WSA Digital Impact Days – Vienna

WSA Grand Jury Meeting & Digital Impact Days in Vienna: Shaping the Future of Digital Innovation

A unique gathering took place where top digital innovators, entrepreneurs, and sustainability experts from around the globe united to drive change and collaborate on solutions for a better future. The WSA Grand Jury Meeting featured 25 renowned experts who evaluated and selected 40 WSA Winners from nominations across 182 UN member states. The WSA winners were selected through a three-stage process: The Online Jury, which created the shortlist from all the nominees, the Grand Jury, and finally, the Global Congress, where the Global Champions were chosen from among the winners. These winning solutions set new benchmarks for innovation, addressing pressing societal challenges.

In addition, in conjunction with the jury meeting, the Digital Impact Days provided a dynamic platform for connection and collaboration, allowing participants to engage in critical conversations and learn from some of the world’s most forward-thinking minds.

Key Highlights of the Digital Impact Days:

  • The Future of Democracy in the Digital Age – Crisis of Truth: Attendees engaged in discussions about safeguarding democratic integrity in an era of misinformation and digital manipulation. This event featured keynotes, workshops, and interactive sessions with global stakeholders.
  • Digital Impact Innovation Austria Showcase: Participants met Austria’s leading digital impact entrepreneurs and learned from their insights. International experts shared valuable recommendations from the innovation landscape.
  • Digital Innovation & the UN SDGs at the UN HQ Vienna: A global dialogue was hosted on how digital solutions were advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in partnership with UNIDO at the United Nations HQ.

See Photos

Schedule

Wednesday, January 15

  • Throughout the day: Arrival of international delegates to Vienna
  • 15:00 - 18:00: Digital Impact Days: Democracy in the Digital Age | Crisis of Truth
  • A multi-stakeholder event focused on the challenges of maintaining democratic integrity in an era of digital disruption.
  • Shot Talks, Roundtables, Interactive Discussions
  • In partnership with ProEuropeanValues.AT

Thursday, January 16

  • 09:00 - 18:00: WSA Grand Jury Meeting (Closed meeting for jury members, selecting the 40 WSA Winners 2024)
  • Location: Hotel Schani
  • 19:30 - 22:00: Austrian Digital Impact Innovation Austria Showcase
  • WSA Austria 2024 Award Ceremony and Impact Austria Ecosystem MeetUp
  • In partnership with WSA Austria, Erste Bank Group, Impact Hub Vienna, Vienna Business Agency
  • Location: Social Hub

Friday, January 17

  • 09:00 - 11:00: futurizing_digital - Innovation & the Agenda2030
  • Discussion on how digital innovation supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • In partnership with UNIDO
  • Location: Vienna Int. Center
  • 13:00 - 20:00: WSA Grand Jury Meeting (Closed meeting for jury members, selecting the 40 WSA Winners 2024)
  • Location: Hotel Schani

Saturday, January 18

  • 09:00 - 19:00: WSA Grand Jury Meeting (Closed meeting for jury members, selecting the 40 WSA Winners 2024)
  • Location: Hotel Schani
  • Evening: Connect4Impact | WSA Networking Dinner for Jury Members & Partners

Sunday, January 19

  • 10:00: WSA Grand Jury Closing Plenary
  • Throughout the day: Discover Vienna: Culture, Innovation, Sustainability
  • After 15:00: Departure of International Delegates

Meet WSA’s Decision Makers

The jurors who selected the final winners included a diverse group of 30 international experts from 24 different countries. Their expertise, dedication, and extensive experience determined the final 40 WSA Winners, who later had the opportunity to pitch their innovative solutions at the Global Congress in Hyderabad, India.

Lilit Shakhulyan

Chief Operations Officer

Safe YOU

Armenia

Sachi Wickramage

Co-Founder and CEO

i4T Global

Australia

Tanja Wehsely

CEO

Volkshilfe Wien

Austria

Rodrigo Assumpção

Social Protection Management Information Systems Expert

International Labour Organization

Brazil

Sherry Kennedy

Director, Communications

SEforALL

Canada

Witman Hung

Principal Liaison Officer for Hong Kong

Shenzhen Qianhai Authority

China

Ana Maria Alvarez Monge

CEO & Founder

Migrapreneur

Costa Rica

Martin Vítek

President

Association for Entrepreneurial Czechia

Czech Republic

Dorothy Gordon

Consultant

ICT4Development

Ghana

Osama Manzar

Founder & Director

Digital Empowerment Foundation

India

Ali Hilli

Marketing & Communications Director

Miswag

Iraq

Michael Madara Ogot

Board Member

UbuntuNet Alliance

Kenya

Hania Sabbidin Dimassi

Associate Programme Management Officer 2030 Agenda and SDG Coordination Cluster

United Nations ESCWA

Lebanon

Malak Yacout

Founder and Executive Director

The Volunteer Circle

Lebanon

Odeta Iseviciute

Juror | Mentor | Advisor | Host | Moderator

WSA

Lithuania

Rudy Laddaga Lopez

Chief Content Officer

Citizens Company

Mexico

Harry Tomi Davies (TD)

President

The African Business Angel Network (ABAN)

Nigeria

Ryan Gersava

Founder and Chairman

Virtualahan

Philippines

Olga Rataj

Global Cleantech Innovation Programme Manager

UNIDO

Poland

Raluca Prelucă

Partner & Senior consultant

Fonduri-structurale.ro/consolid8

Romania

Richard Fekete

Senior specialist for the non-profit sector and social enterprises

Slovenská sporiteľňa (Erste Bank Group)

Slovakia

Batoul Husseini

Regional Executive Director of Government Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility

SAP

Syria/Turkiye

Kindly supported by

Co-Funded by the European Union