The 2018 Preview edition of IFA International, the official daily of the IFA Berlin show.
NEWS Co-innovation
NEWS Co-innovation drives markets at IFA 2018 Exclusive interview Jens Heithecker, IFA Executive Director Jens Heithecker Executive Director, IFA How is IFA changing, or evolving this year? We put the question to IFA Executive Director Jens Heithecker. The interesting thing is, instead of only one industry setting the pace, there are seven, eight, nine industries simultaneously driving innovation forward. And they are interconnected like an ecosystem. Each brings its own knowledge, skills and expertise. We call this phenomenon “coinnovation” – something that requires powerful networks. IFA serves as a linking element by bringing together brands, start-ups, developers, retailers, media and consumers. Exhibitors and visitors alike benefit from the most effective "social network" of all: the face-to-face encounter. How is the IFA+ Summit evolving? What can we expect this year? The IFA+ Summit is a key platform for leading thinkers, global trendsetters, and creative visionaries in regard to the next ten years. The convention showcases disruptive ideas, visions and forward thinking on the future of new, high-tech forms of connectivity and innovative business models. The two-day program is packed with over 50 speakers who draw their inspiration from various fields and share their thoughts on the upcoming decade with visitors to the events. In 2018 there are four subject clusters – Intelligence, Society, Interaction, and Experience – each featuring different technologydriven visions and perspectives. Amongst others, one speaker-highlight I am personally looking forward will be Garry Kasparov’s, he’s an Avast Security Ambassador and former world chess champion. At the IFA+Summit he’ll speak for one of our four clusters: INTELLIGENCE 2024: Hybrid Minds – The Age of Superintelligence. Since Garry Kasparov’s legendary chess matches against IBM’s Deep Blue supercomputer in 1996 and 1997, Kasparov has been deeply engaged with artificial intelligence, human-machine interaction, and human rights issues. With the rise of intelligent technologies, questions of ethics and responsibility in online privacy gain a new level. Kasparov will share his views on the challenges arising from the proliferation of AI, and www.ifa-international.org IFA International • Friday 31 st August 2018 7
