At the international conference and innovation platform Digital Life Design — DLD for short — in Munich, the focus was on the question of what contribution technology can make to a future worth living in. Under the motto 'What are you adding?', politicians, scientists, journalists, and entrepreneurs from a wide range of fields discussed the topic.
"Only if we see change as an opportunity can we respond to it positively. Only if we better understand digitalization will it no longer frighten us. And only if we get involved ourselves—politically, socially, or in the field of science—can we actively shape the world of tomorrow."
explained Steffi Czerny, co-founder and managing director of DLD, recently in a Interview with Munich StartupAt the opening of the conference, she and DLD Chairman Yossi Vardi reiterated this idea: Never before had a conference agenda been so driven by the willingness and commitment of all speakers and partners to not only address challenges and opportunities, but also to put forward concrete proposals and plans for measurable results.
Society in transition
Nobel Peace Prize winner addressed the issue with clear criticism Mohammad Yunus to the assembled audience, among whom were numerous high-ranking representatives from politics and business.
"We live in a world where 26 people own as much as 50 percent of the entire world population. What do they do with it?"
And:
"There's something terribly wrong with the way we've developed technology. It's up to us humans to decide how technology should evolve."
With his words, Yunus set the tone for some of the panel discussions, noting that digital technologies pose new challenges to political systems. Thanks to modern communication, there are numerous new opportunities for participation – or the danger of leaving entire segments of the population out. Clara Barnett, Digital Inclusion Advisor at the UK Government’s Department for International Development, summed it up in her presentation:
"Almost half of the world's population is still offline. Only a small group is reaping the great benefits of this development. It doesn't have to be this way, but if it continues, we risk leaving billions of people behind. Ask yourselves: How are your products and services solving major global problems?"
European digital policy of the future
European digital policy was also on the agenda DLD an important topic, as the continent currently seems to be in a Tongs to putOn the one hand, the USA, with its cautious data protection rules and increasing economic protectionism under President Trump; on the other hand, China, which is working on total surveillance of its population and, at the same time, is trying to expand its influence into other countries and regions with initiatives like the New Silk Road. Therefore, Andrew Keen, author of 'How To Fix The Future', European politician Axel Voss (CDU), and Xin Li of Caixin Media discussed the future of European digital policy. Keen warned:
"Data protection is the core political issue of the 21st century. If Europe doesn't solve its identity problem, it will never have a unified digital policy."
Also Axel Voss, who sits on the European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee, sees the situation critically:
“If we don’t change, we will be a digital colony – either of the US or of China.”
Regarding the future technology 5G, EU Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, attempted to calm the mood. He stated that Europe controls more than 50 percent of 5G patents, compared to China's 30 percent and the US's only 14 percent. He predicted a paradigm shift for Europe's digital agenda in the post-cloud era, in which quantum technology will play a crucial role. Thierry said:
"Europe missed the first wave of data. My job is not to miss the second wave."
Different industries under the microscope
In addition to the major lines of international politics and social change, the conference also addressed numerous sectors, including Digital Health-area, for which Munich is 'unbeatable ecosystem' applies. Minister of Health Jens Spahn spoke on the DLD stage about the digitalization of the healthcare industry:
“We need to explain to people that using data for health research can really make a difference.”
The mobility sector, in which the Munich ecosystem is active with the Digital Hub Mobility as well as with successful startups, was the topic of the conference. Looking ahead, US economist Jeremy Rifkin The end of the fossil fuel industry is near. Therefore, he calls for a complete rethink of energy production and distribution:
"The technology is here now. We don't need any more research and development. There are no more excuses."
Aenne Burda Award for Creative Leadership
At the DLD conference in Munich, Swiss philanthropist Maja Hoffmann was also honored with the Aenne Burda Award for Creative Leadership. With the founding of the Luma Foundation in 2004, Hoffmann laid the foundation stone for the Luma Arles cultural complex in the French city of Arles. She aims to transform the city into one of Europe's most innovative cultural centers.
Each year, the Aenne Burda Award for Creative Leadership honors women who have made a name for themselves through outstanding entrepreneurial and creative achievements and who thus share Aenne Burda's passion.
About the DLD Conference 2020
Digital Life Design (DLD) took place from January 18 to 20, 2020, in the Alte Kongresshalle on Munich's Schwanthalerhöhe. 1,500 invited guests and over 200 international speakers were expected. This year's motto was 'What are YOU adding?' — in other words, 'How can you contribute?' The conference is organized by Hubert Burda Media.
