SOLO is represented in three of the world’s biggest galleries and for each one an exclusive drop is created. My pieces are bought from all over the world, from art collectors to international celebrities such as Floyd Mayweather.

Within SOLO there are three different ranges.

SOLO is premium art for 3D enthusiasts.

The subjects vary widely, from Burlesque to lost deep space.

On the secondary market, this line has proven to be the best. It has a good return on investment and you are sure to sell it for more. Almost every art has 10 copies, except for a very rare art.

SOLO CULT – This is an avatar project but with a different approach. The avatar project almost always depicts faces, but I decided to move away from this concept. The line is called CULT and it depicts women’s legs, in different clothes, in different positions. It’s a new trend for my collection and it’s only recently launched, but there are already two collectors who have got them into their collection.

The only thing we have in common with the avatar projects is the number of copies. Each CULT is presented as a single copy.

SOLO PICTURE is the most expensive range of NFT paintings.

There is always a girl in every such picture, but this is the only thing that ties all the works in this direction together.

They are one-of-a-kind and in large format, if desired a collector may contact me and, for a surcharge, receive a physical copy of the artwork to be hung in one’s home.

The subject matter is always different and unique.

Now that PFP/ Avatar designs are in vogue, SOLO is still as popular as ever, since it is able to satisfy all tastes and also carries a lot of weight on the secondary market.

SOLO is not only beautiful art, but also an investment in the future.

3D art is a classic that will never go out of fashion.

https://rarible.com/broksh

https://opensea.io/collection/solo-collection

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Most ambitious NFT artist of 2021 appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

What is a Digital Economy?

A Digital Economy, also known as the Internet economy, new economy, or Web economy, is an economy that is heavily reliant on digital technology, such as digital communications networks (Internet, electronic mail, computers, software, and other associated information technologies). In other terms, the phrase “digital economy” refers to the merger of computing and communication technologies via the Internet, as well as the resultant flow of information and technology that is boosting e-commerce and driving significant organizational changes.

Is A Digital Economy the start of an Economic Revolution?

The digital economy has triggered an economic revolution, as shown by extraordinary economic development and the longest period of uninterrupted economic expansion in history; notably in the United States. As a result, we have witnessed a shift in banking toward digitization, as well as the development of Digital Trust and Evolution.

How did the University Graduate School of Global Affairs fight for a Digital Economy?

In collaboration with Mastercard, Fletcher, Tufts University’s Graduate School of Global Affairs announced the Digital Intelligence Index. This tracks nations’ progress in developing their digital economy, promoting trust, and integrating connection into the lives of billions.

Building on previous editions in 2014 and 2017, this year’s index provides a visual representation of global digital economy expansion, which reflects light on major drivers of change and momentum, and transmits what this means for nations dealing with global pandemics and post-pandemic issues.

“The pandemic may be the cleanest test of the world’s progress toward digitalization,” said Bhaskar Chakravorti, Dean of Global Business at Fletcher.  “We now have a better understanding of how dynamic digital economies may contribute to economic resiliency at a period of unprecedented global instability, and how they can be positioned for recovery and change”.

A Global Perspective on Digital Evolution and Trust

This year’s ranking examines two factors: digital evolution and digital trust. The term “Digital Evolution” refers to the historical progression of an economy from the physical past to the digital present. Digital Trust is the link between the digital present and an enlightened and inclusive digital future.

The Digital Evolution scorecard tracks 95 percent of the world’s online population to analyze the necessities for a digital economy. It draws on 12 years of data, analyses 160 variables in 90 economies across four main pillars: institutional environment, demand circumstances, supply conditions, the capacity for innovation, and change.

These segments are classified into four categories:

1. Stand Out Digital Economies – Singapore, the United States, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Germany, Estonia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, the Czech Republic, Malaysia, Lithuania, and Qatar are digitally advanced and gaining pace. They are innovators who leverage their current advantages in efficient and productive ways.
2. Stall Out Economies – such as Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, and Canada, these nations are maturing into a digital economy as a result of their high levels of digital adoption but declining digital pace. They usually trade-off speed for sustainability and are focused on increasing digital inclusion and constructing strong institutions.
3. Breakout economies – Like China, India, Indonesia, Poland, and Russia which are quickly developing. With such velocity and tremendous opportunity for growth, they are frequently quite appealing to investors.
4. Watch out economies – These include Nigeria, Uganda, Colombia, Peru, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are among the countries with infrastructural deficits. Despite this, young people are enthusiastic about a digital future, as seen by the growing usage of social media and mobile payments.

