Collision 2021, a spin off of Web Summit, is a conference dedicated to innovation, technology, web, ICT and electronics, held, on an annual basis, in various North American cities. Las Vegas and New Orleans have hosted the last five editions. As of 2019, Toronto as the country's major metropolitan center in terms of population and economic and financial importance has been designated as the venue.

The profile of participants is markedly high: 69% senior managers and C level, 15% CEOs. About 6 thousand companies represented including IBM, Intel, Amazon, GE, Facebook, Verizon, Salesforce, Coca Cola, Chase, Allianz.

At the roots of Collision's success is the modern and dynamic format that make it a kermesse that engages well-known speakers and personalities, highlights, arts, entertainment, business, technology and networking opportunities

Among the speakers who have participated in past editions of COLLISION: Bono, U2, Julia Hartz, Eventbrite, Wesley Clark, NATO, Travis Kalanick, Uber, Al gore, U.S. Vice President, Alexis Oshanian, Reddit Linda Boff, GE, Will.i.am, iam+, Gerard Baker, Wall Street Journal and others.

Sponsors, partners and exhibitors at the event include major brands such as, BMW, Google, AWS, Siemens, Microsoft, Huawei, Cisco, Altassian, Airbus. Also numerous are government economic development and investment attraction agencies: Failte Ireland, Orlando Economic Partnership, Germany Trade & Invest, Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Arlington Economic Development.

Within the event, numerous spaces, programs and initiatives dedicated to ICT start-ups and technological innovation.

More than 25,000 players, from 120 countries, 40 sectors/industries participated in Collision 2019.

ICE Agency Canada, as part of the Made in Italy Technology Special Project and through the coordination of Desk Machines Italia, took part in the event, as an official partner, with an information booth, a delegation of 16 Italian ITC startups and companies and a prestigious speaker.

The 2020 edition of the event was held due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions and containment measures adopted by Canada, in digital mode registering, nevertheless, a remarkable success of audience and participants, media, startups, companies and sponsors.

The organizing body made a strategic choice to bring forward the date for the 2021 edition of the event to early April (instead of May/June) and to maintain the virtual format.

While the virtual mode entails the absence of direct, physical contact between operators and companies, it has on the other hand, numerous advantages especially in terms of the involvement of Italian companies and startups.

To view the ICE-Agency Canada promo-video at Collision 2019 click on the following
link

To view the Machine Demo of Italian startup Mindesk click on the following link

For more information about this initiative, contact toronto [at] ice.co.uk (subject: Machines Italy Newsletter)