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international

Hungary to take centre stage:

gearing up to host ITU Telecom World and the

Budapest Water S mmit this autumn

by Miklós Gad!

As the leaves start to turn yellow along the historic Andrassy best-practices, an exhibition to showcase innovative solutions
Avenue in the heart of Budapest, Hungary is gearing up to and high-level policy dialogue to find the common answers
host two international conferences of major importance. to the most pressing global challenges. Dedicated networking
Hungary will welcome the flagship event of the International segments will provide the opportunity for connecting nations,
Telecommunication Union, ITU Telecom World to Budapest organizations, ideas and individuals alike.
from 9 to 12 September; and a couple of weeks afterwards,
the Budapest Water Summit will take place between 15 and Recognizing excellence and innovative potential, the
17 October. These events are bound together by the same ITU Telecom World Awards will be presented to the most
fundamental question: how can innovation help us to address innovative and exciting tech SMEs, and for corporate
two of the major sustainable development challenges of our initiatives with meaningful social impact. Furthermore,
times. The organizers embraced a much needed new approach Telecom World will also be the venue for the final of the
by offering platforms to sharing ideas and best-practices as INPUT program's pitching contest for innovative start-ups
well as showcasing innovative and sustainable solutions. from across Hungary.

ITU Telecom World is the global tech event for policy- ITU Telecom World is bringing together the policy-makers,
makers and entrepreneurs, for large corporations and SMEs the leading industry figures and experts, whilst providing a
to connect, exhibit and explore common challenges, share platform for exploring how the rising tide of digital solutions
ideas and forge partnerships. Building on the success of the can be harnessed for sustainable development.
event of 2015, Hungary is proud to co-organise Telecom
World with ITU for the second time. Staying with the topic of sustainabi1ity from the majestic
banks of the River Danube to the lively thermal baths of the
This year's edition will focus on crucial trends and leading city, like Széchenyi or Gellért, at Budapest one is constantly
new technologies in the digital world, such as 5G, Internet reminded of the important role water plays in life. However,
of Things (JoT), artificial intelligence (AT) or autonomous on a global scale, we are also reminded of some of the darker
driving. The event will feature a forum for sharing ideas and aspects of the issues surrounding water. As floods and water-

20 DIVA . INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMAT