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

12 November, 2024

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 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 with a reflection on the challenging times we live in, marked by rapid advances in AI and other technologies. He highlighted our collective responsibility to harness innovation responsibly and highlighted that learning from one another is vital for progress.

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

She 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 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."

Brian 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, Professor Cox said:

"It's a very famous, world-class centre for astronomy. And so, it's exciting to 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 attendedthe keynote in which the star sharedhis insightsinto black holes, dark matter, the hot big bang theoryand more.

Here's what Fiona McNeill, PhD Student Astrophysics at Queen's said:

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

The panel was asked how Universities and their inspiring staff and students can make a difference in Sustainability. This is what 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.'

In his thought-provoking address, Hulme 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 and are continuing to shape our future 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.

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

AI was a key theme highlighted throughout Gallagher's 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."

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