Future Tech Ignite

Where innovation, talent and ideas shape the future of media

Future Tech Ignite is the home of start-ups, emerging talent, future skills and entrepreneurial thinking at IBC2026.

Delivered with EIT Culture & Creativity as Innovation Partner, Future Tech Ignite brings together students, creators, technologists, start-ups, investors, educators and industry leaders to explore how new ideas can become real opportunities for the media and entertainment industry.

This partnership matters because the future of M&E will not be shaped by technology alone. It will depend on stronger links between creativity, business, education, research and entrepreneurship — helping new talent, new companies and new ideas move from potential to practical impact.

Across the four days of the show, the Future Tech Ignite Stage will host talks, panels, showcases and pitch sessions covering the major forces changing the industry, including artificial intelligence, the creator economy, sustainability, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, education and future skills.

Register for IBC2026    View the 2026 Showfloor Agenda

Innovation Partner:

EIT Culture & Creativity

EIT Culture & Creativity supports innovation, entrepreneurship and creative talent across Europe’s cultural and creative sectors. As Innovation Partner for Future Tech Ignite, it will help connect the IBC community with the people, ideas and companies driving new approaches to creative and media innovation.

At IBC2026, EIT Culture & Creativity will host sessions on education, entrepreneurship and business development, alongside pitch sessions from start-up companies working at the frontier of innovation.

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Explore Future Tech Ignite

 

Start-ups and entrepreneurship

Future Tech Ignite gives start-ups and early-stage companies a dedicated platform to showcase new thinking, connect with the global IBC community and demonstrate how emerging technologies are moving from concept to commercial opportunity.

Through pitch sessions, business development content and access to investors, partners and industry leaders, Ignite will support the companies and founders building what comes next for media and entertainment.

Themes on the Ignite Stage

The Future Tech Ignite Stage will bring together voices from across the industry to explore the technologies, communities and challenges shaping media and entertainment.

Themes include artificial intelligence, the creator economy, sustainability, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, education, future skills, mentorship, allyship, start-up innovation and investment.

Student programming at IBC2026

Students and emerging talent will have a dedicated focus within the Future Tech Ignite programme. Monday’s Ignite Stage agenda will include insight from IBC’s owner associations, an On-Air showcase exploring industry and education collaboration, a student short-form content showcase, and a next-gen leaders panel giving students a voice in the industry conversation. At Future Tech Ignite, students can experience the media and entertainment industry up close, connect with professionals and peers, and take part in conversations about the tech, skills and ideas shaping what comes next. 

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Talent, skills and education

Tech Ignite will host sessions on education, career pathways, mentorship, allyship and the role of industry collaboration in supporting the next generation of M&E talent. The IBC Talent Programme will open the show on Friday with sessions focused on education, skills and career development. This will include new research from IBC and Women in Streaming Media, in partnership with IAMT, SMPTE, Rise Academy and the Global Media & Entertainment Talent Manifesto, looking at the career journeys of today’s media professionals and how young people can build more effective pathways into the industry.

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2026 Future Tech Ignite Agenda

Ignite Stage
  1. Talent Programme Opening Keynote
    Ignite Stage
    Media Cartographer and IBC Conference keynote Evan Shapiro opens the 2026 IBC Talent Programme with ...
    Speakers
    Evan Shapiro
    Evan Shapiro, Media Cartographer - ESHAP
  2. State of the Talent Landscape: What the Data is Telling Us
    Ignite Stage
    Recent research from IAMT seeks to better understand the current landscape for media and entertainme ...
    Moderator
    Carrie Wootten
    Carrie Wootten, CEO - Global Media and Entertainment Talent Manifesto
    Panellist
    Lisa Opie
    Lisa Opie, Chair - ScreenSkills
    Polly Hickling
    Polly Hickling, VP Education - SMPTE
    Stuart Ray
    Stuart Ray, Head of Skills and Development - IAMT
  3. Further Education for the Industry? Closing the Gap Between Media and Academia
    Ignite Stage
    Strengthening the relationship between the industry and the education sector is seen as ‘mission cri ...
    Moderator
    Polly Hickling
    Polly Hickling, VP Education - SMPTE
    Panellist
    Andy Beale
    Andy Beale, Co-Founder, Rise Academy, and Director of Technology - Premier League Studios
    Shant Bayramian
    Shant Bayramian, Lecturer, Researcher, & Director of Emerging Tech - lnholland University of Applied Sciences
  4. Building Europe's Next Generation of Media Innovators
    Ignite Stage
    How can Europe help emerging talent turn bold ideas into media experiences people actually want to w ...
    Speakers
    Susannah Montgomery
    Susannah Montgomery, Business Development Manager - EIT Culture & Creativity
  5. What’s Important Right Now (WIRN): The real Industry Priorities
    Ignite Stage
    Some of the most important issues facing the industry extend beyond technology and business strategy ...
    Moderator
    Oisin Lunny
    Oisin Lunny, Award-winning conference host and MC - Galaxy of OM, S.L.
    Panellist
    Barbara Lange
    Barbara Lange, Co-Founder - MTSS
    Elena Petrova
    Elena Petrova, Head of Group Content and Broadcasting, International Business - A1 Group
    Sam Fray
    Sam Fray, Founder & Director - Black People in Sports Broadcasting
    Terri Davies
    Terri Davies, President - Trusted Partner Network
  6. AI Won't Make You Creative: Real-world Insight from Media and Production Creators Utilising AI in Creative Applications
    Ignite Stage
    Everyone’s using AI now. To write, to edit, to speed things up, to “generate ideas”. But let’s be ho ...
    Speakers
    Jaisica Lapsiwala
    Jaisica Lapsiwala, Co-Founder - Soho Media Club
    Tom Witkowski
    Tom Witkowski, Co-Founder - Soho Media Club
  7. Future Tech Ignite Start-up Pitch Sessions
    Ignite Stage
    Meet the technology and business innovators shaping the future of our industry. This session will fe ...
Ignite Stage
  1. Ignite Stage Welcome Day 2
    Ignite Stage
     
