Digital Business Ecosystem Research Forum

Under the patronage of

H.E. Prof. Riyad Yousif Hamzah

President of the University of Bahrain

Overview

The Digital Business Ecosystem Research Forum organized by the University of Bahrain targets researchers and practitioners who study information systems and processes of localizing digital innovations in the GCC region. We are witnessing the proliferation of information and communication technologies in various sectors at an unprecedented pace. As such, these technologies carry the potential to shift practices and norms in society, as well as alter organisational strategies and policies. This raises interesting questions for researchers, practitioners and public sector managers on how these digital innovations are appropriated to fit into our GCC context. In this forum we are especially interested in how these processes unfold in the fintech field.

We draw on the expertise of various sectors on the phenomena of localization of innovation at large, which ranges from start-ups’ activities, to organizational practices, regulatory changes and wider socio-cultural trends. To respond to these questions, this forum will explore the localization process of digital innovation in a multi-faceted approach to offer a link between theory to practice and generate debates and ideas that can lead to projects to explore this theme further.

How the DBE-RF works

The forum begins with keynotes followed by two types of thematic plenaries – a research panel and a practitioner panel. The forum also includes presentations by the University of Bahrain to present initiatives and projects for intersectoral collaboration.

The forum concludes with our second stakeholder consultation roundtable on digital entrepreneurship with key players from the ecosystem to explore setting a plan for future collaboration to support entrepreneurship.

Why

The 2nd DBE research forum aims to:

To offer a space for inter-sectoral discussions and presentations to generate research concepts on the fintech field and the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
To enable stakeholders to set up collaborative research projects with academia that are contextually relevant to the region.

Important Dates

Registration

June 20^th 2019

Abstract submission

May 31^st 2019

Notification of acceptance

June 8^th 2019

Forum Dates

June 25^th 2019

Who are we targeting?

Researchers, public sector managers, private sector managers, fintech experts, academics, innovators and entrepreneurs.

Call for Abstracts

The Second Digital Business Ecosystem (DBE) Research Forum committee invites researchers on the topic of digital entrepreneurship and fintech innovation to take part in our upcoming research event that is organized by the University of Bahrain.

The DBE Research Forum offers a space for researchers and practitioners to discuss and debate many themes that include: how global models of fintech digital innovations are localized in the GCC region, the implications of fintech adoption on regulative and sociocultural aspects of society, the forum also explores the inclusiveness of women in the fintech field and finally the role of data and research in supporting developments in fintech and entrepreneurship as a whole.

The forum focuses on the following themes (but are not limited to):

Regulatory Landscape for Fintech
Infrastructure Development for fintech and digital entrepreneurship
Socio-cultural issues and the implementation of fintech startups
Localizing global models of fintech digital innovations
Trust and fintech applications
Collaboration to support fintech innovation
Smart city innovation and fintech innovation
Public sector IT and fintech innovation

The forum will also be a chance to learn more about the University of Bahrain’s new initiative – the Digital Entrepreneurship Research Collaborative (DERC).

We would like to invite you to present in the DBE Research Forum. Please submit a summary (200-400 words) of the work or research theme you would like to present and discuss to dberf@uob.edu.bh.

2019 Program

The Localization of Fintech Digital Innovations for Socioeconomic Development

June 25, 2019

The Wyndham Hotel
9.30 – 13.30, followed by lunch reception

9.00 – 9.30	Registration and coffee
9.30 – 9.40	Welcome
9.40 – 10.40	Research Panel Discussion [sg_popup id=”15329″ event=”click”]Theorizing the Localization of Digital Innovation: Processes and issues[/sg_popup]
10.40 – 11.00	Presentation 1 [sg_popup id=”15334″ event=”click”]Bridging Theory to Practice: Introducing the Digital Entrepreneurship Research Collaborative (DERC)[/sg_popup]
11.00 – 11.10	Coffee break
11.10 – 11.25	Keynote Speech Making Sense of Change with Fintech Developments
11.25 – 12.15	Presentations 2 [sg_popup id=”15335″ event=”click”]Cultivating Data-Centric Practices in the Ecosystem: Why, who and how?[/sg_popup]
12.15 – 12.35	Coffee break
12.35 – 13.35	Expert Panel Discussion [sg_popup id=”15336″ event=”click”]Does Fostering Diversity Offer an Advantage?[/sg_popup]
13.35	Lunch Reception