Thus, Digital Trust’s digital economy scorecard examined 198 factors across four key pillars in 42 of the index’s economies: behavior, attitudes, environment, and experience.

To sum up, I believe we are getting closer to the eventual digital economy, and why should we reject it when we can embrace it. A digital economy has several advantages; for example, the online web communication networks enable the formation of a global society that feels more unified and open to everyone, wherever. It also assists companies by imposing much easier advertising tactics, which help reach consumers simpler and more efficiently. It helps banking customers better understand how digital economies may aid economic resilience during a period of unprecedented global instability. Finally, the Global Perspective promoted the production of digital trust and evolution by analyzing 160 factors in 90 economies, providing a reliable statistic of how various economies react to digitalization.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post A New Global Index Identifies What Makes a Digital Economy More Trustworthy and Resistant appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Carbon Brief has carried out a new survey, finding out that the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 would be 51% lower than in 1990. Although this is encouraging news, much more will be required to achieve our target of net zero emissions by 2050.

While we are all aware of Covid’s catastrophic impact on UK companies, the following economic recovery provides an opportunity to rebuild our economy more sustainably.

As we carefully emerge from the current lockdown here in the UK, the SME community must now join together to work on the post-covid recovery alongside our goal to become net zero to guarantee progression continues so that we can shatter the 2050 target – or, better still, accomplish it ahead of schedule.

Why are Small and Medium Enterprises vital for Net Zero?

The UK government has put in place the announcement of the world’s most ambitious climate change target: a 78% reduction in emissions by 2035 compared to 1990 levels.

Along with large corporations and individual consumers, SMEs directly enable the UK to meet these innovative new carbon reduction targets. Here’s why, as a business owner, you should jump on board right away if you haven’t already.

The figures and the financial perspective

In London, SMEs account for 97 percent of the economy and are solely responsible for a quarter of UK emissions. Despite, 25% seemingly being small in comparison to the large businesses that contribute more, the UK will naturally fail to reach its climate targets if these emissions are not reduced.

Going green can also be beneficial to your company’s financial line. According to research, the SME community can save £3 billion by implementing basic energy-saving measures.

Customer demands are rising and becoming more sophisticated

Being low or zero carbon in a company is fast becoming a need rather than an option. Customers are committing their allegiance to companies that embrace environmentally friendly methods, goods, and services. You are possibly opting out of future trading if you do not commit to net zero.

According to the Research made by Data Time: 80% of UK customers now describe themselves as “environmentally friendly,” and 82 percent say they reflect “environmentally friendly” labeling when making purchasing decisions. A further 59% said they intentionally avoid certain types of packaging.

How Can SMEs Begin to Achieve Net Zero?

1. Measure your contribution

The first step is to use simple measurement equipment to track your carbon outputs. After determining what your company provides, you may begin to identify areas for development before implementing a plan for achieving your objectives.

Additionally, by offering flexible working alternatives to your workers can help minimize carbon-emitting commutes while improving overall productivity and motivation.

2. Opt for sustainable infrastructure

Air conditioning equipment emit a significant amount of CO2. Where possible, use open windows and fans, and keep your workspace’s heating and cooling equipment in good working order.

Purchase goods manufactured from sustainable materials from providers with a low or carbon-neutral supply chain while decorating your space.

3. Recycle and reuse

Recycling is a very simple process. Invest in recycled plastic and materials, install recycling bins, and, where possible, restrict single-use plastics.

By providing vegan and vegetarian food alternatives, you may even urge your staff to reduce their own personal greenhouse gas emissions.

4. Join net zero initiatives

There are lots of initiatives out there that have been set up to help organizations achieve net-zero. Take the Mayor of London’s Business Climate Challenge, for example.

Emissions from heating and powering commercial and industrial buildings account for 36% of London’s total carbon footprint. With this in mind, Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has unveiled a new initiative to assist companies in the capital in meeting London’s objective of attaining net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Many SMEs have already shown interest in participating in the trial.

We are here to assist the growth of your firm and help you achieve cash flow headroom while the country emerges from the coronavirus shutdown. If your firm requires funding to help it recover, find out what you could be qualified for now.

Case Studies: BP and Ford taking the lead

BP Impact in fighting for Net Zero

Bernard Looney, BP’s CEO, first declared the increased commitment in February 2020. In particular, the business intends to achieve net-zero emissions across its operations and manufacturing by 2050 or sooner and reduce the carbon intensity of the items it sells by half within the same time frame.

The firm stated that it will take a variety of steps to reach its new objectives, including considerably expanding its investment in low-carbon energy sources, decreasing oil and gas output by 40% by 2030, and installing methane-reduction technology.

Ford’s fight for less Greenhouse Gas emissions

The famous American manufacturer and the world’s third-largest automaker by market share Ford declared a ground-breaking commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 in June 2020. Notably, the firm stated that it was working on developing science-based objectives for its Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

Ford plans to invest $11.5 billion through 2022 to electrify its nameplate vehicles, build North America’s greatest public charging network, and power all of its production plants with renewable energy by 2035 to fulfill its new objective.

Ultimately, it appears that the battle to achieve Net Zero for both small and medium-sized businesses and large companies is being waged in the United Kingdom. As a result of SMEs accounting for 97 percent of the UK economy, 25 percent of which are responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, it seems that they will play a vital role in achieving net-zero emissions, and with 80 percent of customers considering themselves to be environmentally friendly, it suggests that we are getting closer to this reality. Large corporations are also attempting to achieve this goal; Ford and BP’s substantial expenditures in more eco-sustainable techniques demonstrate that the world is progressing.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Why is it Critical for UK Companies and SMEs to Go Net Zero? appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has approved plans to transform the city’s Champs-Élysées into a mile-long stretch of greenery and pedestrianised zones. The €255 million project aims to halve the number of cars on the famous boulevard, thus transforming it, in Hidalgo’s words, into an “extraordinary park at the heart of Paris”.

The need for traffic reduction is paramount; air pollution in Paris is responsible for up to 48,000 premature deaths every year, according to the Public Health France agency (2019 report). Hidalgo’s initiative would benefit public health while fulfilling one of the key targets outlined in the 2016 Paris Agreement: the reduction of CO2 emissions by 20% – part of the 20/20/20 plan which also aims to increase renewable energy’s market share to 20% and increase energy efficiency by 20%. As far as sustainability is concerned, the project is world-class. But Hidalgo’s ambitions do not stop there.

She wants to restore the Champs-Elysées to their former glory; once the capital’s most coveted street, nicknamed ‘la plus belle avenue du monde’ (the most beautiful avenue in the world), it is now a congested thoroughfare, blighted by flashy chain stores and overpriced restaurants – and shunned by les Parisiens. Hidalgo’s logic is that replacing traffic lanes with greenery will automatically bring locals back to the area. Of course, this assumes there are locals in the area to begin with.

But the Champs-Élysées have been devoid of locals for the past thirty years. There are two reasons for this: it is a tourist-trap (Hidalgo has understood this much) and no one lives there (this fact seems to elude her). The surge in property prices in the last twenty years have made an already expensive area unaffordable even for well-heeled Parisians, with the desirable district between George V, Champs-Élysées and Montaigne Avenues (the latter is the most expensive street in the city) aptly renamed ‘le Triangle d’Or’ (the Golden Triangle). While the empty apartments in the area are sometimes converted into homes for super-rich international buyers wanting a pied-à-terre in the French capital, they are more often repurposed as commercial properties: retailers from Adidas to Chanel occupy the ground floors, while the upper floors house legal firms, private banks and other corporate enterprises.

Although Hidalgo’s regeneration project will certainly improve the experience for the shopper and the tourist, its lure for ‘locals’ seems delusional. A long but narrow park on either side of what will undoubtedly remain a busy street is hardly an optimal setting for Parisians seeking a bucolic escapade. The capital already has its fair share of parks and green spaces, each providing a different experience: the Tuileries and Luxembourg Gardens offer a classic, regal feel with fountains and palaces; the Bois de Boulogne provides a lush, rural retreat from city life; and the Pere Lachaise cemetery offers a hilly labyrinth of celebrity tombs. Realistically, with such competition, no Parisian is ever going to say: ‘Hey, let’s go to the park along the Champs-Élysées. I’ve heard the new fountain outside Sephora is charming’.

