Top minds weigh global digital trends
WEF councils gathering in Dubai to examine effects of rapid technological change
Top global minds will converge on Dubai this weekend to weigh the economic and social impacts of global digital disruption as the World Economic Forum (WEF) gauges rapid technological change.
As many as 700 experts from 50 countries will gather for the WEF second annual meeting of the Global Future Councils tomorrow and Sunday at Madinat Jumeirah.
Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, said the UAE is keen to understand the rapid digital transformation around the world.
“The Fourth Industrial Revolution is already having a profound effect on societies and economies: as we look to build a future for our country and for the world, it is essential that we embrace these forces of transformation and use them in ways that help us emerge stronger and better adept at advancing the interests and well-being of our people,” he said.
“By harnessing relevant forces of change and focusing on the active roles of citizens and younger generation aspirations exciting outcomes of the 4th Industrial Revolution will be realised. The Annual Meeting of the Global Future Councils is about drawing on world-class knowledge and applying it in ways that help us meet these goals.”
Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, WEF, said ahead of the councils meeting that the Fourth Industrial Revolution will have a “disruptive impact on business models, the economy, society and each individual”. He added that to shape a positive outcome of this revolution, the WEF has created the meeting of the Future Councils to convene top global thinkers to accelerate the positive impact of this revolution.
At a press conference yesterday at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dubai, officials said strategies developed at the gathering will be shared worldwide to help countries. “We see this as the world’s brainstorm session,” said Stephan Merganthaler, Head of Knowledge Networks and Analysis, Member of the Executive Committee, WEF.
He told reporters that data gathered from the meeting will be curated and made available on a new digital knowledge platform called The WEF Transformation Maps, a repository of data covering more than 100 industries and trends now shaping the globe.