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Global Innovation Summit 2024 Takes Off: A Stellar Start at Queen’s University Belfast

The highly anticipated Global Innovation Summit (GIS) 2024 ‘launched’ today with world-renowned physicist Brian Cox taking centre stage as the ‘star’ attraction.

The inaugural day of the Global Innovation Summit (GIS) 2024 takes place at the iconic Whitla Hall, Queen's University Belfast today.

Highlights of Day One 

The event united global leaders from business, industry, and academia for dynamic discussions and groundbreaking insights on global sustainability and economic inclusion.  

The Summit opened with an inspiring address from Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's, who highlighted the importance of this year’s Summit: 

“The theme of this year’s Summit, Accelerating Global Sustainability and Economic Inclusion, could not be more relevant, as we address unprecedented global challenges that demand bold ideas, collaborative efforts, and transformative actions.  

“We are excited to bring together thought leaders, industry pioneers, and policymakers from across the globe to discuss the pivotal issues of our time.  

“I believe this Summit will inspire new ideas and deepen existing collaborations that aid our pursuit of these goals.” 

Professor Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's welcomes delegates to this morning's GIS 2024 session.

Chad Holliday, Chairman of The Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils’ (GFCC), followed by highlighting the challenging times we live in, marked by rapid advances in AI and other technologies. He emphasised our responsibility to harness innovation responsibly and the importance of learning from each other to drive progress.

Deborah Wince-Smith, President & CEO of the Council on Competitiveness, expressed her enthusiasm for being back at Queen’s University, praising Belfast’s rich cultural heritage as an ideal backdrop for this global gathering.  

Deborah Wince-Smith echoed the call for collaboration and emphasised the importance of co-creation, partnership, and unity in addressing global challenges. 

To wrap up her powerful address, she quoted C.S Lewis: “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” It was a fitting reminder that, while the past has its moments, this Summit is focused on forward-thinking innovation.

 

Dr. Stephen Kingon, Chairman, Centre for Competitiveness added: “This Summit stands as a beacon of hope, a forum for us to come together. Let’s use this Summit to innovate, collaborate and problem solve.” 

The stage was set, and it was time for the first speaker to kick-start the Summit with a bang—a Big Bang, that is. 

Attendees were in for an astronomical treat as world-renowned Professor Brian Cox took to the stage, taking us on a 'cosmic' journey with his captivating keynote address discussing Earth and the Forces of Nature in the context of Sustainability Issues. 

Professor Cox opened his keynote by stating that: “All scientific research is the same; driven by curiosity.” 

Professor Cox showcased how science shocks and excites our imagination, as well as bringing humanity together. He also set out the case for co-ordinated investment in science as key to job creation and growth.

 

Speaking about Queen's, he said:

"It's a very famous, world-class centre for astronomy. And so, it's exciting to be here. What makes Queen's unique is the fact that it is about 180 years old. So it's one of the older universities and it's a university, which amongst many other things, excels in the area that I find fascinating, which is astronomy."

Over 40 captivated students from the School of Maths & Physics at Queen’s attended the keynote in which the star shared his insights into black holes, dark matter, the hot big bang theory and more. 

Professor Brian Cox took the time to meet with PhD students from the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Queen's.

On meeting Professor Brian Cox, Fiona McNeill, a PhD Student in Astrophysics at Queen's said:

"Having a visitor like Professor Cox come to Queen's really puts us on the world stage. He is a celebrity, he's a scientist, and he is famous. And to have him come here and give up his time to come and talk to the students and really widen that awareness of what we're doing at Queen's, really means a lot to everyone. I think it will make people aware that science is happening here in Northern Ireland."

Meanwhile, back at Whitla Hall, the Summit’s first panel discussion, ‘Accelerating Global Sustainable Development Goals and Economic Inclusiveness’, was well underway. 

This engaging session saw GFCC Board Members explore the state of global competitiveness, offering valuable insights and recommendations on how to overcome the perceived trade-offs between sustainability, technological acceleration, and inclusiveness. 

Prof. Aleks Subic, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Aston University is joined by Antonios Sagris, Head of Group Corporate Development and ESG, Piraeus Bank, Chad Holliday, Jr. Chairman, GFCC, USA, Charles Kiefel AM, Chairman, The Principals Funds Management and Dr. Miguel Marques, Vice-Rector, Catholic University of Portugal for today's first panel discussion.

The panel was asked how universities and their inspiring staff and students can make a difference in sustainability. Dr. Miguel Marques, Vice-Rector, Catholic University of Portugal said: “We have to concentrate on our own strengths. We are not strong from A to Z. We have to bring together our skills and bring together different scientific approaches.” 

