Deep Tech companies are aiming to transform the world through scientific, engineering and technological advances in health, food, sustainable development, etc. – for the greater good. What will the future of Deep Tech look like, and how may Deep Tech help address the grand challenges of our time and improve the human condition?

Speaker:

• Prof Hiroaki Kitano, President and CEO, Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc

Moderator: 

• Steve Leonard, CEO, Singularity University

Meeting sustainable development goals will require action on a number of fronts, including harnessing and maximising the potential of technological innovation. Examples of such technologies include efficient energy systems, sustainable transport, urban solutions, etc. What would it take for our future economy and society to be carbon-neutral?

Speakers:

• Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer, City Developments Limited
• Dave Ingram, Chief Procurement Officer, Unilever
• Dr Peter Nagler, Executive Director & Chief Innovation Officer, A*STAR
• Moderator: Dale Hardcastle, Co-Director - Global Sustainability Innovation Center, Bain & Company

According to research from BCG, 65% of companies now work with startups or new ventures through platforms like open innovation. This shift in perspective is increasingly fueled by a globalised knowledge workforce and the rise of digital tools for collaboration and communication - two major factors responsible for the exponential growth of data and ideas being generated and exchanged.

How to raise the odds of lasting mutual benefits when large and small companies team up, especially as these collaborations are growing in importance as the world pilots innovations and advances sustainable development solutions?

Speakers:

• Chew Men Leong, President - Urban Solutions, ST Engineering
• Ozzeir Khan, Director – Digital Innovation and Architecture, Asian Development Bank
• Dr Suracha Udomsak, Vice President - Chemicals Business and CTO - Innovation and Technology, SCG
• Moderator: Jessica Cheam, Founder and Managing Director, Eco-Business

While the existing market for hydrogen is dominated by “gray” production, which uses fossil fuels resulting in carbon emissions, the EU's 2020 hydrogen strategy focuses on the development of “clean, renewable” or green hydrogen. Green hydrogen could be a viable emissions-free alternative to fossil fuels and other forms of hydrogen, if costs fall and production efficiency is improved. While both public and private sectors are focusing on green hydrogen’s potential to enable decarbonisation, it needs demand and supply-side support to scale up.

Speakers:

• Alvin Foo, Head of New Technologies and Sustainability, PSA Singapore
• Setsuo Iuchi, Senior VP, Executive Assistant to President and Executive Director for Hydrogen Business, Pathways Japan Foundation
• Matthias Bausenwein, President, Ørsted Asia Pacific
• Moderator: Hsien-Hui Tong, Executive Director – Investments, SGInnovate

With the growing focus on sustainability and environmental concerns, circular business models will gain a greater competitive edge in the years to come because they create more value from each unit of resource than the traditional linear ‘take-make-dispose’ model. Circular economics calls for systems thinking - companies should no longer focus on personal financial gain but on optimising the entire system. This requires cooperation between and within organisations.

Speakers:

• Antonia Gawel, Head, Climate Action; Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum
• Jean Cox-Kearns, Chief Sustainability Officer, Tes-Amm Singapore PTE LTD
• Justin Wood, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Alliance to End Plastic Waste
• Moderator: Devni Acharya, Senior Consultant, Arup

Almost every aspect of today’s modern economy and society looks set for transformation by Deep Tech. Businesses, governments, researchers and investors are paying close attention to how Deep Tech is having a profound impact on important segments of the economy such as autonomous vehicles and robotics, life sciences and medical devices, smart cities and low-carbon technologies.

This panel discussion will explore the possible futures we could look forward to with Deep Tech, how we should design a world made better by science and technology innovation, and what ethical considerations there may be as we seek to augment human capabilities with Deep Tech.

Speakers:

• Dr Chong Yoke Sin, President, Singapore Computer Society
• Caroline Gorski, Group Director, Rolls-Royce R2 Data Labs
• Prof Simon See, Senior Director, Chief Solution Architect, and Global Head of AI Technology Centre, NVIDIA Corporation
• Moderator: Raju Chellam, Chief Editor, AI Ethics & Governance Body of Knowledge