There is another problem too. The project will seal off part of a thoroughfare used daily by commuters driving and out of Paris. In fact, over half the working population in the French capital commute from beyond the périphérique, representing a vital economic asset to the city. With metro and railway stations scarce outside the centre, and an ever so unreliable transport network, with strikes and delays occurring more often than in any other capital in Western Europe, workers are left with no choice but to use their car. The advent of the ‘Grand Paris Express’, which seeks to connect suburbs to one another and to the centre more efficiently, is still too far in the future for such drastic town planning measures to be put in place as they require genuine transport alternatives.

This concern has surfaced time and time again in response to Hidalgo’s green initiatives. Indeed, the regeneration of the Champs-Élysées is merely the latest in a series of urban transformation schemes spearheaded by the town mayor, now in her second term. Replacing traffic thoroughfares with urban parkland ahead of the Olympic Games of 2024 has been something of a priority; other notable projects include the overhaul of the congested Trocadéro neighbourhood for an estimated €72 million. The pont d’Iéna linking the Trocadéro (Right Bank) to the Eiffel Tower (Left Bank) – a tourist hotspot for obvious reasons – will see its tarmac replaced by grass, thus extending the parks on either side of the Seine into a single, continuous stretch of green.

Clearly, Hidalgo’s sustainable principles go hand in hand with a desire to rival greener cosmopoleis. Paris’ urban layout, historically, has been a case of carving impressive avenues in the West, annexing charming (but not all that green) villages in the North and South, gentrifying the East, and preserving a rich architectural heritage in the centre. The parks in Paris are, by consequence, small and quaint, often former courtyards or private gardens of royal residences. The Bois de Boulogne, of course, is an exception, but it’s on the edge of town. Hidalgo appears to be battling with the fact that Paris does not have the equivalent of a Central Park or Kensington Gardens, and has yet to realise that, for all her efforts with the city’s sustainable redevelopment, it never will.

Still, Paris’ place on global environmental rankings is sure to shoot up. As for the commuters who make use of soon-to-be-parkland routes on the daily, their habits have been transformed by repeated lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The abandonment of office space and the adoption of remote working has rendered these ephemeral thoroughfares quiet at the best of times, and obsolete at the worst. If businesses and corporations choose to maintain a flexible approach to work once the pandemic eventually subsides, there is a chance Hidalgo’s projects will succeed in their sustainable objectives without having a negative impact on the economy and society.

While her ambition to bring locals back to the Champs-Élysées can be dismissed as utopian, the overall timing of the project may be perfect. The default reduction of traffic on commuter arteries in central Paris provides ideal conditions for roadworks as well as a raw, real, and visual justification for them. Two parties now bear responsibility for the scheme’s success: the Société du Grand Paris in charge of delivering substantial and competent transport services for those commuters who cannot work from home, and the companies whose employees can work from home who should keep prioritising remote working where possible.

Though democratically debatable, it would not be a bad move for the Mayor (and Parliamentarians) to impose such policies through legislative means; what Paris needs for this scheme to succeed – and meet its sustainable goals across the board – is a comprehensive approach, which can only truly be delivered at the level of the State. The project requires an overhaul of past practices regarding car-use, public transport and commuter lifestyle; changes which can only occur if they are legally enshrined.

The new Champs-Elysées could be the key to a new geopolitical map in which France would become the world leader in the fight against climate change at city level, setting an example for other signatories of the ambitious European Green Deal reached at the COP25 summit in 2019, which aims to lower emissions to zero by 2050. With the stakes so high, this project’s long-term is doubly crucial.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post Paris Plans A €255 Million Project To Transform The City’s Champs-Élysées appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Smart cities are all about people and digital twins – creating digital avatars of the city – property, infrastructure & connections which transcend geography with data + governance, emotional architecture serving people, businesses. All the challenges and opportunities will be discussed in the upcoming event openbusinesscouncil summit on 9-10 December.

“Men come together in cities in order to live: they remain together in order to live the good life.” — Aristotle

Cities are all about people’s lives. Big social groups of people living and collaborating together. Whether you are in Hong Kong, London, Shangai, New York, Singapore, Tokyo or Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Barcelona. These cities offer the best in the world. Likewise, they are becoming more and more efficient serving many millions of people because of the adoption of smart technologies which is transforming them into smart cities.

