Events’ organizing company Clarion Gaming is strengthening its highly productive program by launching a new development: the ICE Research Institute. This initiative will see annual funding dedicated to projects that address the broader societal impacts of the gambling industry and support the local community, extending far beyond the economic benefits and the duration of the exhibition itself.
Inspired by successful models like the Mobile World Capital Foundation, the ICE Research Institute will focus on proactive solutions. The company will provide grants to scientific and academic institutions to conduct vital research in the areas of prevention and sustainability. This activity distinguishes the Institute from much of the existing academic work, which has primarily concentrated on gambling harm treatment.
Clarion will be introducing the ICE Research Institute to industry opinion-formers as part of an AI presentation in future gaming events.
About this announcement, Ewa Bakun, Director of Industry Insight and Engagement at Clarion Gaming, said: “The ICE Research Institute will be funding academic exploration of AI ethics and applications in the gambling sector, among other issues. As part of the relocation of ICE from London to Barcelona, Clarion Gaming, together with Fira Barcelona, have agreed a program of collaboration with the objective of building a legacy which goes beyond the very significant economic impact of staging the world’s biggest gambling technology show in the city.”
Besides, she indicated: “An annual investment fund has been allocated with the ICE Research Institute offering grants to scientific and academic institutions to fund research on prevention and sustainability. The IRI will be investing in research that generates hard data and provides a robust scientific base to inform decision making. Working closely with institutional stakeholders both in Spain and on the international stage, the ICE Research Institute will promote cross-border scientific cooperation to ensure the ethical adoption of AI in the gambling industry.”