Highlights from the GFCC participation on the 9º Brazilian Industry Innovation Summit in São Paulo
- The GFCC
- Mar 15, 2022
- 7 min read
Updated: Apr 21
GFCC members shared relevant insights during panels and discussions in the 9th Brazilian Industry Innovation Summit, hosted by GFCC member the Brazilian National Confederation of Industries (CNI), in São Paulo, Brazil, on March 9 and 10.
The Brazil Industry Innovation Summit happens every two years, and it is of the main events covering innovation trends and strategies in Latin America.
Check highlights below:
Pathways to create an innovative country
Brazil faces multiples socio-economic and environmental challenges on its pathway to development. Among them are reskilling and upskilling the population to meet future demands, accelerating the green energy transition to support the economy, and reducing deforestation of the Amazon Forest. For the panelists, implementing innovative strategies and inclusive public policies to foster science and technology is a way to advance socio-economic progress, reduce environmental damage and increase inclusiveness. Technology and open data, for instance, can be used to fight corruption and monitor criminal fires in the forest. The decarbonization of the economy can generate income through investments in new ventures, green actives, carbon credits and climate bonds. Widespread adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the manufacturing sector through sensors and the generation of insights using real-time data can boost productivity and increase Brazil’s GDP by 4% by 2030. However, the success of these measures depends on coordinated action across sectors with different stakeholders. Universities, businesses, governments and researchers need to work together to make this transition a reality. GFCC President, the Hon. Deborah L. Wince-Smith showcased the work of the National Commission on Innovation and Competitiveness Frontiers led by the Council on Competitiveness in the United States. The Commission gathers experts from across the country to generate policy recommendations focused on four main areas:
Developing and deploying at scale disruptive technologies.
Exploring the future of sustainable production and consumption.
Optimizing the environment for the national innovation system,
Unleashing capabilities for work and entrepreneurship.
For her, the work of the US commission can inspire Brazilian leaders to foster an innovation agenda for the country.
The Future of Innovation and Disruptive Technologies
Dr. Ray Johnson at 9º Brazilian Industry Innovation Summit on March 9, 2022.
The United Arab Emirates has historically relied on oil exports. But the government wants to transition from a commodity-based to a knowledge-based economy to diversify its GDP. One step in that direction is the creation of the Advanced Technology Research Council in 2021, which includes three collaborative organizations: the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), Venture One, and Aspire. Dr. Ray Johnson, CEO of the TII, a GFCC member organization, presented the work of the center focused primarily on applied research and commented on new frontier technologies being studied and developed by its researchers. Primarily, TII focus on seven areas: quantum, autonomous robotics, cryptography, advanced materials, digital science, directed energy, and secure systems. All projects are driven by the needs of real-world problems and aim to find solutions to consumers’ demands. For example, TII has been developing research on advanced electronic materials that support high temperatures since the deserts surrounding Abu Dhabi can reach up to 60º C. They have also developed an autonomous wheelchair, a GPS secure capability, and begun to work on the region’s first quantum computing. Venture One commercializes the ideas from TII while Aspire operates as an incubator. In the short term, the Council aims to invest in applied research to develop innovative solutions for problems in the sectors previously listed. But in the long-term, the goal is more ambitious. They want to create an ecosystem of local companies delivering solutions to the market to the point that they can fully transition the economy from oil-based to knowledge-based products. One of the main strategies involves retaining global talent and fostering a dynamic R&D ecosystem.
Innovation Opportunities in Sustainability and Resilience
Building sustainability and resilience into local economies is essential to drive future competitiveness. Three leaders from the GFCC network participated in this panel, sharing insights on innovation and business growth opportunities in their countries. Mr. Philip, Executive Director of the National Competitiveness Commission of Zimbabwe, pointed to Africa’s natural resources as its greatest strength. New technologies can improve mining processes and agriculture, and biotechnologies can help commercialize medicinal plants. Similarly, Prof. Alejandro Vela, Director of the Science and Technology Park of the University of San Agustin of Arequipa in Peru, believes that natural resources can be an asset to drive innovation and development in the country. But for that to happen, the government needs to improve local innovation capabilities and infrastructure and invest in reskilling and upskilling the population. Furthermore, he believes that improving political and social relationships within a nation and between nations would lead to increased innovative efforts, particularly considering the socio-economic development and the protection of the Amazon Forest, which offers rich natural resources to eight different countries. Different from Peru and the continent of Africa, Japan has a highly developed innovation economy and is advancing its innovations to focus on resilience. Dr. Kazuyoshi Shimada, Director of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, pointed out that a focus on resilience is imperative in a country that is geographically positioned in an area prone to natural disasters.