And there is a need to have an open conversation about how to best deploy these technologies to serve the people they are meant to help. Experts, decision-makers, business, industries and citizens need to be part of that conversation, and the best and most efficient way to have that direct feedback is through the digital. openbusinesscouncil summit aims precisely to make that conversation take place by bringing together top experts and government officials.

A smart city is all about people and digital twins – creating digital avatars of the city – property, infrastructure & connections which transcend geography with data + governance, emotional architecture serving people, businesses.

Smart cities – The Fourth Industrial Revolution – 4IR are here to stay. There is no turning back. Because of its ubiquitous reach, 4IR technologies raise all kinds of concerns, but offer also a lot of solutions and nations have to adapt and change. 4IR will enable our society and power smart cities with AI, Blockchain, IOT.

Smart cities and 4IR technologies are the heartbeat of the XXI century we are living & creating:

· Smart cities enable better organisation of society, citizens, innovation, technology and data.

· Smart cities are the center of all operations and challenges and opportunities – society.

What makes smart cities?

Smart Cities are the heart of the beating of the best in the world and in the interstice of all challenges, innovation and concerns of humanity.

A smart city is the next stage of cities – intelligent human centric – sustainable – empowered by the 4IR that provides enormous possibilities for human growth through art, culture, social, architectural, economic, political, environmental, and scientific flowering with the optimal mix of nature, technology, humanity, and arts.

All cities will become smart cities. Particularly when it comes to organisation of society, citizens, innovation, technology and data, smart cities are the center of all operations and challenges and opportunities.

Smart cities, like the city states in the past, embed the highest hopes of humanity through the promise of harnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) innovative technologies to improve lives and bring social harmony.

However, smart cities represent & can incarnate the challenges, fears of a dystopian ecosystem of over ‘controlled lives’ if not planned properly.

We are however in early stage of smart cities deployments so is up to citizens, each of us, businesses and governments to prepare, create best decisions, directions.

Smart cities are making society unfold in some kind of panopticon system, governed by the emergence and disruption coming out of AI, IoT, Blockchain + automated devices with augmented tools & software inherent to digital transformation systems.

Smart cities require planning and special strategy and efforts from all areas of society and economy.

Smart cities requires the collaboration of many strategic partners, leaders, and special citizens, businesses and government.

Smart cities are the main stage where 4IR technologies special AI, blockchain, IoT can change and improve cities, businesses government infrastructure, buildings and citizens needs!

Smart Cities: Main Challenges

To truly deploy technologies that empower and improve the lives of their inhabitants, smart cities need to take into consideration the following:

· A strategy and social economic and legal frame from government approved by citizens.

· A collaboration between all players: lawmakers, government organisations, universities, schools, companies and businesses, all citizens major groups represented.

· Smart cities need helicopter view data + technology infrastructure sustainable alignment combining policies, governance, business economic supply chain with identity, culture and requirements.

· Using urban planning IOT sensors to aggregate best systems + data that will be manages & expanded by AI, blockchain tech to improve the city operations, health, wellness, education, business, governance ecosystem(s).

“A smart city is an intelligent town that provides enormous possibilities for human growth through art, culture, social, architectural, economic, political, environmental, and scientific flowering with the optimal mix of nature, technology, humanity, and arts.” ― Amit Ray, Peace Bliss Beauty and Truth: Living with Positivity

Smart cities have to be about creating opportunities for citizens, businesses, governments based on ethic, sustainable use of digital transformation tools.

Using the best of all 4IR – AI Blockchain IOT emerging technologies with driven data , policies + R&D strategies that increase the quality of life & a truly optimised human nature sustainable empowering ecosystem.

About openbusinesscouncil Summit

The openbusinesscouncil summit is a cutting-edge global virtual event over two days that aims to strengthen businesses, startups and government’s strategies. Gathering access to a unique audience of 100+ leading global speakers from over 30 countries, the openbusinesscouncil summit offers action plans to deal with the challenges arising from COVID-19 given all the economic and technology disruptions. With businesses and startups facing uncertain times, forecasts of a recession with a drop in sales and limited funding, this summit will kick off by addressing today’s most pressing challenges and identify what’s next for industry and businesses.

The two-day summit, on December 9-10, will provide access to an unique audience of potential partners and clients which include leading global thought leaders, entrepreneurs, startup organisations, accelerators, investors, authors and governments.

