Red carpet for digitization

The initiative

DIGITAL X is Europe's leading cross-industry digitalization initiative. With the aim of driving the digital transformation in business, politics and society, Deutsche Telekom brings together corporations, SMEs, start-ups, politicians, visionaries and leading experts in an overarching community. With the declared aim of creating tangible impetus for Europe's digital agenda and taking action together. For sustainable digitalization and increased competitiveness.

DIGITAL X initiative – Success stories

"How can digitalization drive companies forward and how do we support them?" This question provided the impetus to launch the initiative in 2017. Today, more than 200 national and international partners are involved. Business, politics, companies, public institutions and associations benefit from a strong and far-reaching partner network, its best-of-breed solutions and the exchange of ideas at eye level. Whether a digitalization beginner or professional, start-up or DAX company, best practice sharing or expert discussion, there is one motive that unites everyone right from the start: networking, exchanging ideas, learning from each other - tackling digitalization together.

What ist the DIGITAL X ecosystem?

DIGITAL X offers all those who want to actively shape and accelerate digitalization in Germany and Europe a space for dialogue and finding solutions. Since 2018, the annual series of events has developed into an open forum that – with a considerable partner network behind it – challenges, promotes and accelerates the digitalization of business, politics and society.

A Quick look back at the development of DIGITAL X

2024

From Rudolfplatz to Mediapark, around 50,000 visitors were once again able to experience what the digital future has in store. Be it talking to an AI avatar, using robots for city cleaning or health checks by an artificial intelligence. The innovative power of technology – at DIGITAL X 2024, it was tangible in every corner of the stage and in every handshake. In keeping with the current motto “Ready for Impact”!

2023

Two days of innovations and visions of the future. Two days of inspiration, new perspectives and touchable technology. Around 50,000 visitors will experience DIGITAL X 2023 on September 20 and 21, 2023 – with 6 stages, 250 speakers and 300 partners on an area of 2 million square meters in downtown Cologne.

The event will feature prominent guests such as Oscar-winning actor and human rights activist George Clooney, ABBA icon Björn Ulvaeus, futurist Amy Webb, entrepreneur Dr. Wladimir Klitschko and cyborg activist Neil Harbisson.

2022

DIGITAL X 2022 is history and has made history. We once again transformed Cologne into the city of the future and celebrated the world exhibition of digitization together with you. New in 2022: For the first time, DIGITAL X was not only open to trade visitors from the B2B sector. With a Highlight Ticket, the event was also open to private visitors. We thank all visitors, partners and speakers for two days of pure digitization!

2021

Breathtaking indoor and outdoor stages, numerous brandhouses, marketplaces and the most relevant topics & speakers. Together with you, we transformed the city of Cologne into a world exhibition of digitalization - decentralized, agile and innovative. In addition to concentrated, content-related power, you experienced numerous entertainment highlights as usual. Whether networking during the Cologne Night or celebrating together at the after-show party - DIGITAL X 2021 was two unforgettable days in the most beautiful city on the Rhine!

2020

What is the best thing to do when everything is turned on its head? We faced this challenge by transforming DIGITAL X into a live digital platform. We have provided the perfect answer to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic in the form of DIGITAL X DIGITAL EDITIONS as an online-only format. And what does it mean, when we see the crisis as an opportunity? We exploit its potential – with the integration of our own DIGITAL X content platform, kicking off the largest best practice and knowledge network in the B2B sector. In this way, we are responding to the ever greater necessity of digital solutions. Available to everyone 24/7, 365 days a year.

2019

Just one year later, the community had amassed over 35,000 participants. With six regional events and the DIGITAL X finale at the Koelnmesse, the initiative became one of the leading digitalization initiatives in just its second year. Experts and visionaries such as Sir Richard Branson, inventor of the World Wide Web Sir Tim Berners-Lee, and Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales were just some of 2019’s top speakers. Attendees were able to experience digitalization up close across a mix of six stages, the partner marketplace, the start-up square, and the innovation area.

2018

Over 15,000 people attended the six regional and national DIGITAL X live events across Germany. The events featured top speakers like Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, and the first year of DIGITAL X was rounded off with a performance by the Black Eyed Peas at the Koelnmesse.