Thank you for a great Cygni Tech Summit!

CTS 2023 was a big success! We've picked up new skills, explored new ideas, and learned more about digital sustainability. It's always fantastic to see all the offices, from Copenhagen to Luleå, come together and celebrate.

Big shoutout to everyone involved – hosts, keynote speakers, trail and workshop facilitators, and especially the participants. We had a blast! 🎉

See you next year! 👋

Check out some pics from the event:

See Benjamin Eriksen present Malmö's venue Studio Meetingpoint, where the Copenhagen and Malmö office will gather for CTS 2023!

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It's time for your favourite news anchor Noel Junior Romero and world renowned journalist Johnny Turesson discuss this year's top news: the venue for Stockholm on CTS 2023.

Watch Emil Lundgren present the venue in Göteborg for CTS 2023: the majestic Gothia Towers!

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In a world where technology is integrated into our daily lives, embedded technology stands as the digital nervous system, silently powering the devices and systems around us.

The Cygni Tech Summit this year features a dedicated trail to this technology, exploring the field from all angles. Meet Karl "Strålmannen" Strålman, Rasmus Lindy, and Hampus Hessel, our Gothenburg-based embedded developers. They will lead the embedded trail, hoping to engage the participants with a practical and inspiring workshop. We sat the trio down to discuss their trail on CTS and embedded tech:

So, tell us, what is the embedded trail at the Cygni Tech Summit all about?

Karl: In this trail attendees will be introduced to some of the basic real-time system concepts that are part of the FreeRTOS core. With these concepts they will finalize a mini version of a car's telltale: brake, hazard and turn indicators will all be implemented using light and sound that can be controlled from a circuit board.

What can participants look forward to with this trail?

Hampus: Participants can look forward to gaining a realistic view of common embedded problems and how they impact software development. It's a hands-on experience that allows them to make things happen with physical objects, which is always a lot of fun.

Karl: I think this trail is interesting because it's practical, the feedback loop is fast and the attendees gets a direct response from the circuit board if their code is working or not.

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Looking ahead, what do you hope to see in the future of embedded development?

Karl: For embedded development, I sincerely hope that companies focus on the right to repair and replaceable batteries. There is too much electronic waste, especially for embedded circuitry within consumer electronics.

Rasmus: The future of embedded development will be characterized by increased connectivity, AI integration, energy efficiency and digital sustainability. I also think it will be a strong focus on security and safety.

Hampus: For many years, more and more things have become "smart," incorporating small computers. I believe the embedded industry will expand into new and exciting fields. While classic languages like C and C++ will remain strong, there's potential for Rust to become more popular.

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What are you all looking forward to at this year's Cygni Tech Summit?

Karl: For me, it’s the evening event with dinner and celebration!🕺

Rasmus: I’m looking forward to interacting with my colleagues and sharing my knowledge about RTOS and RTOS programming. There has been a lot of effort being put into this workshop and it will be great to see how the attendees will solve the problems. Also I am looking forward to the talks and the evening event.

Hampus: Getting to see all the interesting solutions people come up with for the problem we give them in our workshop. There will be many possible and correct ways to solve the problem we will present. This is of course a big part of the challenge and of the fun. Me, Karl and Rasmus each did a solution of our own, and we all solved the problem in very different ways. It was very interesting to see and discuss our differences.

Thank you, Karl, Rasmus, and Hampus, for sharing your insights with us!

Watch Ian Powter present the venue P5, where the Östersund, Luleå and Umeå offices will come together to enjoy this year's Cygni Tech Summit!

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We're really excited to announce that one of our guest keynote speakers for this year’s Cygni Tech Summit (CTS)is Kamilla Liljedahl, Climate Lead at SVT's digital services. With her expertise in UX and her dedication to environmental sustainability, Kamilla brings a unique perspective to the summit.

With this year's theme being Digital Sustainability, we've extended invitations to like-minded individuals and organizations that share our perspective on sustainability, such as Kamilla and SVT

Starting from a background in UX, Kamilla has spent more than a decade in the world of online products. Her dedication to environmental sustainability did not go unnoticed at SVT, leading her to start the mission to reduce SVT's climate footprint within the digital services world. Today, she holds the important role of Climate Lead at SVT's Digital Services, where she also functions as a UX Designer, specializing in content discovery and personalization at SVT Play.

During Kamilla's keynote speech at CTS, attendees can look forward to hearing about her approach to the challenge of minimizing SVT’s environmental impact. She will share her best advice on how individuals and organizations can make a positive climate impact in the online world. Moreover, Kamilla will talk about the common pitfalls to avoid when it comes to climate efforts in a digital context.

One of the highlights of Kamilla's presentation will be her revelation of how even the smallest features, such as those found on SVT Play, can have a significant environmental impact over time.

At Cygni, we are proud to have Kamilla Liljedahl join us at CTS, and we are looking forward to her presentation as well as her participation in the panel discussion

Erik Salsborn, Daniel Karlsson & Märta Nilsson from Linköping presents this year's venue: Link Business Center!

