I want to talk about a concept for a new global centre that bridges the worlds of science
and technology innovation and decision making, the Global Centre for Emerging Technology
Intelligence, or CETI – not to be confused with the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence,
which is another SETI. Now, more than I think at any previous point in history, the world
is depending on technology innovation. The global population is approaching seven billion
people, quality of life expectation is higher than ever before and, with an increasingly
close relationship between what we do and the environment we live in, 21st century society
will be unsustainable I’m afraid, without major technological breakthroughs.
At the same time, science and technology are advancing faster than ever before; our generation
has seen more technological change over a shorter period than any previous one and the
rate of tech innovation continues to grow. The trouble is that there is a disconnect
between technology innovation and the challenges we hope to solve with it; we simply don’t
know the best way to tap into the potential of emerging science and technology. Part of
the problem is that we face a monumental communication barrier; decision-makers believe in tech solutions
but assume that they will simply appear as and when they are needed. On the other hand,
innovators believe they hold the keys to social and economic prosperity, but quite often they
have little idea on how to put their ideas to good. The result is that we have all the
pieces to improve the world through tech innovation, but we lack the manual that tells us how to
do it. And to make matters worse, old ways of matching tech innovation to prosperity
don’t work well in a fast-track world where traditional economic, social and political
boundaries are crumbling. So the proposed centre, CETI, aims to provide at least pieces
of this manual, enabling senior decision-makers on a global scale to develop and use emerging
technologies most effectively.
If CETI is to work, it is going to depend on three things: it is going to depend on
authority, encompassing technical authority, scientific authority, social, economic and
political expertise. In fact that was the second point, it is also, as well as authority,
it has got to deal with social, economic and political expertise. But thirdly, and perhaps
most importantly, it has got to have the support of senior decision-makers in government and
in business, and effective communication with stakeholders. There is a wealth of expertise
around the world in tech innovation and decision-making, and we are already tapping into that, especially
through the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Councils. Likewise with communication expertise;
there is a lot of expertise available and we are already beginning to tap into that,
but what is crucial here is buy-in from senior government and business leaders, these are
the people who are responsible for making technology innovation work for society, who
can identify the challenges we are facing and who can act on intelligence and recommendations
coming out of the centre.
CETI, if it is established, will provide for the first time a global 21st century perspective
on 21st century challenges. Emerging technologies are often counterintuitive; they need new
thinking on finding appropriate and workable solutions to challenges. Recent emerging technologies
such as nanotechnology and biotechnology have shown us how hard it is to overcome hurdles
to tech transfer oversight and public acceptance. These technologies have taught us, if nothing
else, that innovative approaches are needed to take advantage of innovative solutions.
As new technologies arise – such as things like synthetic biology, we have now got geo-engineering
on the map, robotics has obviously been bubbling along for a while – a new global perspective
on challenges and solutions will be needed. I think the last thing we can afford is another
GMO debacle. At the same time, we need to ensure promising technology innovations bloom
and are not crushed through a lack of foresight. So CETI directly addresses this need, and
it will succeed precisely because it provides an elegant and workable solution to the challenges
government and business leaders will increasingly be faced with over the coming years.
So, what do we need to make CETI work? Well, three things. First and foremost we need buy-in
from senior leaders in government and industry. These are the people who will drive the agenda
and implement the outputs of the Centre. Second, we need to engage more thoroughly with thought
leaders around the world; we already have good connections with many innovative thinkers,
but for the Centre to work, these need to be great connections covering the gamut of
cutting-edge science to social policy. Third and finally – and perhaps not surprising
– we need funding. Over the first three years, CETI will cost an estimated $20 million.
So if you look out over the next 20 years, this will be a critical period for society
around the globe. Emerging technologies clearly hold the key to sustained prosperity, but
they won’t just happen. CETI is a unique and vital opportunity to connect innovation
to need and to ensure new technology solves some of the most pressing challenges we face
as a global society. Thank you.