The 3rd UIC Digital Conference was opened by Jean-Pierre Loubinoux, UIC Directeur General. Mr Loubinoux pointed out that we were celebrating the second anniversary of the UIC Digital Platform.

He mentioned the numerous events and developments managed by the Digital Platform over the last two years.
Among them, seminars, conferences, Digital Days, Digital Tour in Silicon Valley, Digital Progress Paper (already four editions have been released), design of Proofs of Concept (POC) and two editions of UIC Digital Awards.

The UIC Digital Platform is now recognised worldwide

A large number of special guests were present. Among them, Don Upson (Vice-Chair and Co-founder CES Government Las Vegas), Max Peterson (Vice-President AWS), Lerry Wilson (Senior Vice-President SPLUNK) and many others.

In the first part, AWS, COSMO TECH, SPLUNK and TOMORROW (French Startup) presented their initiatives.

Francis Bedel, UIC Chief Digital Officer, delivered information about the planned events of the UIC Digital Platform for 2018. The two main ones to be highlighted: participation of UIC in CES Las Vegas where the rail sector will be represented for the very first time.
Secondly, the organisation of a major digital event in Africa (Addis-Abeba).

At the end of the conference, Jean-Pierre Loubinoux and Max Peterson presented trophies to the four winners of this second edition of UIC Digital Awards.
Max Peterson announced that AWS would offer each winner a credit to be used on AWS services.

In his conclusions, Jean-Pierre Loubinoux reminded the audience that all UIC Digital Platform missions supported the UIC philosophy: SHARE-OPEN-CONNECT.
The connection with the digital ecosystem and therefore the start-ups is one the main inputs of the digital platform.

He formally announced that a digital panel would be part of the 10th Highspeed Conference planned in Ankara in May.
It will be the opportunity to organise a new edition of digital awards dedicated to High Speed.
Among the projects already received, a jury will select three entries that they think will bring major added-value to the area of high speed rail.

This will be the second chance for the start-ups to win an award.