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In a few weeks, we're getting ready for the highly-anticipated Cygni Tech Summit. Today, we have Amanda Modigh, the communication lead at Cygni, joining us. She's not just attending; she's also the facilitator for the Communication Trail as well as holding a workshop on building your personal brand.

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‍Hello Amanda! Can you give us a sneak peek into your workshop “How to build your Personal Brand”?

Amanda: Absolutely! My workshop revolves around the personal brand and why it's important. Contrary to the belief that it's all about online bragging, personal branding is about authenticity. Your online and offline reputation is a mirror of your actions and words and especially in this digital age, your reputation matters more than ever. There’s so much you can gain from having a strong personal brand. In my workshop, I want everyone to find their voice and a method to develop their personal brand in a way they feel comfortable with.

‍Tell us a bit about yourself. What's your role at Cygni, and what gets you excited about your work?

Amanda: I'm the communication lead at Cygni, where my focus is on everything communication both internal and external. I want to ensure that Cygni's business is not just heard but truly understood. I started in June this year, and I already feel at home. I'm particularly passionate about employer branding, creativity and strategic communication. Fortunately, that's precisely what I get to work with here.

‍Do you see any trend in personal branding that you'd like to share?

Amanda: It's becoming increasingly important to focus on the personal brands of employees within a company. For example, according to Linkedin experts, LinkedIn algorithms are leaning towards highlighting individual posts over those of companies and brands. This means employees have a significant opportunity to impact their own business, but the catch is, it gets tougher without engaged employees.

‍Now, with the Cygni Tech Summit just around the corner, what are you most looking forward to?

Amanda: This being my first tech summit, I'm excited about absorbing all the inspiration and talent that will be present. There's been a lot of hard work put into this. The Culture and Tech team, the keynote speakers, and the workshop facilitators are all passionate about ensuring participants have a fantastic time, so I think the atmosphere will be really cool during the event. And last but not least, I'm excited about my own workshop too!

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And there you have it  – a glimpse into Amanda's workshop and her thoughts on the upcoming Cygni Tech Summit!

We are happy to announce that Polestar, one of Sweden’s leading electric performance car brands, will be joining us at this year’s Cygni Tech Summit (CTS).

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The Cygni Tech Summit, scheduled for November 10th, is all about "Digital Sustainability." We have an exciting lineup of tech workshops, speakers, and upskilling in store, and two of our guest keynote speakers are Ylva Bruzelius and Mikael Vesavuori from Polestar.

Polestar's Commitment to Sustainability

Beyond being a valued client ofours, they share our commitment to prioritize sustainability. With a dedicatedSustainability Team driving sustainable development throughout theirorganization, Polestar is a true inspiration. Forinstance, Polestar has set an ambitious goal to create a completelyclimate-neutral car by 2030, known as the Polestar 0 project. This alignsperfectly with our theme of Digital Sustainability at CTS.

Meet Our Keynote Speakers: Ylva Bruzelius and Mikael Vesavuori

Ylva Bruzelius, the Digital Sustainability Lead at Polestar, is all set to inspire Cygni and Accenture participants during CTS. Ylva will discuss the importance of data and transparency to succeed with sustainability.

"In order to meet our sustainability targets they need to be measurable. And for something to be measurable, we need data, and that's why transparency is key. At Polestar Digital, we provide systems, insights, and data in order for both Polestar employees and customers to make informed data-driven decisions. " - Ylva Bruzelius.  

Joining Ylva on stage is Mikael Vesavuori, the Technical Standards Lead at PolestarDigital. Mikael will help us navigate the complex world of sustainable software systems. He will share how to concretely locate and address issues in sustainable software systems and introduce the audience to the “green software engineering principles”.

With Polestar’s Ylva and Mikaelas two of our keynote speakers, we can expect an inspiring and enlightening experience at CTS 2023!

About Polestar
Polestar is a Swedish electric performance car brand determined to improve society by using design and technology to accelerate the shift to sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, its cars are available online in 27 markets globally across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
Polestar plans to have a line-up of five performance EVs by 2026. Polestar 2, the electric performance fastback, launched in 2019. Polestar 3, the SUV for the electric age, launched in late 2022. Polestar 4, the SUV coupé transformed, is launching in phases through 2023 and into 2024. Polestar 5, an electric four-door GT and Polestar 6, an electric roadster, are coming soon.

As we get ready for this year's much-awaited CTS, we had the opportunity to sit down and have a chat with Heidi Sønnichsen and Emil Breding to discuss what we can expect from the conference this year.

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Hello, Heidi and Emil! Can you elaborate on the theme for this year's CTS?

Heidi: The theme for this year’s CTS is Digital Sustainability. We feel that we have a responsibility to set this topic high on the agenda. In short, our goal is to raise awareness among our developers about the significance of sustainable practices related to their work.

Emil: By prioritizing digital sustainability, we stay ahead of the game. It gives us a competitive edge and enhances our reputation, attracting clients who share our commitment to eco-conscious practices. However, it's not just about clients; it's about our team too. Digital Sustainability creates a work culture that aligns with our employees' values, creating a sense of purpose and motivation.

What can the participants expect this year?

