Towards an Internet of humans
It is hard to think of a social or economic activity that the internet does not play an important role in today. This role is growing, amid heightened concerns about personal data protection and transparency on the one hand, and demands for better services and greater user empowerment on the other. Enter the European Commission’s NGI initiative that is shaping the internet of the future into an ecosystem reflecting fundamental human values. To help coordinate and support this initiative, the EU-funded NGI4ALL.E project has assumed responsibility for all aspects of NGI communication, marketing and community building. The goal is to engage a diverse community of stakeholders, from researchers and innovators to policymakers and end users. The flagship event of the NGI initiative is the NGI Forum 2023 that offers stakeholders the opportunity to be part of the internet’s transformation into an internet that reflects European values and norms and meets fundamental needs such as trust, security and inclusion. The event “brings together some of Europe’s top Internet innovators at work to build an Internet of Trust, empowering end-users with more choice and control over their data and digital identity.” The NGI Forum 2023 is a dynamic hub that offers Europe’s visionary thinkers, policymakers and technologists the opportunity to lead the region’s digital transformation. “At its core, the forum places the spotlight on the concept of the Digital Commons, which is particularly crucial for Europe, as it fosters equitable access to information, fuels innovation, and bolsters digital sovereignty.”
Changing the course of the internet
The NGI Forum 2023 is being held in Brussels, Belgium, on 15 and 16 November 2023. Over 2 days, policymakers, industry representatives, researchers, academics, engineers and tech enthusiasts will share their knowledge and views on topics ranging from EU policy developments to innovation trends and NGI activities. The programme will include inspirational talks, engaging panel discussions, impact stories, technical workshops and networking opportunities. “The discussions will expand to digital identity, quantum internet, large language models and web search, decentralised social media and security of the open source supply chain.” Participating in the forum offers stakeholders the chance to help shape the future internet, connect with policymakers and industry leaders, learn from experts and exchange ideas with peers. It also provides the opportunity to form collaborations that can drive positive change in the internet landscape, get up to date with the latest internet technology trends and discover funding opportunities. Participation in the NGI Forum 2023 can be remote or on-site. Those interested can register on the forum’s website. The NGI4ALL.E (Next Generation Internet for All Evolution - Growing a Sustainable and Inclusive Ecosystem) project ends in June 2025. For more information, please see: NGI4ALL.E project website NGI Forum 2023 website
Keywords
NGI4ALL.E, internet, Next Generation Internet, NGI, NGI Forum 2023, internet of the future