Currency Research and Banco De Portugal host the 6th Annual Europe Cash Cycle Seminar (ICCOS) in Lisbon, Portugal from February 15 to 18, 2016

Currency Research (CR) and Banco de Portugal (BdP) invite stakeholders from all areas of the cash cycle to charming and historic Lisbon, Portugal this February 15^th to 18^th for the 2016 Europe Cash Cycle Seminar (ICCOS). This event is an exceptional opportunity to network and learn more about best practices, challenges, and the latest innovations in cash handling and management.

Despite the growth in alternate forms of payments, cash remains by far the preferred choice of consumers in Europe and therefore cash management strategy remains an essential focus for financial institutions, retailers, cash management companies/CiTs and many others. How can you efficiently manage your supply chain while maintaining cash handling costs to a minimum? Have you embarked on cash recycling (recirculation) practices or are you planning to? These topics and much more will be covered in detail during this premier event.

Taking place at the Hotel Cascais Miragem, which features breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, this yearâ€™s seminar will bring together an international cross section of the currency industry, including delegates from Central Banks, Commercial Banks, Cash Management Companies/CiTs, Retailers, Printworks, and Industry Suppliers Attendees can look forward to gathering with their industry peers in a relaxed, yet professional, setting for two-and-a-half days of learning and networking.

BdP and CR have collaborated to prepare an exciting seminar agenda with two days of educational Plenary Sessions and informative Sponsor Breakout Meetings, and also featuring a Pre-Seminar Central Bank Summit, a Post-Seminar Symposium on Banknote Production, an interactive Sponsor Exhibit Area, and an exclusive tour of BdPâ€™s Banknote Printing Works and Cash Logistics Centre in nearby Carregado.

Educational Plenary Session Presentations

The Plenary Session Presentations will cover the scope of key issues, essential trends, and relevant case studies impacting the cash cycle now and into the future. Some of the most distinguished speakers in the industry will be in Lisbon to present case studies on issues ranging from Retail Cash Operations, Cash Demand Forecasting and Optimization, Forensic Analysis of Banknotes, and Cash Center Automation to Currency Recirculation, Centralized Cash Cycle Models, Banknote Design Engineering, ATMs, and much more.

Among the featured presenters is Alain Gerbier, Regional Director at Banque de France (BdF), who will discuss BdFâ€™s Strategy on the New Cash Center Outlook. Mr. Gerbier will elaborate on the New Cash Centers project as part of a national plan led by BdF with the multifold objectives of: Improving working conditions; Improving the quality of the services delivered to customers; Improving operational performance; and Enhancing security in terms of Values, Customers, and Staff Members.

AntÃ³nio Garcia of Banco de Portugal will also be present to discuss the Portuguese Cash Cycle – Recent Developments and Future Trends/Challenges. The presentation will examine how CIT companies have gained increasing relevance in the cash business, and particularly in Portugal, and how they have essentially taken over the cash management function from Commercial Banks and major retailers. BdP has established regulatory and other mechanisms to deal with this new reality, including monitoring the recirculation activities of third parties and training of professional cash handlers, as well as a close and open dialogue with the key players in the cash cycle. Mr. Garcia will then discuss the main challenges for the future and alternative models for efficient functioning of the cash cycle.

Delegates also wonâ€™t want to miss Manuel Mouratoâ€™s timely presentation on A Substrate View by a Forensic Expert from the Portuguese Judiciary Police: Polymer, Hybrids and Paper. Mr. Mourato, Senior Forensic Expert from the LaboratÃ³rio De PolÃcia CientÃfica Da PolÃcia JudiciÃ¡ria (Forensic Laboratory of the Judiciary Police) in Portugal, will provide an overview of “alternative” (i.e., non-paper) substrates and their growth potential, as well as their role in the prevention of counterfeiting. He will also consider the new challenges for forensic analysis and will provide select examples of these substrates and their comparative analysis, including some of the security features in use.