Heidi: This year, we're introducing a new format that I'm truly excited about! We will have engaging panel discussions and a deeper dive into participants' chosen topics with workshops and hands-on learning. The event is digital and broadcast to five different locations: Malmö, Umeå, Gothenburg, Linköping and Stockholm.

Emil: The trails for this year's CTS include UX, Communication, Security, AI/ML, and Embedded, with digital sustainability at its core.

Can you share some insights into the preparations for CTS?

Heidi: Behind the scenes, there is more work than one might think. We leave no stone unturned when it comes to planning for live events. We have a plan a,b and c for every part of the conference. For example there are backups for everything. From extra computers, internet access and the possibility of someone being unable to attend.

We need to consider various scenarios, such as the possibility of someone falling ill, potential issues with embedded hardware, managing lead times during live workshops with large amounts of data, and even determining the number of backup batteries required for the microphones on the event day. With multiple locations, we strive for consistent quality and prioritize sustainability in selecting venues, which adds an extra layer of complexity.

What are your hopes for CTS 2023?

Emil: I hope to inspire colleagues to consider digital sustainability and encourage clients to do the same. Cygni will also provide concrete examples of implementing, measuring, and monitoring digital sustainability. After the conference there will be educational material to share principles and knowledge with our clients, which means that we’ll be able to use the knowledge we gathered during the event also in the future. The main focus of the conference is participating in chosen trails, where I am confident everyone will learn new and interesting things!

What lies ahead as CTS draws closer?

Heidi: Now there are tons of deadlines, and all the really hard work starts. I hope we manage to keep up enthusiasm amongst all our colleagues by communicating clearly all the details that are settled so far and spreading the word of what they can expect from this year's CTS. Now, it’s all about the details, wrapping everything up and ensuring that plan a, b and c are in place!

Emil: I’m really looking forward to the best part: the actual day of the conference. All the hard work comes together smoothly(!) during a day of fun and learning together.

At CTS 2023, our main theme will revolve around sustainability and its relationship with technology, which we feel fit perfectly with our Cygni values.

As we explained previously, we have made some changes to this year's CTS in response to your feedback, aiming to make it better than ever. Rather than offering a wide range of speakers and topics, you will have the opportunity to choose a subject that particularly captures your interest. This will allow you to really immerse yourself deeply in that trail, and provide you with valuable hands-on knowledge! Exciting, right?

The trails this year are:

• UX
• Communication
• Security
• AI/ML
• Embedded‍

This year's venues

We have already found some wonderful and sustainable venues where we will eat and celebrate after CTS, more to come!

Stockholm: Fotografiska
All meetings and events held at Fotografiska are climate-financed with at least 300% in the Golden Standard project "The Vichada Climate Reforestation Project", which works towards several of the UN's global sustainability goals. Fotografiska's food philosophy means that they work with a strong focus on sustainability. They always have an organic, locally produced and plant-based menu with the best seasonal ingredients.‍
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Linköping: LINK business center
"Light, fresh, clear, clean. You should feel uplifted when you enter!” That was architect Gert Wingårdh's vision when they designed Linköping's new business center and they have really succeeded! The entire Link building is certified according to The LEED Green Building Rating System, level Gold. We will have lunch at Östgöta kök, which really has a green vision and works continuously to choose ingredients and products that have as little environmental impact as possible.

Göteborg: Gothia Towers
‍Gothia Towers is the most sustainable venue in Gothenburg! Gothenburg has also ranked at the top for the past seven years as the most sustainable destination in the Global Destination Sustainability Index. Gothia Towers gets all its electricity solely from wind turbines, and the recycling rate of waste from the premises is a whopping 94%. Environmentally certified according to BREEAM, and also uses ISO20121 which is a customised certification for sustainable events that was created for the Olympics in London 2012. The food at Gothia Towers is locally produced and organic.

Umeå: P5
‍This year, Luleå, Umeå and Östersund have chosen to do something together and for the first time in Cygni's history run CTS with a genuine northern touch. We will converge in Björkarnas stad, where during the day we will occupy the conference facility P5. P5 is located in the middle of Väven in the heart of central Umeå, with bright daylight (depending on the season...) and a view of the river. As the theme for this year's CTS is sustainability, P5 naturally offers local and organic ingredients that we will enjoy during lunch. We will of course also eat in the evening, but we will come back with a choice of place when this is ready.

Malmö: Studio Meetingpoint
‍Studio Meetingpoint is located in STUDIO a LEED Platinum-certified house about 5 minutes walk from Malmö Central Station with beautiful view over "Malmö Frihamnen" and Öresund. All Danes visiting Malmö will stay at the hotel in the same building. Lunch will be served at Lokal 17 which is located on the ground floor. In 2021, Altitude (the meeting venues) signed the City of Malmö's Climate Contract, which is intended to function as a tool for the city of Malmö, business, academia and Malmö residents to collaborate on and take advantage of ideas, initiatives and efforts when it comes to reaching the goal - a sustainable Malmö 2030. In the evening we will have dinner at Restaurant Spill. Their concept is that their food largely consists of raw materials that would actually be thrown away which they instead buy and create delicious meals of.

‍‍As the event approaches, we'll be sharing more details. You can always read all the updates here on the CTS webpage. Until then, have a lovely summer!