On 28 November 2024, DENIC eG held its first internal cross-team conference, the DENIC Spark. With this new event series, we want to promote innovation and strengthen a culture of open dialog among our employees. Titled “Spark Tech Edition”, the first version of the new internal conference focused on the future of technology in our company.
The day was divided into two parts: In the morning, presentations by internal and external experts provided inspiration for new ideas. The afternoon, organised in an open-space format, left room for in-depth discussions and knowledge sharing.
A morning full of inspiration
SPARK Tech Edition ati DENIC eG
The morning was dedicated to highly informative expert presentations that covered a wide range. The most important topics included:
AI in IT companies: Steve Haupt from Andrena shed light on the current status and future potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in IT environments. He explained the mechanisms of generative AI and how it plays a central role in the IT sector. He also looked at practical applications of AI tools for development and data teams.
API-first approach: Daniel Kocot from codecentric discussed the API-first methodology, which treats APIs as central elements in the software development process and ensures that they are at the heart of the technical architecture and business strategy. He dispelled common myths surrounding API-first development and highlighted its benefits for both developers and the company.
ML-based traffic engineering: Christoph Hardegen from DENIC presented machine learning-based traffic engineering in programmable networks. He addressed the challenges of network management, including performance and security, and explained how machine learning can improve the routing of network traffic and the detection of attacks.
Stefan Jakob (DENIC eG IT Security Team): "The DENIC Spark event was a really exciting change –- from tips on prompting to local LLMs to automation with RAG, it was all there, thanks to the valuable input from the external speakers."
Open-space discussions: Thinking together
The afternoon was held in an open-space format. Employees could join freely in groups to discuss specific topics and engage in intensive dialog. In these sessions, they had the opportunity to translate theory into practical applications in an open exchange. The topics dealt with in the open space included.
Practical AI and RAG sessions: Steve Haupt (Adrena) led sessions on running AI models locally, on using Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to augment LLMs with knowledge and gave tips and tricks on prompting.
Nix and NixOS: April and Felix (DENIC eG) led hands-on sessions on reproducible package and container creation with Nix and system deployment with NixOS.
Open Source at DENIC: Pawel Kowalik (DENIC eG) moderated an open discussion exploring DENIC’s possibilities of offering or using open source software.
API architecture: Pawel also led a discussion on how to create a DENIC-wide architecture for APIs. The discussion focused on the question of which components need to be managed centrally, and which can be developed by the individual teams.
Test environments for members: Sascha Kämpf (DENIC eG) discussed with the participants the requirements for test environments for DENIC services such as DNS, Registry and Data Science, and how APIs can be made testable.
Valuable output
The DENIC Spark Tech Edition was more than just a conference; it was a platform for collaboration, learning and shaping the technological future of DENIC. Our employees gained interesting insights into new technologies and discussed practical applications. The DENIC Spark conference gave them the opportunity to contribute to the future strategy of our registry.
The event emphasised the importance of API-first design, where APIs are at the heart of the technical architecture and business strategy.
The discussions about AI and machine learning showed the growing importance of these in IT, particularly in areas such as software development and network management.
The open-space sessions promoted joint thinking and the exchange of knowledge between the teams.
The event demonstrated DENIC's commitment to integrating cutting-edge technologies into practice and emphasised the importance of continuous learning and adapting to ever-changing conditions.
Pawel Kowalik (DENIC eG, Head of Product Management): "The Spark Tech Edition was all about living and promoting our open innovation culture. The lively exchange showed how important collaboration and knowledge sharing are. Together, we are shaping the digital future and that of DENIC."
The event concluded with a relaxed get-together. Even there, the intensive exchange continued. Clear proof of how intense and valuable the event was for our employees. With the DENIC Spark Tech Edition, DENIC has once again demonstrated how important commitment to innovation and our employees are to us. We have taken a another valuable step towards building a sustainable organisation fit for the future.
Participants enjoy DENIC Spark Tech Edition
Outlook
The DENIC Spark Tech Edition was just the first in a series of conferences with which we want to give our employees the opportunity to explore innovative topics and exchange ideas away from their everyday work. The conference will take place twice a year, each time with a different focus.
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