To-date, the full list of confirmed and planned Plenary Session Presentations includes:

Welcome Remarks by Banco de Portugal
Panel Discussion on Currency Recirculation moderated by Leonor Machado, EPC
Portuguese Cash Cycle – Recent Developments and Future Trends/Challenges by AntÃ³nio Garcia, Banco de Portugal
The Impact of Low Denomination Banknotes and Coins in Monetary Circulation in MozambiqueÂ by the Bank of Mozambique
Strategy on the New Cash Center Outlook by Alain Gerbier, Banque de France
The Role of CIT Companies in the Innovation & Optimization of the Cash Cycle by Dra. Maria Da GlÃ³ria Fonseca CarriÃ§o MorÃ£o Lopes, CEO, ESEGUR
Raise Your Expectations – The Connected Cash Center by Oliver Pannke, Head of Business Line Software & Eco-System, Giesecke & Devrient
Cash in the Retail Industry by Dra. Maria da ConceiÃ§Ã£o RomÃ£o Teixeira Carrapeta, Head of Financial Operations, Grupo JerÃ³nimo Martins
A Substrate View by a Forensic Expert from the Portuguese Judiciary Police: Polymer, Hybrids and Paper by Manuel Mourato, LaboratÃ³rio De PolÃcia CientÃfica Da PolÃcia JudiciÃ¡ria
The Present State and Medium Term Outlook of the Cash Cycle Model in Poland by Joanna KoÅ‚odziej & Arkadiusz Manikowski, National Bank of Poland (Narodowy Bank Polski)
Efficiencies in Logistics and Cash Management by Prosegur Portugal
SIBS Cash Management Service by JosÃ© Azevedo, SIBS International
Independent ATM Deployer’s Role in Cash Distribution: A Case Study of the Brazilian Market byÂ Nelson Tavares de Pinho, TecBan
Zagrebacka Banka Case Study: Cash Handling Automatization and Forecasting Cash Needs in Croatia by Ranko AntoloviÄ‡, Director of Cash Service and Operations, ZABA Bank
Increase Process Efficiency and Cost Optimization with Cash Recycling by Commercial Bank tbc
Optimization of Cash Cycle Processes in Retail by Retailer tbc
Increase Process Efficiency and Cost Optimization with Cash Recycling
Optimization of Cash Cycle Processes in the Retail Supply Chain

Sponsor Exhibit Area and Focused Breakout Meetings

Many notable industry-leading suppliers will be in Lisbon to welcome delegates as event Sponsors and will display and demonstrate their latest technologies and innovations in the Exhibit Area. Delegates will also have the opportunity to have an in-depth look at the latest industry technologies, concepts, and solutions in the more intimate and informal setting of the Sponsor Breakout Meetings.

There has been substantial sponsor interest in the 2016 Europe seminar. Sponsors of the event currently include Giesecke & Devrient, De La Rue, Innovia Systems, ESEGUR, NCR, Prosegur, Sautner & Partner, Spinnaker, Toshiba, Wincor Nixdorf, Advanced Track & Trace, Crane Currency, Debatin, and Sargent and Greenleaf.

If you would like to leverage your brand and position yourself as a key supplier alongside these global leaders in the cash handling industry, we encourage you to do so prior to the closing of sponsorship opportunities on Dec 21^st!

Sponsor Breakout Meetings to-date include:

Cash Management Software: Partnership Makes the Difference by Giesecke & Devrient
A Path to One-Touch Handling of Cash: Smart Automation and Standardization by Giesecke & Devrient
De La Rue: Does One Solution Really Fit All? by De La Rue
Increase Productivity, Stay Flexible and Maintain Control: Introducing De La Rue’s New ECM ISA 7 Software Platform by De La Rue
As Countries Introduce Clean Note Standards – How Can They Manage the Quality Of Currency in Circulation to Meet National Targets? by Innovia Systems
With the Increased Take Up of New Substrates for Banknotes Globally, How Can Countries Optimise the Security and Quality of their Notes in Circulation? by Innovia Systems
Managing Cash at 360Â° by NCR
ATM Cost Optimization – How it Really Works by Sautner & Partner
Retail Cash Precrediting – CIT and Banking Perspectives by Spinnaker
Enhanced Productivity in Cash Processing – A New Era in Sorting Solutions by Toshiba
The Road to a Sustainable Cash Cycle by Wincor Nixdorf

Additional Breakout Meetings will be conducted by other Silver, Gold, and Platinum Sponsors enrolling between now and the Seminar.

