51³Ô¹ÏÍø

The trends, emerging technologies and big ideas of the next two decades were explored by innovators from industry and academia at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø this week.

51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s 2034: Tech Foresight event enabled experts to take a long view of technological shifts and emerging challenges, while discussing how scientists, technologists and innovators can shape these trends.

The theoretical limits of materials, smart cities, digital identities and networked science were among the themes covered at the one-day conference for 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Business Partners, delivered by and the College’s own experts.

The programme was designed to prepare the minds of business leaders, industrial scientists and R&D chiefs for where today’s breakthrough lab discoveries will lead. 

During the event, breakout groups – dubbed ‘Futorials’, or tutorials of the future – encouraged debate around the future impact of science-driven innovation on business.

Many drew inspiration from an exhibition of student inventions from the Innovation Design Engineering course: 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s double master’s degree in conjunction with the Royal College of Art. 

Among the speakers were:

• Professor Donal Bradley, Vice Provost (Research), who delivered a keynote on innovation ecosystems, serendipity in research and dealing with the unknown.
• , who presented on ‘smart dust’ and adaptive emergent systems engineering 
• , who presented on the pushing of materials to their theoretical limits 
• , who presented on putting intelligence into future cities 
• , who spoke about digital identity, privacy and security in an age of big data 
• , who presented on new networked approaches to innovation 
• , who reviewed last year’s Tech Foresight predictions 

Influencing change

Professor Debra Humphris, Chair of 2034: Tech Foresight and Vice Provost (Education) at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, said:

“Today’s university-led discoveries will shape new markets, transform industries and affect all of our lives. It is crucial that pioneering institutions like 51³Ô¹ÏÍø work with other innovators  across a range of sectors and across the globe to understand and influence these changes.

“2034: Tech Foresight gave academics and industrialists a unique opportunity to take a step back from the day-to-day and think long term, way beyond our next research projects or quarterly results. This stimulated a diverse range of new ideas and connections, leaving the Foresighters feeling challenged and inspired, and we hope, better prepared for the future.”