ITI Tech Show a Success in Connecting DC Policymakers to Our Innovators

We just wrapped up our biggest annual event, the ITI Tech Show, and it was a major success.

The ITI Tech Show is the only party in D.C. where tech plays the starring role. All the biggest names in tech exhibit their newest innovations so administration officials and Members of Congress can get hands-on and really “nerd-out” with virtual reality, cybersecurity, smart cities and more. Over 650 people came, including administration officials, lawmakers and policymakers, making it our most impressive and engaging Tech Show yet.

The Tech Show’s success would not have been possible without the support of our awesome sponsors, Autodesk, Visa, Akamai, Qualcomm and Micron! These companies brought cutting-edge digital technologies that are cementing the United States as the global leader in innovation and fueling America’s economy.

For instance, Autodesk has its eye set on the future at the intersection of design, infrastructure and the Internet of Things when it comes to smart cities. Its interactive display showcased how software is enabling the future of infrastructure design and construction, highlighting how 3D digital modeling can improve the design, construction and operations of roads, bridges, airports and other public infrastructure. These technologies can lead to smarter, faster and more cost-effective infrastructure development – by some estimates saving 20% on project costs – allowing tax dollars to be used more wisely while improving our daily lives through smart technologies.

Visa showcased the future of payments. Its connected Pedicab highlighted Visa Direct technology, and how it can benefit customers and workers in the shared economy. It allows ride-sharing companies to send its drivers’ payments to their Visa card within 30 minutes, rather than waiting for the typical 2-3 days it takes to settle a payment via funds transfer. Of course, we take convenience for granted when it comes to electronic payments, but security is paramount. Visa's security suitcase demonstrated numerous smart and secure payment and authentication methods that will be available as the tech industry continues to innovate, from biometric scanning to the use of wearables, to geolocation.

Qualcomm used its platform at the Tech Show to inspire future generations to enter science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by offering students a hands-on engineering experience with its Thinkabit Lab. Qualcomm Thinkabit Lab helps students discover their unique talents and explore different types of engineering career paths, such as software, hardware and systems engineering, as well as non-engineering careers that support tech companies, like marketing, human resources and intellectual property law.

Micron’s cybersecurity exhibit was incredibly timely, as companies and governments become digitally focused, cybersecurity is continuing to grow exponentially in importance. Micron demonstrated its problem-solving technology, like its self-encrypting drives that guard data at rest and prevent unauthorized access protecting data from breaches and costly security threats. This technology showcased how Micron is protecting customers and thwarting some of the most serious cyberattacks our country faces.

Finally, Akamai brought the Akamai Intelligent Platform™, a next-generation CDN combined with cloud services to provide extensive reach, unmatched reliability, security, visibility and expertise. This state-of-the-art technology allows companies to better use the internet and realize the full potential of their digital capabilities. It helps companies across the world with web acceleration, mobile optimization, application delivery, streaming media and mobile video.

Everyone who came to the Tech Show could see how our companies play a critical role in advancing America’s economy: whether it’s through digital design creating smart infrastructure; making sure workers are paid quickly and securely; encouraging the next generation of American engineers and scientists; or protecting critical cyber infrastructure through cybersecurity; or advanced cloud-based platforms that are revolutionizing the way we work and do business.

We again thank our sponsors and the more than two dozen tech companies that exhibited their revolutionary innovations, bringing Silicon Valley to D.C. for one terrific, celebratory night.