With the new year now well underway, so too is a new calendar of events. For the tech sector, this means future-gazing at more trends, products and innovations. Here’s our guide to the must-attend B2B tech events for 2019 and the themes likely to dominate their agendas… 

MWC

Descending on Barcelona from 25-28 February, MWC (formerly Mobile World Congress) plays host to groundbreaking innovations from almost 2,500 companies and over 100,000 delegates. Whether it’s showcasing your new technology to the best in the game, tuning into insightful discussion or expanding your network, MWC is one not to be missed. Event themes this year include Industry 4.0 (namely IoT, cyber and cloud) and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as the much anticipated 5G.  

Digital Transformation Expo

Looking closer to home, IP Expo Manchester has become something of a regular in the diary for many in the tech industry. This year the organisers are changing it up and bringing three events – IP Expo, Cyber Security X and AI-Analytics X – under one roof for the two-day Digital Transformation Expo 2019. Conceived as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for digital transformation, the event will take place from 3-4 April and will cover cyber security, developer and community, to IoT, Blockchain and AI.  

AI: More Than Human

The Barbican is presenting a major new exhibition this year in the shape of AI: More Than Human, which runs from 16 May – 26 August. The event will see leading new commissions and research projects used to tell the story of artificial intelligence through the ages, from its Japanese Shintoism roots through major developments in the 1900s to the current day. With major players such as WIRED on board, this exhibition is one not to be missed.  

London Tech Week

The UK is quickly becoming a hotspot for leading Industry 4.0 technologies. London Tech Week is one platform used to position us on a world stage, not only allowing us to leading conversations about pioneering innovations, but to scale up homegrown tech talent. Held from 10-14 June, London Tech Week features a host of events covering themes such as people and skills, connecting global markets and start-up to scale-up.  

SaaStr Europa

With the strapline ‘Scale. Share. Learn.’ SaaStr Europa returns to Paris 12-13 June to bring more than 1,500 SaaS leaders and founders together under one roof. You can expect thought leadership sessions, lots of networking and mentoring, as well as a full diary of SaaS-based evening activities.  

Web Summit

Taking place in Lisbon from 4-7 November, Web Summit has been hailed “the best technology conference on the planet” by Forbes. The themes for 2019 are yet to be announced, but we can expect talks from founders of the world’s biggest companies, as well as start-ups and influential investors. The event is also the world’s largest gathering of international journalists from publications such as Bloomberg, Financial Times, Forbes and Wall Street Journal. 

Photo by Kane Reinholdtsen on Unsplash.