Next on stage was AI expert and CEO of Satalia, Daniel Hulme, who delivered a captivating keynote on ‘Navigating the AI Revolution: Preparing for a World of Digital Transformation.’  

Daniel Hulme, during his thought-provoking address, explored the complex challenges, ethical considerations, and transformative potential of AI and other emerging technologies. 

Hulme opened his address by reflecting on the evolution of intelligence and AI, starting from its inception in the 60s and 70s, all the way to its current state.  

He explained that while providing humans with better insights can be valuable, it doesn’t always lead to better decisions: "Human beings are not very good at decision-making," he stated.  

Six key applications to enhance the brain’s capabilities were discussed: Task Automation, Content Automation, Human Representation, Insight Extraction, Complex Decision-Making, and Human Augmentation.  

AI safety was one of the key topics addressed by Hulme and he encouraged the audience to consider the intent behind AI use and discussed concerns about what could happen if AI overachieves: “It’s not what happens if my AI goes wrong, it’s what happens if my AI goes right," he remarked.   

In response to a question from the audience, he concluded, “The world is going to change dramatically over the next ten years,” emphasising the urgency of understanding and preparing for these upcoming transformations.  

Moving into the afternoon, delegates remained eager as keynote speaker Stephen Gallagher, Director of Strategy and Low Carbon Solutions, SSE Energy Solutions, showcased the cutting-edge innovations propelling the energy transition.  

Emphasising the urgent need for sustainable energy solutions, Stephen highlighted, “Global electricity demand is expected to grow by 30% by 2040."

AI was a key theme highlighted throughout his keynote address, discussed as a powerful tool in accelerating the shift towards more sustainable energy practices. 

The address concluded with a bold and thought-provoking statement: “We think we are right on the cutting edge, but the reality is we are just at the beginning, considering the pace of change.” 

— Queen's University Belfast(@QUBelfast) November 12, 2024

The second panel discussion of the day, titled 'Seizing the Decarbonisation Opportunity,' sparked engaging debates from the keynote speakers. The conversation focused on the critical transition to a net-zero energy system by 2050, with a particular focus on the key roles of science and engineering in achieving this goal. 

The panel included Debbie Caldwell, Climate Commissioner, Belfast City Council, Prof. John Barry, Professor of Green Political Economy & Co-Director of the Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action, Queen’s University Belfast, Dr. Leo Mackay, Senior Vice President of Ethics and Enterprise Assurance, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Dr. Manny Pohl, Chairman & CIO, EC Pohl & Co, Marguerite Sayers, Executive Director for Customer Solutions , ESB and Dr. Steven Ashby, Director, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

They highlighted the importance of innovation, partnerships, and AI, all driven by private capital, in driving decarbonisation efforts and they collectively agreed that reaching net-zero by 2050 is achievable, with advancements in waste management and efficiency playing a key role in making this goal a reality. 

Bringing the panel discussion to an end, Prof. John Barry, Professor of Green Political Economy & Co-Director of the Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action, Queen’s University Belfast said:

"Not everything that is faced can be overcome, but nothing can be overcome until it's faced, so let's start rolling up our sleeves and get to it."

Another key topic discussed on day one of GIS 2024 was food security, highlighted by a thought-provoking keynote from The Right Honourable, The Baroness Minette Batters. 

The critical role of sustainable agriculture in ensuring food security for the future was discussed. A major focus was the ambitious goal of achieving net zero farming by 2040, which is essential for tackling both environmental and food production challenges. 

Baroness Minette Batters emphasised: "I hate to turn net zero into a campaign, but actually it needs to be. We cannot decarbonise unless agriculture us front and centre." 

After an inspiring and thought-provoking morning, delegates made their way across campus to the Peter Froggatt Centre for an afternoon of engaging workshops where they had the opportunity to collaborate, exchange ideas, and explore innovative solutions with like-minded individuals on some of the most pressing global challenges.

These sessions, such as that pictured above, covered a range of critical topics, including decarbonisation, innovation in energy, food security, resource productivity, and the role of research and development in advancing sustainability and inclusiveness. 

And that’s a wrap for day one, folks! 

What an amazing start to GIS 2024! A day filled with invaluable insights, stimulating discussions, and fantastic networking opportunities.

The Summit wouldn't be possible without the support from GIS 2024 partners including Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils, Centre for Competitiveness, Women in Business and Young Enterprise. In addition, Queen's would like to say a massive thank you to this year's GIS sponsors including Northern Ireland Electricity Networks, Kainos, Historic Royal Palaces, Invest NI, Alteryx, Deep River Rock, Translink and Accenture.

With more exciting sessions and inspiring speakers planned for tomorrow, you won't want to miss it!

For full coverage of the events and to join the conversation follow @QUBelfast on X and tune in to the live stream here. 

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