From June 4 to 7, 2024, the European Identity and Cloud Conference (EIC) took place in Berlin. This annual professional conference focuses on topics such as Identity and Access Management (IAM), digital identities, data protection, cybersecurity, and cloud technologies. Organized by KuppingerCole Analysts, this year marked the 18th edition of the event, aimed at bringing together experts, decision-makers, and providers from around the world.

The EIC is one of Europe's leading events around the digital ID multiverse and offered approximately 1,500 participants more than 230 sessions including talks, workshops, and discussions on current trends, best practices, and innovations. Key focus areas included IAM solutions, Zero Trust, digital transformation, cloud security, digital identity wallets, and compliance.

This year, we participated as attendees, using the event to stay informed about the latest trends and innovations, engage in interesting conversations, and establish valuable contacts.

Highlights of the Event

Among the 230 sessions, there were countless highly interesting talks. We would like to mention just a few that we found particularly compelling.

The keynote sessions opened with "Vision 2030: Rethinking Digital Identity in the Era of AI and Decentralization" by Martin Kuppinger. He offered numerous thought-provoking insights into the massive changes the digital identity landscape will undergo in the coming years. Kuppinger emphasized that traditional IAM frameworks must be rethought in light of advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and decentralized identities.

This evolution will not only affect companies but also retail and consumer experiences, necessitating a stronger focus on the protection of personal data. Kuppinger underlined the need for innovative technologies and approaches to build resilient and secure identity frameworks that keep pace with the demands of a digitally connected world.

Another keynote titled "The EU AI Act: The Challenge of Balancing Responsible Innovation," delivered by Kai Zenner, addressed AI regulation and focused on the challenges of implementing the EU AI Act. This regulatory framework aims to govern the development and use of AI within the EU to ensure ethical standards while fostering innovation.

Zenner highlighted the dual nature of the Act: on the one hand, it should drive technological innovation; on the other, it must safeguard fundamental rights and societal values. The legislation aims to balance research promotion with adherence to ethical principles, especially in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. He also pointed out that the AI Act could strengthen Europe’s global leadership in technology while creating clear rules and responsibilities for developers and users of AI systems. According to Zenner, the central theme is aligning innovation with ethics to enable responsible technological advancement in line with European values.

Another keynote we found especially engaging was titled "Les Miserables of the Cyber Frontier: The Dueling Narratives of Decentralized Identities." It focused on the tensions and challenges in the realm of decentralized identities, particularly the balance between privacy and security. Presented by experts Markus Sabadello and Nat Sakimura, this session explored the current state of so-called "decentralized" projects and the progress still needed to build a trustworthy digital identity infrastructure.

Boat Ride on the Spree

Another highlight for us was the evening boat ride on the Spree, offering a relaxed setting aboard to network with other participants, make new contacts, and enjoy the scenic Berlin skyline at sunset.

Conclusion

Attending the European Identity and Cloud Conference 2024 was truly worthwhile for us. It provided a valuable platform to gain new insights into current trends and developments in digital identity and IT security. The inspiring presentations and wide range of networking opportunities – especially the boat cruise – made the event a complete success for us.