  2. Start-up Clinic with Evan Shapiro and Marion Ranchet
    Ignite Stage
    Media Cartographer Evan Shapiro and Marion Ranchet, founder of Streaming Made Easy, return to the Ig ...
    Speakers
    Evan Shapiro
    Evan Shapiro, Media Cartographer - ESHAP
    Marion Ranchet
    Marion Ranchet, Founder - Streaming Made Easy
  3. WIRN: If a security incident happened tomorrow, would your organization be ready?
    Ignite Stage
    Recent incidents and TPN STAR Report findings suggest many companies wouldn't be. Join TPN, ACE, NBC ...
    Moderator
    Terri Davies
    Terri Davies, President - Trusted Partner Network
    Panellist
    Bekhan Batalov
    Bekhan Batalov, Director Content Protection EMEA - Motion Picture Association
    Matt Andrews
    Matt Andrews, Director and Head of Global Content Security - Netflix
  4. Ignite Stage Start-up Session: AWS
    Ignite Stage
     
  5. Future Tech Ignite Start-up Pitch Sessions
    Ignite Stage
    "Meet the technology and business innovators shaping the future of our industry. This session will f ...
  6. Can Europe Build the World's Next Media Innovation Ecosystem?
    Ignite Stage
    Europe produces world-class creativity, research and media innovation, yet too few European companie ...
    Speakers
    Anette Schaefer
    Anette Schaefer, CEO - EIT Culture & Creativity
  7. Europe's Media Competitiveness: Turning Creativity into Global Growth
    Ignite Stage
    Europe has the talent. Why isn't it winning? Drawing on new independent research from Ampere Analysi ...
    Speakers
    Anette Schaefer
    Anette Schaefer, CEO - EIT Culture & Creativity
  8. Scaling Europe's Next Media Champions
    Ignite Stage
    Securing funding is only the beginning. Turning an innovative idea into a successful media business ...
    Moderator
    Javier Arias
    Javier Arias, Director of Business Creation - EIT Culture & Creativity
Ignite Stage
  1. Ignite Stage Day 3 Welcome
    Ignite Stage
     
  2. Startup Showcase: Meet Europe's Emerging Media Startups
    Ignite Stage
    Europe's next generation of media innovators takes the stage. In this fast-paced showcase, EIT Cultu ...
  3. The Economies of Media Scale
    Ignite Stage
    This session, led by Caretta Research, will explore the new media landscape driven by the creator an ...
    Speakers
    Ed Barton
    Ed Barton, Research Director - Caretta Research
  4. The Human Advantage Is Dead. Replace Me?
    Ignite Stage
    "Last year, Women in Industries of Tomorrow challenged audiences to ""Persevere and Get Sh*t Done"", ...
  5. Future Shock: Are You Ready?
    Ignite Stage
    Rapidly changing technology – such as the explosion of Gen AI, hybrid workflows, and immersive enter ...
    Moderator
    Amy DeLouise
    Amy DeLouise, Founder - #GALSNGEAR
    Panellist
    Elena Dimopoulou
    Elena Dimopoulou, Education Mentor - Epic Games
    Glodina Lostanlen
    Glodina Lostanlen, Chief Revenue Officer - Imagine Communications
    Yassue Inoki
    Yassue Inoki, President - ABOTTS (Associação Brasileira de OTT e Streaming)
  6. From Talent Discovery to Development: How Allyship Builds the Future Workforce
    Ignite Stage
    Allyship in media and entertainment can unlock potential by improving access, visibility, and develo ...
    Speakers
    Deepali Narsiker
    Deepali Narsiker, Head of Allyship - Women in Streaming Media
  7. Connect with Confidence: The communication secrets that transform networking into meaningful connections
    Ignite Stage
    "Meaningful professional connections can open doors to new opportunities, ideas and collaborations. ...
    Speakers
    Deborah Cross
    Deborah Cross, Operations Director - Rise Women in Broadcast
  8. Future Tech Ignite Start-up Pitch Sessions
    Ignite Stage
    Meet the technology and business innovators shaping the future of our industry. This session will fe ...
Ignite Stage
  1. Ignite Stage Day 4 Welcome
    Ignite Stage
     
  2. Future Tech Ignite Start-up Pitch Sessions
    Ignite Stage
    Meet the technology and business innovators shaping the future of our industry. This session will fe ...
  3. IBC Owner Session for Students and Emerging Talent
    Ignite Stage
     
  4. Future Talent Showcase
    Ignite Stage
    "This two-part session will showcase the skills of the next generation. Part 1 will be led by repres ...
  5. WIRN: The Leaders of Tomorrow
    Ignite Stage
    To close the Ignite Stage programme, we hand the forum of discussion over to the young people who wi ...
    Moderator
    Joe Hunter
    Joe Hunter, Group IT Director - Once Upon a Time

Who is Future Tech Ignite for?

Future Tech Ignite is designed for anyone interested in where the media and entertainment industry is heading next, including start-ups, students, creators, investors, educators, skills organisations, media technology companies, industry associations and business leaders exploring future opportunities.

Join Future Tech Ignite at IBC2026

Future Tech Ignite is where new ideas meet practical opportunity.

Join the start-ups, students, creators, technologists, educators, investors and industry leaders shaping the future of media and entertainment at IBC2026.

Register for IBC2026

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