Thewikiway

big way but the UK, not so much.”

The American entrepreneur has spent much of this week campaigning to stop British university student Richard O’Dwyer from being extradited to the US to face charges of copyright infringement for creating link-sharing website, TVShack.net.

During the dinner, Mr Wales was interviewed by Alex Brummer, the Daily Mail City editor and JC columnist, and was pressed for his views on piracy, the power of the internet and “openaccess” sites.

Among the day’s other globally-renowned speakers were: Wonga founder Errol Damelin; Brent Hoberman, the founder of lastminute. com; Virgin Green Fund partner Toby Coppel; Mark Read, director of strategy at WPP; Rene Rechtman, head of International AOL Advertising Group; Lionsgate’s Guy Avshalom, and Horizon Ventures’ Frank Meehan.

They addressed a top-level audience of close to 500 people, comprising representatives from Google, BSkyB and Vodafone.

Discussion topics included digital advertising, mobile money, the future of television, and what is the next big thing? According to panelists Brent Hoberman and Mark Read, the latter includes “the internet of things”, which refers to identifiable objects that are connected to the internet/mobiles, such as a fridge that lets you know when it is empty.

Innovate Israel was co-chaired by prominent internet entrepreneurs Marc Worth and Yossi Vardi, aka “the godfather” of Israeli high-tech.

A me mo r a n d u m o f understanding between the British Venture Capital Association (BVCA) and Israel Advanced Technologies Industries (IATI) was signed to enhance collaboration between the two organisations and VC community.

Daniel Taub, the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, said: “Trade between Israel and Britain already stands at £3.75 billion and the potential to build on that in the high-tech fields is very exciting. Innovate Israel was an opportunity to explore that and discover new ways to work together to promote innovation, growth and jobs in both countries.”