Harness technology to solve world's challenges

The Internet of Things is being used to help make cities smarter by easing traffic congestion and reducing pollution.

We live in an age where technology connects us more closely than ever, enabling us to create, communicate and cooperate in ways that have irrevocably changed our lives. At Expo 2020 Dubai, we believe harnessing the power of technology can help us forge solutions to the world's greatest challenges as well as open new doors for the next generation. However, in order to unlock these benefits, it is crucial that both the public and private sectors foster an environment that nurtures talent - allowing innovation to take wing.

As the 21st century unfolds, we are already witnessing fundamental transformations that are reshaping every aspect of human life. Global populations are rapidly growing, societies are becoming predominantly urbanised and our consumption and production of resources is having an even greater impact on the environment. These unprecedented and interconnected challenges demand collaboration across cultures, nations and regions. We believe that new technologies can catalyse progress and play an instrumental role in generating innovative solutions towards a more sustainable future.

We are only just scratching the surface of technology's ability to effect positive change. New technologies are disrupting how we live and illuminating new and exciting ways to solve long-standing problems. For instance, the Internet of Things is being used to help make cities "smarter" by easing traffic congestion and reducing pollution.

Blockchain - a method of securely storing information in a distributed way - can be applied to almost any form of record keeping, agreement, contract or register. Virtual reality promises to revolutionise the fields of healthcare, engineering and education. These technologies, and many others, can be harnessed to devise solutions that address the world's challenges, especially along the lines of our three sub-themes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.

Digital natives
In addition to the benefits technology can provide across a range of disciplines and industries, there is also the potential that lies within the wider technology sector to create opportunities - most notably for the next generation. Young people have grown up as digital natives; they are connected to their mobile phones, laptops and tablets, and are well-versed in navigating the ever-shifting social media landscape.

According to YouGov research we commissioned, GCC youths rank technology highly as a sector of interest. Employment in the technology sector would be incredibly empowering for the region's young people, who make up a remarkable 65 per cent of the total Mena population. Providing opportunities in the technology sector dovetails nicely with the UAE's ambition to nurture a thriving knowledge economy and contributes to the economic diversification necessary for a sustainable future.

At Expo 2020 Dubai, we recognise the enormous potential and opportunities technology can bring. That is why we are actively working to foster an inclusive, educational environment for start-ups, young people and technology pioneers, and we want to work together with partners who share these goals.

During UAE Innovation Week 2016, we were delighted to have launched our first-ever digital connected hackathon, in collaboration with Accenture. For a 24-hour period on November 26 and 27, we challenged young people from eight cities in Europe and Asia to collaborate and create social innovation projects that can help shape a more inclusive future. We look forward to seeing how young people apply their skills, use teamwork and harness technology to tackle challenges across Expo 2020 Dubai's themes. Who knows, maybe in four years, one of the projects will be showcased at Expo 2020 Dubai?

The Accenture Digital Connected Hackathon is one of many Expo 2020 Dubai initiatives aimed at empowering young people and igniting innovation. Last year, we set up a collaborative entrepreneurship platform in partnership with regional accelerator Wamda in order to spark mutually beneficial relationships between corporates and start-ups.

Initiatives
Expo Live, our ?100 million innovation and partnership programme, aims to fund, accelerate and scale creative solutions by harnessing the power of innovation. In addition, YouthConnect is our annual youth event featuring workshops and inspirational talks provided by Expo 2020 Dubai and our partners. YouthConnect provides opportunities for young people across the region to gather, develop new skills and discover new areas of interest that will help them unlock their full potential and shape their own future.

Looking ahead, new technologies will enable our team to create an event that will bring the world together like never before. We aim to deliver the most international World Expo in history, with technology enabling registration, travel, a seamless visitor experience and engagement through a variety of new media.

The writer is the vice-president of legacy at Expo 2020 Dubai. Views expressed are her own and do not necessarily reflect the newspaper's policy.