The summit has a solid focus on businesses and governments’ digital transformation strategies, and it will provide a road map of solutions, covering opportunities of how to work and collaborate as governments, businesses, cities, citizens and nations move forward with 4IR – Society 5.0. The summit will provide an international business and brand exposure through our media partners.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post openbusinesscouncil Summit To Lead The Conversation About Smart Cities, Data Governance And 4IR Technologies On December 9, 10 appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

E-Residents of Estonia have established 13,000 Estonian companies worldwide since the launch of the e-Residency programme in December 2014 and have now accumulated a total turnover exceeding £1.5 billion.

The growth has been fuelled by a recent substantial increase in Estonian companies established by e-Residents to gain access to the EU market. e-Residency has also reported a significant increase of new e-residents since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to Ott Vatter, Managing Director of e-Residency, turnover of e-Residents’ companies is increasing rapidly. He said: “In 2016, the total turnover of e-Residents’ companies based in Estonia totalled £65 million. Last year, it increased more than sevenfold, totalling £480 million.” Rapid growth, he says, is based on the recent increase in Estonian companies established by e-Residents. E-Residents have launched 8,300 new businesses in Estonia over the last two years, compared to a total Estonian population of 1.3 million.

“In 2019, e-Residents established a sixth of all new companies created in Estonia. This means that on average, e-residents created 11 companies every day between 2018 and 2019. However, over the first quarter of 2020 that involved COVID-19 outbreak in European Union countries, including Estonia, e-residents created nearly 50% more companies than during the same period in 2019. This demonstrates that location independent company administration is even more relevant in a global crisis situation,” says Vatter.

Total turnover growth of e-Residents’ Estonian companies has also driven the growth of the same businesses’ average tax revenue. In 2019, the cumulative average tax revenue created by e-Residents’ Estonian companies increased by 32%. “A large number of e-Resident companies have taken their products and services to the global market, many of which have benefitted from becoming EU companies thanks to e-Residency, having also generated customer demand on a global level. Also, most businesses launched by e-Residents play an active part in building a knowledge-based society, and are active in fields that create remarkable added additional value to the economy,” explained Vatter.

Many e-Residents who have established companies in Estonia within the last six months are still working hard on product and service development. “Entrepreneurs all around the world see the added value that e-Residency brings, as we’re providing them with the opportunity to use Estonian digital e-services and run their company remotely. With the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, many countries around the world are still fully or partly in lockdown, which means entrepreneurs and SMEs are desperately looking for alternative ways to keep their companies running. E-Residency will always be there to support those companies who are anxious about the future.”

The E-Residency programme was launched by Estonian Government in 2014 with the aim to offer non-residents across the world secure and transparent access to Estonian pioneering digital services. Owners of e-Resident digital ID-cards can digitally sign documents, and access portals and information systems that accept Estonian ID-cards that are eIDAS compliant. E-Residency itself does not give Estonian citizenship, tax-residency, residency or right to enter Estonia or the European Union.

About e-Residency

The e-Residency programme was founded in 2014 and has, since then, reached over 70,000 digital entrepreneurs. The programme is built on Estonia’s 20+ years’ of experience to provide digital public services for Estonian citizens.

Everyone can apply for this transnational government-issued digital identity and benefit from the e-Residency platform, which is built on inclusion, legitimacy and transparency.  E-Residency allows access to Estonia’s public e-services and a variety of e-services provided by international service providers, all part of Estonia’s X-Road, which links all public services together and enables each service to work in harmony. All outgoing data is digitally signed and encrypted, and all incoming data is authenticated and logged, meaning that e-Residents’ and other users of the X-Road’s data is completely secure.This provides the freedom to easily start and run a global EU company fully online from anywhere in the world.

E-residents can: open a company within a day and run the company remotely, apply for a business banking account and credit card, conduct e-banking, use international payment service providers, declare taxes, and sign documents digitally. E-Residency does not provide citizenship, tax residency, physical residency or the right to travel to Estonia or EU.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post e-Residency: Estonian e-Residents Create 13k Companies With A Turnover of £1.5 Billion Since Launch appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

India is an attractive proposition for UK businesses looking for alternatives to China, in the view of the prevailing global sentiment and according to the UK-India Business Council (UKIBC).

UKIBC’s first India Group CEO Jayant Krishna expects to see growth in UK-India trade as both countries come out of the COVID-19 crisis, and is asserting that UK businesses are very keen to support India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ mission (Self-reliant India).

