The second Annual Meeting of the Global Future Councils (AMGFC) is preparing to host 700 academics and future experts from 75 countries on November 11-12, 2017, at Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah.

Attendees will convene in 35 councils, each tackling a specific sector, and work to forecast its future directions, look into the challenges that are likely to arise and propose innovative solutions to tackle them, in addition to flagging potential opportunities. The event, organised by the UAE Government in partnership with the World Economic Forum (WEF) – Davos, focuses on such themes as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, Blockchain, innovation and entrepreneurship. Key takeaways and findings from the Meeting will be presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The Annual Meeting of the Global Future Councils allows participants to communicate directly with representatives from WEF’s Fourth Industrial Revolution Center in San Francisco, USA, to propose innovative approaches that can harness 4IR technologies to reap economic and social benefits. These technologies include artificial intelligence and automated learning, self-driving cars, Blockchain, drones, digital commerce and the Internet of Things (IoT).

As one of the most strategic sectors to be discussed at the event, the Fourth Industrial Revolution Council brings together the heads of all other related councils to explore the expected effects of 4IR technologies on the public and private sectors, as well as on the general public. The Council focuses on the main engines of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, most notably: governance, the legal infrastructure necessary to take advantage of the 4IR and the role of governments in this regard.

The Future Council on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics studies the effects of developments in artificial intelligence and robotics on the industry, government and society of the future, which are set to catalyse innovative governance models that ensure efficiency and reduce risks. The Council discusses the challenges posed by cyberattacks, as well as various scenarios for covert cyberwarfare. Experts will look into the possibilities of deploying robots in warfare, determining accountability in the event of errors affecting human life, as well as the need to draft legislation in that regard.

This Council examines the implications of biotechnological developments on industry, agriculture and healthcare, as well as their impact on governments and communities in the future. Biotech experts will also look into innovative governance models for the sector, which uses living organisms to manufacture a wide range of products, such as cleaning products, biofuels, pharmaceuticals, foods and environmentally friendly chemicals, among others. Medical and industrial biotechnology will play a critical role in solving global challenges such as climate change, ageing, food security, energy security and infectious diseases.

This Council examines the future of advanced materials and their implications for industry, governments and society, as well as their potential to affect various areas of people’s lives. Advanced materials are hallmarks of next-generation manufacturing, which covers, among other techniques, nanotechnology. Nanotech has promising potential for many sectors, such as carbon nanotubes that can conduct ten or one hundred times more electricity than metal wires; carbon-based lightweight materials; and revolutionary solutions for clean and sustainable energy.

The Blockchain Future Council seeks to outline the future of Blockchain technology and its impact on industry, government and society in the future. With Internet and smartphone penetration hitting all-time highs while, Blockchain technology is poised to reinvent several strategic sectors, driving down the costs of communications satellites and spiking demand for Blockchain-powered security services ranging from monitoring crops to broadband connections. The technology will also expedite space travel, creating the infrastructure for a participatory space economy and setting off a wave of start-ups that explore more efficient approaches and practices in the space sector, such as reusable rockets and smaller satellites.

The Council for the Future of Innovation and Entrepreneurship explores ways to capitalise on the opportunities brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution to establish an inclusive, innovation-driven entrepreneurship environment. The Council also looks into such challenges as limited awareness, education, training and experience in entrepreneurship, proposing solutions bridge the gap and empower a future-ready generation of entrepreneurs.

The Global Future Councils include another 29 specialised Councils that will discuss the following topics: The Future of Cities and Urban Development; Future of Computing; Future of Consumerism; Future of Cybersecurity; Future of the Digital Economy and Society; Future of Economic Growth and Society; Future of Education, Gender Balance and Labour; Future of Energy; Future of the Environment and Security of Natural Resources; Future of Financial and Monetary Systems; Future of Space Technologies; Future of Technology, Values and Policies; Future of Philanthropy; Future of Food Security and Agriculture; Future of Health and Healthcare; Future of Human Enhancement; Future of Human Rights; Future of Information and Entertainment; Future of International Governance, Public-Private Partnerships and Sustainable Development; Future of International Security; Future of International Trade and Investment; Future of Long-Term Investment, Infrastructure and Development; Future of Migration; Future of Mobility; Future of Neuroscience; Future of Production; Future of Behavioural Sciences; Future of Platforms and Systems; and finally, the Future of Regional Governance.

Last November, the UAE hosted the first Annual Meeting of the Global Future Councils, where experts on the future looked into proactive solutions to the most pressing challenges ahead. The Councils outlined likely scenarios for the future of sectors that most affect people’s lives, such as healthcare, education, energy, transportation, water, food security and others.

The Annual Meeting of the Global Future Councils, which held its first edition in November 2016, was attended by 700 international experts on the future, as well as high-ranking government officials, 252 innovators and businessmen, 203 academics and experts, and 245 representatives of governments and international organisations.