How can technology be harnessed for outcomes in the real economy?

Despite record levels of investment in AI, quantum computing and biotechnology, productivity growth in most economies remains sluggish. The gap between technological possibility and economic reality is widening. In high-growth emerging markets, firms confront stubborn barriers to adoption: outdated regulatory frameworks, fragmented market structures and skills mismatches. The question for leaders is what must change in industrial strategy, regulation and corporate practice to accelerate the deployment of existing technologies.

Watch sessions

AI Everywhere, Not at Once
60 minutes
Speakers: Roli Agrawal, Stephen Engle, Feng Junlan, Jonas Prising, Xue Lan
Curiosity as Catalyst
30 minutes
Speakers: Vanessa Chan, Miguel Alejandro González Virgen, Jahnavi Phalkey
Top 10 Emerging Technologies 2026
30 minutes
Speakers: Katherine Daniell, Frederick Fenter, Abdulaziz Al Jaziri, Stephan Mergenthaler
What's the Limit for AI-First Enterprises?
60 minutes
Speakers: Mehdi Ghissassi, Michael Römer, Sudip Roy, Joey Wat, Yang Yanqing, Yuxiang Zhou
Algorithmic Storytelling
30 minutes
Speakers: Victoria Fard
Robots in Rhythm with Us
30 minutes
Speakers: Madeline Gannon, Andrew D. Maynard, Ya-Qin Zhang
Factories that Learn
60 minutes
Speakers: Leila Benali, Jay Lee, Zongchang Liu, Low Minmin, Annie Lu, Padraig McDonnell, Xie Haiqin
Prosperity Is Material(s)
60 minutes
Speakers: Dang Yanbao, Javier Garcia-Martinez, Conrad Keijzer, Barinder Rasode, Zhao Dong
Deep Tech, Shallow Markets
60 minutes
Speakers: Anulika Ajufo, Brandon Barbello, Eleanor Olcott, Jonathan Zhu, Zhu Min
Pathogens that Follow Us
30 minutes
Speakers: Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Mosa Moshabela, Wang Jian, Wu Bei
Poetic Skylines
30 minutes
Speakers: Ma Yansong
Innovating at Scale
30 minutes
Speakers: Mirek Dušek, Orit Gadiesh, Margery Kraus, Michael Liu, Padraig McDonnell, Le Song