Under the theme of “POST-CORONA DIGITAL ECONOMY – Accelerating Digital Transformation for Genuine Innovation,” this year’s Digital Economy Forum 2020 aims to raise awareness of digital transformation and digital economy, which drives innovation amid the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.
South Korean Ministry of Economy and Finance, headed by Hong Nam-ki, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, would host DEF2020, with the Korea Startup Forum headed by Chairman Seunggun Lee organizing the event.
Keynote Speeches, Panel Discussions & Sessions
The forum would focus on four major topics: Digital Transformation and Policy, Work and Job, Healthcare, and Entertainment and Media. Over 20 global experts and leaders pioneering the digital economy would join as forum speakers, sharing their post-coronavirus era insights. The event would host keynote speeches, panel discussions, and case presentations on innovative startups.
Founder of the XPrize Foundation, Peter Diamandis, would give the first keynote speech with the title “Post-Corona Digital Economy – Accelerating Digital Transformation for Genuine Innovation,” followed by a Q&A session. Andrew Wyckoff, Director of Science, Technology, and Innovation at OECD, would deliver the second keynote speech, sharing his insights into the digital transformation and contactless economy associated with the post-coronavirus era.
The panel discussions would include four main sessions and one special session jointly planned with well-known specialized institutes and organizations worldwide. The discussions would set the stage for discourse on the four major topics.
Session 1, with the theme of “Digital Transformation & Policy,” would discuss digital transformation trends and the government’s “new deal” policy. Session 2 would discuss and predict changes in the media and entertainment sectors in the contactless environment under the theme of “The Future of Entertainment and New Media.”
Under the theme of “Work and Jobs,” Session 3 would involve technology development associated with new work and collaboration methods during and post-coronavirus. Meanwhile, the fourth session would look into the healthcare industry’s changes and outlook after the coronavirus pandemic.
Lastly, the special session would introduce startups focusing on various innovative products and services brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Past Success and Future Goals
Launched in November 2018, the first Digital Economy Forum discussed topics under the theme “The Driving Force of Innovation.” In 2019, DEF focused on the impact of global unicorn companies that drive technological innovation and economic growth.
Initially held offline, the forum is shifting to an online platform due to the coronavirus pandemic. The event is poised to leap forward to become a global forum representing a new form of knowledge sharing in the post-coronavirus era.
“The Korean government plans to actively respond to economic and social changes in the post-coronavirus era through the “Korean New Deal,” which includes Digital New Deal.”
– Hong Nam-Ki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance
Hong added that he hopes that the forum could serve as an opportunity to have an in-depth dialogue and initiate a policy discussion about the direction of the digital economy in the future after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This forum will set the stage through which we can review changes in life and industries in the digital transformation era, and discover insights that can accelerate innovation.”
– Seunggun Lee, Chairman of Korea Startup Forum
DEF2020 would broadcast live on September 11. Anyone interested in the forum and listening to the speakers can attend it free of charge. For more details about the forum and registration, visit the official website https://def.or.kr/english/.
