Experts call for removal of sectoral barriers and underscore the crucial role of governance in managing the risks and opportunities of emerging technologies.
Dubai-UAE:October 2024 – The convergence of transformative technologies like quantum computing, AI, and synthetic biology will help to achieve breakthroughs in industries and economies, according to a panel of industry experts at the Annual Meeting of the Global Future Councils 2024.
The session, titled “Nexus of Innovation” focused on the pressing need for interdisciplinary collaboration, the removal of sectoral barriers, and the critical role of governance in navigating both the risks and opportunities of these emerging technologies.
The panel featured Chantal Shen, Chief Scientist in Synthetic Biology at BGI Research; Hoda Al Khzaimi, Director of the Centre for Cybersecurity at New York University Abu Dhabi; and Freeke Heijman, Founder and CEO of Quantum Delta NL.
Highlighting the importance of breaking down silos between disciplines, Al Khzaimi urged for collaboration to accelerate innovation and unlock the full potential of technological convergence: “We need to remove barriers to collaboration and focus on providing psychological safety for researchers from different fields to push forward their ideas. Cross-disciplinary action is crucial for accelerating technological convergence.”
She also pointed out the limitations of current funding models, calling for a shift to more flexible structures that can keep pace with the demands of today’s evolving innovation landscape.
“We need to rethink how we support and fund cross-disciplinary research. Current models can slow down the cycle of innovation. To develop faster, we need structures that support both research and commercialization at a much quicker pace,” she added.
Echoing the importance of collaboration, Shen spoke on the immense potential of synthetic biology to solve global challenges, emphasizing that the integration of disciplines like biology, computer science, and engineering can produce transformative results. She noted that “synthetic biology allows us to create organisms that function in specific scenarios, such as healthcare, energy, or food production”.
“AI accelerates our ability to handle large datasets, enabling us to predict how these organisms will behave, which improves our R&D efficiency,” Shen said.
She stressed the importance of involving industries early in the research process, ensuring a smoother path from breakthrough innovation to real-world application. “The best innovation comes when industries are involved early in the R&D process, helping to ensure that breakthroughs are applied more smoothly and quickly to real-world scenarios,” Shen said.
Heijman focused on the transformative impact of combining quantum computing and AI, which is driving significant advances in sectors such as finance and energy. She highlighted how this convergence is “rapidly changing industries, allowing us to achieve breakthroughs in a fraction of the time. What used to take years now happens in days, which has huge implications for economic growth.”
She also noted the critical role of governments in ensuring that these innovations advance safely, calling for strong governance frameworks to manage the risks posed by these rapidly evolving technologies.
“Governments need to be proactive in understanding and mitigating the risks posed by converging technologies like AI and quantum computing. Strong governance and the right policies are essential to ensure public trust and to guide these innovations safely into the future,” said Heijman.
AMGFC24, hosted by the UAE Government in cooperation with the World Economic Forum (WEF), is taking place from 15-17 October in Dubai. The 2024 edition features 30 councils and over 500 participants from 80 countries, including experts, thought leaders, senior government officials, and business leaders who are helping shape the agenda of the 2025 WEF Annual Meeting in Davos.