Frontiers of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Accelerated technology growth and digitalization have catalyzed new business models and created new opportunities for entrepreneurs across the planet. In this panel, leaders from the United States, South Africa, and Qatar, who participate in the GFCC network, shared insights and perspectives on entrepreneurship and innovation in their countries and organizations. Dr. Ted Zoller, Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, considers that societies are living through the biggest entrepreneurial revolution mainly due to the democratization of opportunities enabled by the digital transformation. For him, there is nothing more global than entrepreneurship, and the current level of entrepreneurial activities can be a source of social innovation. However, real change depends on thinking and acting differently through pragmatism and unconventional thinking. In Qatar, Dr. Mahmoud Abdulwahed, Director at the Office of Strategic Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Economic Development (SIEED) at Qatar University, considers that the Qatari government should remove barriers to entrepreneurship, investing in regulatory reforms to drive the country towards an innovative economy. Qatar University wants to be a focal point in this new paradigm and is investing in entrepreneurship as a main pillar of education and research. For him, there is a big opportunity to foster new businesses aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and on the digital frontier, using artificial intelligence. In Africa, a huge demographic shift is underway. The United Nations (UN) predicts that by 2030 Africa will host 42% of the world’s youth population, a huge market opportunity for entrepreneurs in the continent. For Dr. Nkem Khumbah, Chairman of the Africa Futures Group, African countries need to invest in educating their youth, with a focus on STEM and entrepreneurship, to leapfrog from a situation of underdevelopment.
Quantum Computing: Impacts on the Market
The race to create the world’s first quantum computing represents a turning point in history. Quantum computing, and more broadly quantum technologies, will allow societies to manage processes previously seen as impossible with a range of applications across industries, from finance to cybersecurity, healthcare, manufacturing, etc. Today, the United States and China are the world’s leaders in quantum research. But as pointed out by Prof. Peter Smith, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for International Projects at the University of Southampton, “this is a critical time for any nation.” Prof. Smith is part of the GFCC network and leads the Quantum Photonics Group at the University of Southampton. For him, quantum theorists should work with professionals across defense, civil engineering, and academia, to address the challenges posed by these new technologies and implement their applications. For that, it is crucial to invest in human capital and training to create an ecosystem.
Innovation Ecosystems at the Frontier of Knowledge 2
Innovation is a never-ending marathon. Even the most innovative economies in the globe need to constantly invest in new strategies to remain competitive. In the United States, Chad Evans, GFCC Treasurer and Executive Vice-President of the Council on Competitiveness, has been leading the National Commission on Innovation and Competitiveness Frontiers, with the Hon. Deborah L. Wince-Smith, GFCC President and CEO Council Competitiveness. The Commission wants to transform innovation and boost long-term growth in the country by increasing tenfold the number of US-based innovators, the speed of innovation, and the total of innovations. Dr. Roberto Alvarez, GFCC Executive Director, pledges for inclusiveness by bringing more people into the innovation economy. As a Brazilian national, he argues that the country must revamp its institutions, reducing barriers between the public and the private sectors, investing in a new regulatory environment and infrastructure prone to innovation. Finally, he believes that Brazil should incentivize migration to bring global talent to the country.
Innovation as the Primary Strategy of Development
Innovation is the foundation of building a better future. To create a cohesive development strategy, universities, industry and government need to buy-in. Any country that wants to be competitive globally needs to have innovation at the forefront of its national strategy, with robust public policy to back it up and support all the players. Covid-19 challenged all institutions but showed how flexible and resilient both institutions and people are. Sally Morton, Executive Vice President at Arizona State University, a GFCC university member, suggested challenging the traditional higher education model to further innovation efforts. The steps many universities took during the pandemic were the first to break down the ivory tower of universities. A recent initiative at ASU is the state-sponsored New Economy Initiative which will leverage ASU’s Science and Technology Centers (STCs) to understand how to make Arizona competitive in emerging industries. The STCs are innovation hubs that allow the industry to work directly with faculty and students, creating a rich and robust innovation ecosystem between government, industry and university. To help measure the success of such efforts, it is critical to understand, implement and review measurements of innovation. The Global Innovation Index (WIPO) can be used to know where a nation is falling behind or excelling. Still, new indicators need to be accounted for each year to ensure relevant indexes.
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