UCL joins world leaders at WEF 2024

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, focused this year on the theme of "Rebuilding Trust", is running from 15–19 January.

Dr Spence and Professor Mazzucato have joined more than 2,800 leaders across business, academia, industry and government - including 350 heads of state, government figures and ministers - to exchange ideas and make progress on advancing climate action, strengthening the global economy, building resilience and addressing questions on frontier technologies.

Events at this year’s Forum span across four themes:

• Achieving security and cooperation in a fractured world
• Creating growth and jobs for a new era
• Artificial intelligence as a driving force for the economy and society
• A long-term strategy for climate, nature and energy

Among sessions Dr Spence has spoken at are a panel event on 'Learning in the Age of Superintelligence' hosted by Fast Company and Verizon. Panellists explored the ways universities are adjusting to AI and what employers can learn from educators on how to teach workers to keep pace with technological developments.

Dr Spence discussed the ways in which UCL is a world leader in AI research and innovation, including foundational research on natural language processing, computer vision, robot perception and learning; and the real-world applications of AI, including its potential in innovation and driving economic growth.

He provided opening remarks about trust in relation to science, research and education, at a WEF expert welcome reception bringing together more than 80 leaders from academic institutions around the world. A key theme running throughout the Provost’s engagements has been the work UCL is leading to equip and enable people to ‘Disagree Well’.

Dr Spence also took part in the ‘GULF: Building Bridges’ university leaders roundtable, aiming to ‘promote peace and collaboration in fractured geopolitical contexts’ and spoke at an event hosted by the Prince of Monaco Foundation on ‘The Revolution in Healthy, Sustainable and Blue Food’. He addressed attendees of a 'Building the Mental Wealth of Nations' event hosted by University of Sydney, exploring the role that universities can play in this.

While in Davos, the Provost has met with UCL alumni, global philanthropists and partners, including the new President of Tsinghua University, Professor Li Luming, at an event on the role of education, technology and blended finance in creating better business.

Dr Spence said: “I am soon returning to campus even more convinced of UCL’s unique role in driving solutions to the world’s wicked problems, through our leading research, collaboration and innovations. There are so many leaders and partner organisations from across sectors gathered in Davos, who share our vision for a better world and are keen to work with us. We can and will continue doubling down on these efforts.”

Professor Mariana Mazzucato, Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose (IIPP), took part in a range of events including on water consumption - where she emphasised the need for a market-shaping approach to govern water for the common good – and on government investment, alongside President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

Professor Mazzucato also spoke at a panel event on the financial risks of climate change, and joined former US Vice-President Al Gore and World Trade Organization Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for a New York Times debate on global cooperation.

The full schedule for the World Economic Forum is here.

Links

• About Dr Michael Spence
• Professor Mariana Mazzucato’s academic profile
• UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose
• The Bartlett, UCL’s Faculty of the Built Environment
• World Economic Forum

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• From top: Dr Michael Spence and Professor Mariana Mazzucato; Dr Michael Spence speaking at a WEF panel event 'Learning in the Age of Superintelligence';  Professor Mariana Mazzucato addresses audience members at the WEF panel discussion 'Investors of First Resort: Government Inc.'

Media contact

Sophie Vinter

Tel: +44 (0)20 3108 7787

Email: s.vinter [at] ucl.ac.uk