Brief Bio
Dr. Höllwarth has worked as a corporate consultant specialized in IT projects for over 20 years. In addition to his work at the Vienna University of Economics and Business he also founded the companies Höllwarth Consulting, ICT Advisory Network and Sourcing International. Dr. Tobias Höllwarth was a founding member of EuroCloud Austria where he is today a member of the Board and is the director for the international StarAudit program and president of EuroCloud Europe. He acts as an expert for questions pertaining to certification at the Austrian Standards Institute and is leader of the Austrian delegation that participates in negotiations with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) where cloud computing is concerned.

Abstract
When Michelangelo painted the fresco depicting the creation of Adam in the Sistine Chapel, he illustrated how the divine spark jumped from God to the first human being. God created Adam, and in doing so changed the world.The Cloud is likewise such a spark. It is one of the four SMAC elements, part of the “nexus of forces”—but most importantly, it is the visible tool of the industrial revolution that we are lucky enough to be experiencing right now. This presentation will point out the similarities between the Cloud and previous socio-economic revolutions that changed human existence, and explain the positive as well as the disastrous economic consequences that have become visible already. It will delineate the differences between the Cloud, the Internet of Things, Industry 4.0 and other well-known buzz words. Dr. Tobias Höllwarth, president of EuroCloud Europe, will also focus on the current situation of the European society, which is not yet well prepared for this massive change—as can also be seen in the results of many recent political elections. He will explain in what ways the digital transformation of our world causes political radicalization, raising unemployment and with it the frustration and disorientation of more and more individuals. One of the lessons of this presentation will be several examples of how we can participate actively in this fast-changing game and support cloud service customers as well as providers.