This August marks the inaugurual Turing Edinburgh International Technology Festival. Intended to be “an emerging technology event, bringing together the cream of the world’s technology-based innovators and entrepreneurs with Scottish web, broadcast and mobile talent,” the new festival is a sort of experiment, with big plans for the future if all goes well.
Confirmed speakers include reps from Facebook, Seedcamp and Union Square Ventures (behind Twitter, Foursquare, and Zyng). Word on the street is that a Google+ developer is also on the speakers list, and that Facebook will be running a Facebook Developer Garage while they’re in town. Additional events are planned as part of the Turing “Fringe”, including Lean Startup Machine, a 56-hour hackathon that focuses on developing and implementing Lean Startup principles.
In its first year, the Festival will be relatively modest, running over just a single weekend. However, the grand plan is to make the Turing Festival the European counterpart to SXSW, and the preeminent event for launching new tech products in Europe.
The Turing organisers reason that just as the tech mecca that is SXSW emerged from a music and film festival in Austin, a new European web conference with global appeal can emerge from Edinburgh’s already substantial arts and cultural festivals. With Edinburgh now the home of TED Global, there’s even a precedent for hosting major international tech conferences in Scotland’s capital. However, while TED effectively avoided any interaction with Scottish locals, homegrown startups and entrepreneurs can expect to get a very favourable reception at the Turing Festival.
Dates, venue and prices
26th – 28th August 2011.
Our Dynamic Earth and Surgeon’s Hall in Edinburgh. Weekend Discount £135/£95 concession. £75 day ticket/£50 concession. Bookings can made through the Festival website.
For further information
A new look for Startup Cafe