Growing Together: Building Public-Private Partnerships to Boost the AI Revolution
Participation Details: Participation is free. Registration is required and subject to approval.
For more information: g7@innovitsf.com
This two-days event, held under the Auspices of the Italian G7 Presidency, focuses on fostering Public-Private Partnerships to harness the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emerging Technologies. It explores AI’s role in driving Competitiveness, Innovation, and Growth, particularly for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. A key feature is the introduction of the AI Hub for Sustainable Development, realized in collaboration with the UNDP, which will be followed by the presentation of a selection of African AI Startups which develop AI Solutions. The discussions will also cover strategies for Responsible AI Investment, highlighting the importance of collaboration between Governments, Development Financial Institutions and Private Investors to promote ethical AI use and long-term technological advancement across Global Markets.
AGENDA:
NOVEMBER 12
9.30 Welcome address by Sergio Strozzi, Italian Consul General to San Francisco
9.40 Opening remarks by Fausta Bergamotto, Italian Under Secretary for Enterprises and Made in Italy, and Leila Elmergawi, Director and Senior Advisor, Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology, U.S. Department of State.
10.00AM – 12.30PM Working Session no 1
Artificial Intelligence as a source of competitiveness, innovation and growth: driving factors and challenges of AI adoption among companies
Moderated by Laura Caroli, Senior Fellow, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Artificial intelligence (AI) can profoundly transform business practices, boosting productivity, efficiency, and sustainability in industrial processes. Yet, international data shows few SMEs have adopted AI solutions.
Aligned with the G7 Report on AI adoption by MSMEs, as outlined in the Ministerial Declaration from the March 14-15, 2024 meeting in Verona and Trento, this debate aims to explore how AI can enhance efficiency and address the main barriers to its adoption.
Additionally, the discussion will consider effective policies and strategies to support mSMEs in deploying safe, secure, and trustworthy AI.
10.00 – 10.10 Introductory remarks by Eva Spina, Co-Chair, G7 Italian Presidency’s Industry and Tech Ministerial Track
10.10 – 11.20 Fireside Chat # 1 / Part 1 - The Future of AI : Driving Factors, Challenges and Opportunities for the AI Revolution
- Eric Loeb, Executive VP of Global Government Affairs, Salesforce
-Rob Sherman, VP, Policy and Deputy Chief Privacy Officer, Meta
- John Miller, Senior Vice President of Policy, Data and Technology, Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC)
- Nicole Foster, Director, AWS Global AI/ML and Canada Public Policy
- Kevin White, Senior Director, AI for Good Lab, MicrosoftQ&A
11.20 – 12.10 Fireside Chat # 1 / Part 2 - The Future of AI : Driving Factors, Challenges and Opportunities for the AI Revolution
- Gary Litman, SVP Global Initiatives, US Chamber of Commerce
- Waldo McMillan, Vice President of The Americas for Government Affairs, CISCO
- Alice Friend, Global Head, AI and Emerging Technology Policy, Google
- Sylvie Ouellette, CEO and Co-Founder, Versatil, e Board Member di TechNation Canada
- Anissa Kemiche, Director General NumeumQ&A
12.10 Wrap-up by G7 Presidency and anticipation of Working Session no. 2, by Andrea Gumina, Senior Policy Advisor to the G7 Sherpa Office
12.30PM – 2.00PM Networking Lunch
2.00 PM – 5.30 PM Working Session n. 2
The AI Hub for Sustainable Development – Mobilizing Industry Partnership for Growing Together
Moderated by Keyzom Ngodup Massally, Head of Digital Programming, UNDP Chief Digital Office
Africa is brimming with youthful energy and untapped potential. For instance, in the realm of Artificial Intelligence. However, foundational challenges across the AI value chain hinder the scalability of AI initiatives. An integrated private sector approach is crucial to bridge gaps in data, compute, and talent pipelines—the three pillars of AI ecosystems. To this end, the session aims to discuss the AI Hub for Sustainable Development and its objective to:
- Shape private sector-led collaborations, through research and advocacy, to develop solutions that advance progress towards the SDGs across Africa.
- Create private sector co-operation and innovations in critical resources that developing countries need: computing, data pipelines, and talent to forge sustainable development solutions.
- Orchestrate talent exchange, start-up accelerators to drive the research and implementation of new use cases.
- Foster shared public goods to enhance transparency and accelerate innovation driven by private players across various sectors.
2.00 – 2.10 Introductory remarks by Vincenzo Del Monaco, Minister Plenipotentiary and Co-Chair of the G7 Digital, Industry, and Tech Working Group
2.10 – 2.20 Presentation of the AI Hub for Sustainable Development by Robert Opp, Chief Digital Officer, UNDP
2.20 – 3.20 - Fireside Chat # 2 / Part 1 - Building the AI Revolution together: connecting G7 and African excellences
- Daniel Boateng, Venture Talent Specialist, The Future List
- Ali Diallo, Founder, Aurion Capital
- Massimo Dal Checco, President, Anitec – Assinform and Tech7 Chair
- Alex Tsado, Founder and CEO, Ahura AI
- Stella Morabito, Director General, AFNUM
- Jen Gennai, AI Ethics and Governance Expert, T3 Consultants
- Raniero Romagnoli, Chief Technology Officer, AlmawaveQ&A
3.20 – 4.20 Fireside Chat # 2 / Part 2 - Building the AI Revolution together: connecting G7 and African excellences
- Yordanos Asmare, Head of Talent & Partnerships - A2SV
- Houda Ghozzi, CEO, Open Startup International
- Wei Xiao, Director of Developers Relations, Middle East and Africa, NVIDIA
- Joey Stryker, VP Marketing, iGenius
- Mohamed Elbashir, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council Geo-Tech Center
- Emre Varol, CEO, A2SV
- El Mahdi Aboulmanadel, CEO, DeepLeafQ&A
4.20 – 5.10 African Start-Ups Pitching Demo Session Chaired by Diego Teloni, INNOVIT, Alberto Acito, MD INNOVIT, and Alessandro Scortecci, CDP Venture
Introductory remarks by UNDP’s Chief Digital Office:– Nasrallah Hassan, Founder, IRIF: Birrama Digital Commerce PLC – Ethiopia (pre-recorded video)
– Mohamed Mekki Maalej, Founder, IrWise – Tunisia
– Hichem Mokni, Founder, NextAV - Tunisia
– Ochich Magero, Founder, TradePulse – Kenya
– Tonee Ndungu, Founder, Kytabu - Kenya5.10 – 5.20 Wrap-up by G7 Presidency and anticipation of Day 2, by Andrea Gumina, Senior Policy Advisor to the G7 Sherpa Office
5.20 – 5.30 Final remarks by Sam Yala, President of the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences
5:30 PM –6:30 PM: Networking Cocktail
6:30 PM : End of Day One
NOVEMBER 13
9.15 Welcome
9.30 Welcome address and wrap up of Day 1 by Sergio Strozzi
9.40 Opening Remarks
10.00 AM - 1PM Working Session n. 3
The Emerging Technologies Revolution: how G7 Members, PDBs and DFIs could pave the way for a collaborative investment framework
Moderated by Jillian Manus, Managing Partner, Structure Capital
Day 2 will be focused on the importance of investing together on responsible and ethical use of emerging technologies within the G7 and towards outreach Countries, setting a precedent for AI development across financial markets.
The agenda will be opened by keynote speeches, followed by a line-up of prominent international speakers from the G7 Public Development Banks (PDBs) and Development Financing Institutions (DFIs), as well as from some of the most active Investors from the Bay Area. Interactive discussion will be related to their commitment on working together to contribute to the responsible and ethical use of new AI technologies by focusing on the elaboration of common standards for responsible investing in AI, in close cooperation with the relevant thematic G7 Working Groups.
- Introduction by G7 Presidency/MAECI and Agostino Scornajenchi, CEO of CDP Venture Capital SGR
10.20 Fire-side Chat 3 / Part 1 - Building a Framework for Responsible Investment in AI and other Emerging Technologies: from partnership to Commitments to Common Standards
- Ana María Ibáñez, Vice President for Sectors and Knowledge, Inter-American Development Bank
- Markus Berndt, Deputy Director General and Head of EIB Group Representation to the US and the UN, European Investment Bank
- Ousmane Fall, Director of Non-Sovereign Operations and Private Sector, African Development Bank
- Antonio Zaballos, Director of Digital Technology for Development Division, Asian Development Bank
- Marcie Frost, CEO, CALPERS;
- Michael Kim, Founder, Cendana Capital;
- Sergio Rinaudo, Vice President, Permira;
- Anis Uzzaman, Founder and CEO, Pegasus Tech Ventures.
11.20 Fire-side Chat 3 / Part 2 - Building a Framework for Responsible Investment in AI and other Emerging Technologies: from partnership to Commitments to Common Standards- John Wesley, Director, NVentures;
- Angelo Del Priore, Investor, HP Tech Ventures;
- Dominic Perri, Partner at Vertex Ventures;
- Bill Rodoni, Founder and Managing Partner of Janix Capital;
- Ean Hundley, Director of ICT Policy, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.
Moderator: Enrico Petrocelli, Head of International Institutional Relations, CDP.12.20 Wrap-up of the session the G7 Consul Generals to San Francisco and Tech Envoys
12.40 Closing Remarks and the way forward: conclusion of the event by Massimo Carnelos, Head of Unit for Technological Innovation and Startups, Italian Ministry
of Foreign Affairs.
1 PM Networking Lunch
2 PM End of the event