A word from the special guests of the conference. Individuals deeply invested in driving regional cooperation and its digital transformation will address the guests of CEE Digital Summit 2024.

Speaker:

• Krzysztof GAWKOWSKI, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Affairs, Poland
• Victor NEGRESCU, Vice-president of the European Parliament

Let’s take a closer look at the nearest future of the European digital agenda from the perspective of Central Eastern European public officials responsible for digital affairs and industry leaders. Boosting and coordinating CEE’s impact in the field will be the focus of our conversation. We will assess the priorities set out for the current EU leaders and consider opportunities stemming from CEE countries’ presidencies in the Council of the European Union.

Moderation:
Michał KANOWNIK, President of Digital Poland Association, CEE Digital Coalition

Speakers:

• Ivan IVANCIN, State Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Regional Development, and Informatization, Slovakia
• Erika KUROCKINA, Vice-Minister of the Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania
• Marius-Viorel POSA, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, Romania
• Dariusz STANDERSKI, Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs, Poland

Digitalisation is an increasingly important part of Moldova’s national brand. Its Digital Transformation Strategy for 2023-2030, aims to promote sustainable development, build a digital society, establish a robust and competitive ICT sector, and develop an innovative and resilient digital economy. Significance of digital transformations of state and economy has been proven in Ukraine as a key factor in ensuring the country’s resilience and ability to respond to a gruesome invasion. Surely, it will also be a vital part of rebuilding Ukraine’s economy.

Both countries are recognised as Three Seas Initiative’s associated participating states and are continuously strengthening their partnerships with the EU. Let’s seek more opportunities for closer, digitally-driven cooperation between Ukraine, Moldova and other CEE countries.

Moderation:

• Michał GIERSZ

Speakers:

• Ana CHIRITA, Strategic Projects Director, Moldovan Association of ICT Companies
• Alexandru GOZUN, President of AmCham Moldova, PwC Moldova Office Lead

Central Eastern Europe is home to world-class ICT experts. Talented specialists remain one of our region’s strongest assets, driving its digital advance. However, shortage of skilled ICT workforce proves to be a growing issue, hindering the growth of the digital economy across Central Eastern Europe. How do we tap into the full capability of the dormant talents in our region? We may be missing out on the potential of a significant share of our society. Let’s dive right into the latest research and insights on the matter, to better understand the challenge at hand and means for overcoming the hardships.

Speakers:

• Zydrune VITAITE, Co-founder, Women Go Tech, Lithuania

Amidst diminishing significance of traditional growth drivers, many pin their hopes on artificial intelligence (AI) as a source of sustained economic growth and increased productivity in CEE, Western Europe and globally. Indeed, emerging trends that are set to transform dynamics of the technological landscape of CEE countries include artificial intelligence. In order to succeed, local actors must work together in developing an AI- ready policy framework and creating a digital environment which favors transparency, openness and interoperability. Are we doing our best to capture the power behind AI in our region?

Moderation:

• Anna WITTENBERG, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna

Speakers:

• Evgenia IARINA, Government Partnerships Executive, Coursera
• Theodor PANAYOTOV, CEO, Ethermind, Board Member of Digital National Alliance, Bulgaria
• Laura SCHULZ, Public Affairs lead on AI, Booking.com
• Martina SILOV, President of CroAI, Partnership at Mindsmiths, Croatia
• Tomasz SNAŻYK, Founder, AI Chamber, Poland
• Jakub TUROWSKI, Director of Public Policy for Central and Eastern Europe, Meta

The third annual CEE Digital Trident award will be presented in Warsaw to show Central Eastern European digital industry’s appreciation of true challengers making an effort for CEE’s progress on its path of digital transformation. Learn more about the award HERE.

Even though CEE is a digitally diverse region, cyber-security tends to be high on the agenda of local decision-makers and business leaders aware that increased expenditure on cybersecurity is crucial to ensure a safe, stable and booming economy. In recent years, the Central and Eastern European countries have experienced a rapid evolution of the cybersecurity landscape. Let’s discuss national cybersecurity strategies and policy-making efforts worth sharing, consider how to make the frontier of threats the hub of innovation and identify opportunities for the CEE cybersecurity sector’s growth.

Moderation:
Jacek RAUBO, PhD, Cyberdefence24.pl

Speakers:

• Ieva ILVES, Advisor on Cybersecurity Policy, International cooperation, Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine
• Edgars KIUKUCANS, Director of the Cybersecurity Policy Department, Ministry of Defence, Latvia
• Marcin KRASUSKI, Government Affairs and Public Policy Manager, Google
• Oleksandr PLUZHNIKOV, Head of CyberSecurity Office, ELEKS, IT Ukraine Association
• Col. Jarosław WACKO, Chief expert from Cyberspace Defense Forces Component, Poland
• Inga ZUKAUSKIEN, Director of Regional Cyber Defence Centre, National Cyber Security Centre, Lithuania

Cloud is offering business leaders and decision-makers unique opportunities to transform their organizations to be more agile, save costs and act faster — all at once, making it one of the trends set to transform dynamics of the technological landscape of CEE. The rapid, wide spread of on-demand computing solutions has changed the way both private and public actors operate, collaborate, communicate and grow. Due to its ability to accelerate digital transformation and economic development, the private sector and governments in the CEE region can not afford to miss it. While in terms of cloud deployment, CEE still lags behind European leaders, such as Finland, Sweden and Denmark, the usage of cloud in the region has risen substantially over the last years. What’s standing in the way of cloud advance in CEE? What are the region’s greatest successes in the field?

Moderation:
Karolina ZBYTNIEWSKA, Euractiv

Speakers:

• Przemysław GALIŃSKI, CEE Cloud & Digital Director, PwC Poland
• Magda IRIMIA, Attorney at Law, APDETIC Romania
• Egle MARKEVICIUTE, Head of Digital & Innovation Policy at Consumer Choice Center, Former Deputy Minister at Ministry of the Economy and Innovation of Lithuania
• Tomas MELISKO, CEO, InoCloud, Slovakia
• Tuuli PARENSON, CEO of Gofore, Board Member of ITL, Estonia
• Balazs VINNAI, President of IVSZ- Hungary's digital association