Diverse Opportunities to Learn and Share Perspectives

Delegates can augment their learning experience with the Pre-Seminar Central Bank Summit on Monday, February 15^th and the Post-Seminar Symposium on Thursday, February 18^th.

The Summit is a meeting for Central Banks to discuss common issues and solutions related to the production, issuance, distribution, and re-circulation of banknotes in a Workshop format. Please note: The Summit will be open to delegates from Central Banks only.

Participants will be divided into equal groups, each one discussing the issues and challenges of the topic assigned. Participants are encouraged to propose new topics and submit these to Ms Britnee Hursin (bhursin@currency-research.com) by January 15, 2016. Currently, the following topics have been proposed for the Summit and a vote will be cast to select the topics for discussion and presentation:

Cash Circulation Models – Is There a Need to Incentivize the Commercial Sector?
Cash Recycling at ATMs and Teller Assist Units – Do Central Banks Care?
Banknote Procurement-Specification and Verification.
Machine Readability of Banknotes.
Experience with Durable Paper & Polymer – Low and High Denominations.
Business Continuity Planning – Counterfeits, Natural Disasters, Civil Unrest, Terrorism, Financial Crises & Pandemics
The Estimation of Banknote Demand.
Effective Coin distribution mechanism to the Public.

More details of the Central Bank Summit can be read following this link: Pre-Seminar Central Bank Summit.

The Post-Seminar Symposium on Banknote Production – Where the Cash Cycle Begins is a half-day series of focused presentations on banknote design, printing, and issuance. In response to popular demand, Currency Research has again organized this Symposium as a forum for delegates to openly discuss and debate how banknote production factors impact the cash cycle.

Among the planned symposium presentations is Crane Currencyâ€™s Engineering Trust into the Banknote. Crane will present on its role in producing some of the world’s most trusted currencies and will provide a perspective on the contributions of material science, security technologies, and design that combine to create the highly engineered products that we know as banknotes. The symposium is free to all 2016 Europe Cash Cycle Seminar delegates.

Exclusive Banco de Portugal Cash Center Tour

BdP invites all interested delegates to attend an exclusive tour of their premises at Carregado, which since 1995 has hosted both the main Cash Center and VALORA, a banknote printing company that is 100% owned by Banco de Portugal. During the tour, on Monday, February 15^th, delegates will visit all operational areas of the Cash Center, including the CIT interface, sorting area, off-line destruction, and the counterfeit analyses lab, as well as the VALORA printing area. Carregado is a small town located a short distance from Lisbon and complimentary transport is included. This tour is expected to fill up quickly; CR encourages early enrollment during the seminar registration process, and well in advance of February, to avoid disappointment.

Enjoy the Delegate Appreciation Dinner

Delegates should not miss out on this special opportunity to spend time outside the hotel with industry colleagues at the CR Delegate Appreciation Dinner on Wednesday, February 17^th. The dinner is generously sponsored by Silver Sponsor ESEGUR. Coach transportation to the offsite restaurant and back to the hotel will be provided. Delegates will be asked for confirmation of their plans to attend the dinner during the registration process. This very enjoyable evening will be a great opportunity to build the relationships made during the seminar!

Learn and Network with Industry Peers!

Make plans to join CR for this exceptional opportunity to discuss pan-European and regional issues and learn about the latest trends and solutions from key industry leaders from across the world.

Standard registration rates are in effect until December 21, 2015; be sure to register before late registration fees apply.

To register or for more information about the event, please visit the Europe Cash Cycle Seminar website or contact Ms. Nena Vukicevic, Managing Director Europe & Africa, at nvukicevic@currency-research.com.

You can also view the Europe Cash Cycle Seminar 2016 Brochure for an at-a-glance look at the event details!