The UK and India have started looking at opportunities emanating from the business sentiment prevailings around the world, “exploring manufacturing supply chain possibilities as alternatives to China”, according to Krishna.

In the current pandemic, both countries are working closer than ever, both Governments are working together on generic exports, PPE, and other medical aids. UK company, AstraZeneca and Pune-based, Serum Institute are collaborating on the most promising COVID-19 vaccine.

With the UK now out of the EU, a result welcomed by Indian businesses operating in the country, as well as the British businesses who see this as an exciting time to expand in the huge Indian market, there is no question that India will be a vital trading partner as the UK charts a new future outside the EU. The golden opportunities for British firms in India play to the best strengths of UK plcs from Infrastructure to Healthcare to FinTech.

India is open to engaging with the UK for a preferential trade agreement, with the ultimate goal of a free trade agreement between the countries.

The work has been underway to reduce barriers to trade since both countries completed a joint trade review and, according to industry estimates, progress to date could deliver a £250 million annual boost for British business.

India and the UK agreed to work towards removing additional barriers on British exports of apples and pears to India and supporting legal professionals looking to work in each country.

Trade between the UK and India was worth £24 billion last year, and India is now the second largest investor in the UK economy.

Both countries are trying to strengthen their collaboration as a global force on the ‘hot topics’ of climate and green recovery.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post An alternative to China or Brexit – India is a good business opportunity for the UK appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

Issues with the Verify identity assurance scheme, highlighted by a damning report from the UK’s National Audit Office (NAO), are primarily down to a lack of ambition, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. In the report, NAO points out that only 3.6 million users signed up for the digital identification scheme – way off the 2020 goal of 25 million goal and the expectation that the flagship identity verification platform would cost £212 million and generate £873 million between 2016 to 2020. An objective now far away to be accomplished.

Verify is the identity assurance system developed by the UK Government Digital Service (GDS). The system is intended to provide a single trusted login across all UK government digital services, verifying the user’s identity in 15 minutes. It allows users to choose one of several companies to verify their identity, like Barclays, Royal Mail or CB Group to a standard level of assurance before accessing central government online services.

Commenting on the NAO report, Gary Barnett, chief analyst, Technology Thematic Research at GlobalData, said, “Verify’s woes aren’t so much down to a lack of technical nous as a lack of political ambition. As long as big government departments feel able to plough their own furrow there will never be a single standard for identity across UK government.

“The key issue remains the government’s need to provide far greater clarity for identity providers over what its future identity plans are, what the commercial model for Verify looks like post-April 2020, and how private sector providers will take over control and management of Verify. Effective communications are essential in the digital identity landscape and the new senior responsible owner for digital identity at Government Digital Service (GDS) must go a long way towards putting proper communications in place, sooner rather than later.”

The NAO report into Verify has divided opinion. While there are those suggesting that the NAO has decried another government IT project without recognising the bigger picture of fraud (estimated at 3% – 8% of GDP), security (such as pre-employment checks) and the need for a UK digital identity infrastructure, others argue that the NAO’s report simply reflects the harsh reality of Verify’s performance.

The NAO’s report could have more explicitly recognised that building a digital identity infrastructure is hard. The Cabinet Office being blamed for failing to collect cheques from departments for their use of Verify is hardly a failure of the programme. In addition, while the NAO report implies only 19 of 46 planned public services adopted Verify, 12 of these services never actually materialised. Furthermore, the success rates for conversion should not be presented as ‘failure’ but as indication of the size of the problem.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post UK Identity Scheme ‘Verify’ Suffer from Lack of Ambition, Warns Institutional Report appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

New European platform, Startup Europe Mediterranean (SEMED) has been launched in Matera, the 2019 European Capital of Culture. Part of the European Commission’s Startup Europe initiative, the SEMED platform is the brainchild of Italy’s highest valued start-up, FacilityLive.

SEMED will connect people, businesses and innovation ecosystems across the Mediterranean basin, including: startups, investors, companies, incubators, universities, research centres and representatives of institutions and politicians. Users will be able to easily organise meetings, exchanging information, ideas and creating partnerships.

The launch of SEMED follows a series of presentations at prestigious events across Europe and the Mediterranean, the final phase of the pre-launching tour was held on February 6th at the European Parliament during an event organised in collaboration with the European Internet Forum.

