The second day of the GREAT Festival of Innovation in Hong Kong brought together over 50 prominent figures from various industries to discuss the future of living. The event, which ran until March 24th, featured experts, business leaders, and creatives sharing their insights with attendees from around the world.
With a focus on the prediction that 70% of the global population will reside in urban areas by 2050, the festival examined the implications for how we live, eat, travel, and interact with the natural world through panels and demonstrations. Some highlights included:
Source/credit: GREAT Festival of Innovation. Dame Hall kicked off Day 2 with a keynote speech titled Social And Sustainable: The Future Of Impact Investing.
Dame Wendy Hall, a renowned computer scientist, advocated for a more inclusive and socially responsible technological future, emphasizing the need for diverse workforce representation. She stated that “artificial intelligence (AI) is too important to be left solely in the hands of specialists.”
Source/credit: GREAT Festival of
Innovation. A live fashion showcase
displayed the latest wearable technology.
The festival also showcased a never-before-seen glimpse into Dragonfly, a concept by UK-based transportation design firm PriestmanGoode. This initiative, which merges traditional and emerging technologies, envisions autonomous drones utilizing existing waterways for efficient goods delivery.
Paul Priestman, the company’s chairman, revealed the 90-second trailer during a discussion on the future of transportation with industry leaders. They emphasized the urgency of addressing urban congestion, from airports to roadways, and highlighted the potential of drone technology in creating sustainable transportation solutions.
Attendees also witnessed a collaboration between McLaren Automotive and UK startup Vector Suite, demonstrating the use of virtual reality (VR) in car design. This innovative approach allows for faster prototyping and enhanced creativity, ultimately leading to more efficient and tailored vehicle development.
Source/credit: GREAT Festival of Innovation. Kerridge (left) watches as Gong presents XAIRCRAFT during a panel on the Future of Food and Farming.
Drones were also a key topic in a discussion about the future of food production. Justin Gong, Co-Founder of XAIRCRAFT, highlighted how AI-powered drones can analyze crops and optimize pesticide application, minimizing environmental impact.
The conversation emphasized the need for greater plant diversity in food systems to address the challenges of a growing population and climate change, advocating for wider adoption and public awareness of these solutions.
This event was part of the GREAT Britain campaign, which aims to promote the UK as a hub for innovation, encouraging international collaboration, investment, and exchange.
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