This session focusses on the importance of skilling and creating opportunities for all demographics to access the innovation economy. Digital platforms are crucial for education and global job market access, but partnerships among industry, universities, governments, and civil society organisations are fundamental to cross divides and close gaps. These collaborations are needed to put in place frameworks to enable skilling and participation in the new economy. Addressing the global talent shortage by providing education and training is essential for inclusion, social cohesion, and competitiveness. As AI and technology growth transform societies, ensuring everyone can participate in the innovation economy is vital for sustainable growth and social stability.

Artemis Technologies’ CEO shares his vision to decarbonize the maritime industry. Learn about transformative technologies and vessels that operate with zero emissions. Discover the unique solutions from tailored engineering services to the groundbreaking Artemis eFoiler® electric propulsion system.  

This panel explores how digitalization transforms productivity at the company, regional, and national levels. Discussions focus on leveraging digital technologies to drive innovation, the economic impacts of digitalization, and strategies to capitalise on its potential while avoiding common pitfalls. Experts share insights on preparing societies, institutions, and individuals for these changes, highlighting the effects on productivity across various levels—micro (company), meso (regional), and macro (national). The panel offers best practices for fostering a digitally adept workforce and economy, ensuring that all levels of society are prepared to thrive in a digitally-driven world. 

This session provides a brief overview of the voting process for selecting promising young entrepreneurs at Queen's. Attendees learn about InQUBate, a university-wide network that fosters innovation and supports student and graduate startups. 

The young entrepreneurs exhibited their business ideas in the main Marquee on Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 Nov. 

This conversation delves into the importance of place-making innovation, emphasising that innovation happens on the ground and requires strong leadership to drive change. Discussions cover the necessity of cross-sector collaboration and highlight examples from various regions worldwide, showcasing what works and what doesn't. The session explores how places that invest in innovation can reinvent their economies by transforming challenges into opportunities. Panellists provide concrete recommendations on identifying key industries, business types, and technologies that align with local assets. The conversation focusses on understanding and leveraging these assets to foster sustainable and inclusive innovation, driving regional and global progress. 

This session spotlights the top Datathon teams. Get inspired as the top teams take the stage to share their journey, challenges, and triumphs from the competition. Learn firsthand about winning strategies from their experience. 

Delivering a sustainable agenda that preserves our individual and population health and enhances our collective well-bring is becoming ever more challenging, as our population ages and costs of healthcare escalate. However, increasingly we are realising that health innovation provides not only an opportunity to deliver 21^st century care for our citizens, but also can help realise economic benefit.

Our panel of experts challenge the current status quo, arguing that health is both an investment as well as a cost,  and articulate a data-informed vision where a sustainable health and well-being agenda can both contribute to improved patient outcomes and better quality-of-life, while also driving a socio-economic health dividend that contributes to better sustainability, increased productivity and enhanced competitiveness.   

GIS 2024 organizers introduced the workshops, explained the dynamics and directed participants to their respective locations. 

This final panel discussion on Day 2 reviews the key recommendations that emerged from the workshops. Participants engage in a lively discussion, share the key recommendations, and debate what is needed to turn those into action across sectors, from the local to the global level. 

Speakers

Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 

Joseph Kennedy III , US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland 

Speakers

Michelle O’Neill MLA, First Minister of Northern Ireland

Emma Little-Pengelly MLA, Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland

Breaking Barriers: The Impact of Women in Shaping an Innovative Economy

What happens when diverse perspectives meet intrinsic motivation and bold ideas? Women leaders are at the forefront of this fusion; reshaping industries and pioneering change. With their unique insights and entrepreneurial spirit, they drive profound change by not only breaking barriers but crafting new paths for sustainable growth, collaboration and innovation.

Civil Society, encompassing the community and voluntary sector, social enterprises, and other non-governmental, not-for-profit organisations, plays a vital role in driving innovation.  Organisations within this sector approach innovation differently, focused on social value and enhanced by close ties to communities, their willingness to collaborate across sectors and experiment with new ideas, ensures they are at the forefront of social innovation. Despite challenges relating to funding and sustainability, the sector has the unique ability to leverage partnerships and find creative solutions to some of society’s most complex challenges.

Speaking on how Manchester has successfully harnessed all of their anchor institutions and managed to drive forward a significant change agenda which has transformed the City region over the last 30-40 years and how he plans to continue its success, with particular regard to the inclusive, sustainable agenda.

This panel explores the critical role of cross-sector, cross-industry, and cross-regional collaboration in driving innovation, focusing on partnerships between different types and sizes of organizations, including industry, government, and academia. It highlights real-world examples from around the globe where such collaborations have successfully accelerated innovation, examining the key factors that enabled these successes.

Discussions delve into the frameworks necessary for fostering these partnerships, including legal structures, incentives, and funding mechanisms. The panel also covers unconventional and emerging forms of collaboration, such as corporations partnering with startups through open innovation and other models. The session provides practical insights and recommendations for building effective innovation partnerships.

This fireside chat brings together leaders from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres to discuss collaborative approaches for addressing global challenges and sharing prosperity.

The session explores how different regions can leverage their unique strengths and resources to create impactful partnerships, fostering innovation, economic growth, and social cohesion across the globe. Participants share insights and actionable recommendations for building a more inclusive and resilient world through South-North cooperation.

Navigating the Competitiveness Landscape in Turbulent Times

This panel explores the interconnected global shifts in demographics, technology, climate, and political systems that are reshaping competitiveness strategies. We examine the links between these forces and their impact on security, environmental policy, trade, and more. From the rise of technology and Africa’s growing population to evolving perceptions of work and life, the session sheds light on emerging trends and offers insights into how leaders can craft effective strategies to navigate these complex, turbulent times and the evolving geopolitical context.