Why DES is a Shining Gem in Malaga

There is something special about DES in Malaga. The annual innovation conference grows year on year, with bigger names, more spectacular events and lots of deep passionate conversations.

This year, its eight edition, saw the attendance grow to 17,157 executives from 41 countries. During three days, DES2024 analyzed the impact of the application of artificial intelligence, along with other digital solutions such as blockchain, data analytics and cybersecurity, on business. Present at the show were 403 global firms such as IBM, Oracle, Nvidia, Santander, T-Systems, Clear Channel, eBay, Fhios, Jirada, NP Digital, The Cocktail, Vass, Westcon and Zoho, which presented solutions and applications of technologies related to AI, digital twins, blockchain, cybersecurity, data analytics, multicloud, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, among many others.

DES Malaga reviewed

DES OG speaker and regular, Magnus Melander, Evangelist & Co-founder of THINGS, has now permanently inserted the date in his calendar every year. He praises the organisers (mostly women I am assured) for their innovation and care. This is the best conference he attends, hailing from the cooler northern climes of Sweden to enjoy the sunshine in Malaga.

“They really look after their speakers, moderators and guests,” he says. The opening celebrations are more akin to a celebrity music event and the welcome beach party spares no detail. Trays of tapas and drinks are circulated freely all evening and soon the guests become loquacious.

Spanish is the dominant language but innovation is the lingua franca.

Magnus moderates a panel on AI and steers his speakers in a direction to understand its long-term impact. The following day he talks about blockchain and business. His common-sense advice when evaluating new software is to just do it.

“If you have the business sense worked out, then don’t be afraid to ditch legacy systems and install new – it’ll be faster in the long run,” he says.

During his talk he has an epiphany – what impact will Quantum Computing have on blockchain. “Will Quantum computing break the immutability of blockchain?” Later on, at another talk he discovers another expert posting the same question. All roads lead to quantum it seems.

Cryptocurrency also plays a major role in the talks. On the IBM innovation stage, Adrian White of Santander Bank based in Ireland, talks about the two types of money – private and public, he says. Regulation is a key part of these conversations, including the much-vaulted MiCA framework. The Spanish lead for Binance talks about stablecoins and how they are to be regulated in some 20 days’ time, but no one mentions the problematic position of Tether with its reliance on Cantor Fitzgerald and its apparent lack of EU banking. Not everything is being resolved on stage.

Longevity and immortality also raise their heads. José Luis Cordeiro, author of #TheDeathofDeath, is a prominent speaker and advisor. He knows everyone and holds a doctorate from MIT. He speaks of cryogenics, the complex human brain and how we will achieve immortality around the same time as singularity is expected to become confirmed in 2045. It’s a vast leap of faith, and possibly the last frontier for human kind. He travels to Dublin the following weekend for a dedicated longevity conference.

The Awards Dinner is hosted in Castillo de Gibralfaro. With impressive views across the city and bay, it is a very prestigious affair. The mayor, Francisco de la Torre Prados, gives an impassioned speech. He is fervent in his promotion of Malaga, as befits a continuous mayor of almost 25 years. He says that everyone from the Muslims to the Christians have fought over this gem of a city.

Despite being on the more conservative side of politics, he sports a coloured pin representing the 17 UN SDGs. He has been supporting these before his liberal counterparts even knew about them, he tells us proudly.

Fellow journalist and Associate Editor at Electronic Specifier and Startups, Sheryl Miles attends the dinner. She is covering the conference for a number of UK based publications and is attending many talks.

“I was invited here, first and foremost, to represent Startups Magazine, which is a UK publication for tech startup companies. However, I also cover other titles, Electronic Specifier and IoT Insider, of which a lot of these talks are relevant.”

When asked what her highlight was, she was quick to say: “Firstly the atmosphere and the energy – it was palpable from the moment I arrived. The enthusiasm of everyone in sharing their thoughts and ideas was great. It was also interesting to hear how new heights are being achieved in AI and what that means for people, machines, and the future.”

And what is my abiding impression? Malaga as a city is very beautiful and I will return soon to properly explore the medieval streets. DES as an event, is a gem within the city. The conference layout is easy to navigate, the exhibitors wide ranging and the talks broad. The closing display by Cirque de Solie just finishes off an exquisite conference – one that is also now permanently in my diary.

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