate from other strategies and bring a new perspective to international conversations? These, and many other questions will be at the core of the debates you will soon be starting. We look forward to learning from Malta’s experience and, if needed, to provide more advice based on our own learnings,” Ms Martínez concludes.

The post Mexico sees its AI strategy key for fruitful future first appeared on The Malta Business Weekly.