Matera’s geographical position and strong Mediterranean cultural identity, that will be celebrated throughout 2019 as a symbol of European Culture, is perfectly placed to be the home of the digital bridge between the Europe and Mediterranean ecosystems.

Following a year of preparatory work in collaboration with the European Commission, the project marks the first time an Italian company has been partnered with for a project of this scale and importance. FacilityLive’s ground-breaking, patented technology will be central to the operation and sustainability of the SEMED platform.

The company focuses on developing a search driven next generation software platform for the organisation and management of information, with patents granted in 45 countries worldwide. It is considered the European Search Platforms of the Future, with a total value of $225 million.

To develop such a search software platform, the Italian startup makes good use of AI and other disruptive technologies to find exactly what the user is looking for, thinking and treating information in the same way humans do. This allows people and organisations to have a compelling user experience in information search.

Gianpiero Lotito, CEO and founder of FacilityLive comments: “A project like Startup Europe Mediterranean is an important innovation in the creation of ecosystems in Europe, because it is based on a digital platform that will evolve the classic exchange programs that have always characterised the previous ecosystems. We are proud that the choice fell on our platform that wants to be strongly European and Italian.”

The platform, startupeuromed, represents an important step forward. It provides a unique opportunity to foster relations among tech businesses in the Mediterranean area, create business opportunities, share best practices and discover talent by connecting regions.

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post The New ‘Startup Europe Mediterranean’ Platform Aims to Build a Digital Bridge in a Divided Continent appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.

The good news about the UK labour market continues as the Welsh Government programme offering individual support to SMEs looking to grow and expand has created its 5000th job, Economy Secretary Ken Skates has revealed.

Business Wales’ Accelerated Growth Programme has been an enormous success since its inception in 2015, and reached the impressive milestone as Tiago Szabo, a factory operator for Wrexham based automotive design and manufacture company Hi-Mark, began work at the company’s 25,000sq ft site.

Economy Minister Ken Skates was at the factory to witness their growth and to meet Tiago. He said: “The Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme has been a real flag bearer for Business Wales and it’s fantastic to see that it’s now been directly responsible for some of our most ambitious and high potential SMEs creating 5000 new jobs across Wales. It’s a success story that’s testament to the Welsh Government’s proactive support for business and the hard work and expertise of the team there.”

But what’s special about this programme isn’t just the growth it drives in companies but also the impact that in turn it is having on individuals the length and breadth of Wales. The Economy Minister pointed out that these 5000 jobs may otherwise not have been created and it’s a source of great pride for him that they have been able to help people like Tiago into a job at a company with a proven track record of delivery that’s looking to the future with vision and confidence.

“Hi-Mark’s plans to invest in robotics and automation to drive efficiency and further growth are particularly exciting, with this the third such job we have supported there through this scheme. I would encourage businesses in Wales with strong ambitions to grow and expand to explore whether the Accelerated Growth Programme can help them too,” continued the Minister. “It was fantastic to meet Tiago and the hard working team at Hi-Mark today. Creating 5000 jobs is no mean feat, and, as I look to the future of the programme, I feel confident in predicting there will be many more milestones to come.”

Hi-Mark has been designing and manufacturing injection moulded products for over 40 years. The firm’s 40-strong workforce use cutting edge technology to manufacture products that are used by some of the largest automotive companies in the world.

Jack Yates, Managing Director of Hi-Mark commented, “The support we have received through the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme has been invaluable to us. It helped us through a tricky negotiation phase with a major customer, resulting in us securing a significant order which we may not otherwise have been in a position to win.”

Having access to a highly-respected sales specialist meant they were able to set up a new framework for the way we approach sales and networking. Even though it’s early days of adopting these new ways of working, the results speak for themselves.

“I’m delighted that we are the company responsible for creating the 5000th job, which is a great honour for our team. Tiago is settling into the team really well so far and we are confident that our team will continue to grow over coming months,” said Mr Yates, “I would strongly encourage other businesses looking for support to apply for the programme. Since signing up Hi-Mark has gone from strength to strength, and I’m very grateful for all the help we’ve received.”

Hernaldo Turrillo

Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.

The post UK Labour Market: 5,000 Jobs Now Created By Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme appeared first on OpenBusinessCouncil Directory.