Elevate Festival Prioritizes Sovereignty in New Programming
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
The Toronto-based tech conference is shifting its focus toward data ownership and national security amid rising concerns over Canada's economic stability.
Elevate Festival has announced a new programming focus on sovereignty, cybersecurity, and dual-use technology for its upcoming event on Sept. 22, according to BetaKit. Developed in collaboration with BDC and DMZ, these tracks arrive as the festival celebrates its ninth anniversary.
Lisa Zarzeczny, CEO and co-founder of Elevate, stated in a press release that conversations regarding sovereignty and AI are at the forefront of this year's schedule because the stakes for the innovation economy continue to rise. The festival intends to address these pressing issues through a high-profile speaker roster that includes Reddit's chief communications officer Adam Collins, who will discuss the importance of human perspectives in an internet increasingly filled with AI-generated content.
Further discussions on Canadian ownership of future dual-use technologies will feature representatives from Coveo, Sentinel R&D, Dominion Dynamics, and Build Canada, BetaKit reports. Other scheduled speakers include Bumble's Vivek Sagi, Cohere's Michael Pelosi, Clio founder and CEO Jack Newton, and Kyle Lowry, the CEO of a tech-focused venture firm and investor in the Toronto Tempo.
Beyond sovereignty, the event will include panels with Coinbase Canada regarding the function of stablecoins in the Canadian financial system, as well as the "Fast Forward" track highlighting emerging competitive advantages. BetaKit notes that the shift toward sovereignty reflects a broader national preoccupation with Canada's economic and physical security.