Global Innovation Summit 2024 concludes with the Power of Partnership
"Education is the bedrock of the economy to learn, grow and have aspirations."
That was one of the key messages delivered by the USA’s special envoy to Northern Ireland Joseph Kennedy III on the final day of Queen's University Belfast’s Global Innovation Summit (GIS) 2024.
He was one of the global leaders from business, industry, and academia to speak about the importance of collaboration and how the power of partnership can enhance innovation and progress towards a sustainable future in an era of great technological change.
The fourth and final day of the Global Innovation Summit (GIS) 2024 took place at the iconic Whitla Hall, Queen's University Belfast.
“With innovation comes a responsibility to create solutions that benefit society, protect the planet, and empower future generations. Collaboration between industries, governments, and communities is essential to achieving sustainable growth.”
- Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor, Queen’s University Belfast
Opened by Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast, and Deborah L. Wince-Smith, President and CEO of the Council on Competitiveness, the concluding day of the GIS commenced with a plenary session exploring perspectives for the future.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn MP reflected that by merging innovation with strong leadership, we can together create a sustainable and prosperous future for all, highlighting that competition can drive innovation. He paid tribute to Northern Ireland’s excellence in sectors such as life sciences, cyber and advanced manufacturing, having visited the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) at Queen’s University Belfast last month.
Joe Kennedy III added to his remarks, saying:
“I remain a firm advocate and champion to Northern Ireland, as a place to live, to visit, to study, to invest […]. I know how much talent resides in this place.”
Delegates next heard from First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O’Neill, MLA and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, MLA, whose session on ‘Leading Northern Ireland Forward’ saw each reflect on how they together embody the power of partnership in their joint office. Michelle O’Neill reflected that they both have a common goal to “make people’s lives better” through collaboration and that ‘global sustainability must be a priority for governments across the world.”
Emma Little-Pengelly added that "Citizens want and need to see their governments deliver and that demands a new way of doing business: driving innovation; creative, collaborative working to find the right solutions for the right challenges - implemented by harnessing the power of technological advancement and new ways of working."
“For me, collaboration is more than a buzzword. It is how good decisions are made, and innovation is mainstreamed. Working together inside and outside of government is key to problem solving. So often we talk about the challenges of our system of government here. [...] But it is also a system that brings in diversity – different voices, different views around a table. [...] That diversity can be our strength.” - Emma Little-Pengelly, MLA, Deputy First Minister
Keynote speaker, Cecila Harvey, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Tech Women Today, was next to address the attendees in the Whitla Hall at Queen’s, telling delegates that “the world is witnessing rapid changes in both society and the economy. Innovation is driving transformation at an unprecedented pace, and technology – particularly artificial intelligence – is at the heart of that change.”
Cecilia discussed how technology and innovation can’t thrive in isolation. Partnerships between industries, governments and communities all benefit each other and together they can drive collective progress, concluding that: “We are not just building technology; we are building the future [...]. If we continue to innovate responsibly and work together across sectors, we can create a world that is sustainable, equitable and full of opportunity for everyone.”
Lively panel conversations followed on the themes of ‘Breaking Barriers: The Impact of Women in Shaping an Innovative Economy’ and ‘Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) - Innovating for Social Change’, focusing on reshaping industries through inclusion, and the innovation and profitability associated with it, and pioneering social change.
Professor Karen McCloskey, Director, Queen’s Gender Initiative, led the panel with panellists Dr. Raja Al Gurg Group MD and Chairperson, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group Dubai; Clare McGee, CEO, Awaken Hub/Awaken Angels NI Sinead Rocks Managing Director, Nations and Regions at Channel 4 Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, Vice Provost for Global Affairs and Chief Global Officer, University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and Ms. Athina Chatzipetrou, GFCC Distinguished Fellow, Greece.
The afternoon at the Whitla Hall saw Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham deliver a keynote address on Greater Manchester’s transformation as an inclusive and sustainable model for building a city region, in which he stressed that “to be competitive you have to be collaborative” and that “academia is critical in the real-world economy.”
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Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Manchester City Council Leader Councillor Bev Craig took to the stage in Queen’s University Belfast’s Great Hall at an event hosted by Belfast Region City Deal, where they shared key learnings from Manchester’s innovation journey. Drawing on themes of innovation, inclusivity, and identity, they showcased how collaboration and partnership have propelled Manchester to be one of the UK’s fastest-growing regions – creating tangible benefits and new opportunities for its communities.
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Closing the conference
In closing the Global Innovation Summit 2024 alongside the Hon. Deborah L. Wince, Smith (Founder and President, GFCC; President and CEO, Council on Competitiveness), Charles ‘Chad’ O’Halliday Jr. (Chairman, GFCC), and Dr. Stephen Kingon CBE (Chairman, Centre for Competitiveness), Queen’s President and Vice Chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer shared words from a Seamus Heaney poem which, for him, reflect the fantastic work of the GFCC and all of who took part in the GIS summit in addressing the pressing issues that matter most to people across the world:
History says, don’t hope
On this side of the grave.
But then, once in a lifetime
The longed-for tidal wave
Of justice can rise up,
And hope and history rhyme.
Delegates also heard from Queen’s University Chancellor Hillary Clinton, who delivered closing remarks congratulating Queen’s University Belfast on hosting such a successful conference:
“I want to recognise the work that this conference represents, and more than that for establishing this innovation theme.”
Fringe events
Women in Business hosted a fringe event celebrating women in business in Queen’s University Belfast’s One Elmwood building, in the iconic Mandela Hall. The event saw leaders share their experiences and engage in discussions, offering practical insights on building a supportive community and driving change.
Young Enterprise NI also hosted a fringe event at Queen’s University Belfast in parallel with the GIS Conference, giving delegates the opportunity to experience the energy and innovation of Young Enterprise NI, meet the young entrepreneurs shaping the future and witness first-hand their creative business ideas and the impact of enterprise education.
Catch up on anything you may have missed: