Covering technology, business and culture, the event will unite the CEOs, researchers and policymakers at the heart of the next technology revolution to share research and discoveries. Previous speakers include Marc Benioff, Chair, CEO & Founder at Salesforce; Mike Schroepfer, Chief Technology Officer at Facebook; and Yasmin Green, Director of Research and Development, Jigsaw at Google.

Attendees and panellists will explore innovative, practical and commercial ways to harness the world’s cutting edge technologies including Artificial Intelligence, GreenTech, and Connected Health, with the aim to create an economy and society with sustainability and inclusivity at its core.

Tom Gray, Curator of EmTech Europe, and Group CTO of FTSE 250 company Kainos, said: 

“EmTech Europe will give a platform to Europe’s most influential leaders in technology, policy and business, to help start new conversations on how technology can create more opportunity and prosperity, as countries look to rebuild economies and societies beyond this pandemic.” 

“Playing host to MIT Technology Review’s flagship European conference for the next three years affirms Belfast’s place as a growing global tech hub and is a major coup for our burgeoning tech sector and wider industries. We look forward to welcoming delegates on a virtual platform this year but are hugely excited for them to see what Belfast has to offer when we welcome them in person in years two and three.” 

In partnership with Belfast City Council, ‘EmTech Europe 2021 - Forging a Brighter Future’ will explore the forward-looking themes of a sustainable future; an intelligent future; a healthy future and an equitable future. 

Nico Crepaldi, Head of Custom Content at MIT Technology Review, said: “MIT Technology Review's mission is to equip audiences with the tools to understand and contribute to a world shaped by technology—our events bring that mission to life around the globe. Today, we are delighted to see the EmTech series returning to Europe, better and stronger than ever before, with Belfast as its hub.”

EmTech Europe will return to Belfast in 2022 and 2023. Speakers for this year's conference will be announced in the coming weeks.