Think Tank

Inequality has been growing across the globe, fracturing society in ways that are becoming ever more palpable. The asymmetric access to resources based on one’s socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and gender has come to the surface. Nevertheless, challenges also represent opportunities in areas relating to global education, economic empowerment, and wealth inequality.

How does poverty pose the greatest obstacle to education and its connection to inequality? What is the progress on gender disparity regarding education? What are the impacts and implications to the evolution of education technology globally due to the pandemic? Our Think Tank Podcast explains.

The more than one billion cars on the roads worldwide are clogging our streets and cities, giving rise to endless traffic jams and a chronic lack of parking – daily headaches experienced by many that cost the global economy billions every year. Even more pressing, however, is the damage that these vehicles are unleashing on our health and the environment. Mobility must therefore change – and quickly.

What is the future of mobility? When will we able to see autonomous electric and self-driving cars? Our Think Tank Podcast explains.

While we do not know what tomorrow will look like, we can be sure it will be different from today. The world around us is constantly changing and we struggle to comprehend the complexity of the trends that are developing around us. Some of these trends start small and do not seem meaningful at first sight. Eventually, they become so powerful that they are neither stoppable nor reversible once we recognise them. These so-called megatrends are often interconnected, making them even more powerful.

What the future holds for these innovative and inspirational trends that are meant to change the face of mankind as we know it? How mega events such as the Expo 2020 in Dubai play a role in providing a valuable platform for innovation and collaboration? Our Think Tank Podcast explains.

“Made in China” has evolved into “Made by China”, driven by the country’s shift towards a consumption-driven economy, policy support for home-grown champions, changing inter-generational preferences, and the one-off boost to domestic consumption from the Covid-19 pandemic. Chinese companies are also giving foreign brands a run for their money with insightful marketing, clever use of digital tools, superior supply chain management and quality product offerings.

Our personal well-being is highly dependent on the state of our health. That is why sages of the ancient world have long taught about the importance of the art of living a balanced lifestyle that combines fitness and health with emotional well-being and relationships. Despite the passing of time since such knowledge was discovered, healthy living remains as relevant as ever for the present-day world.

How do you want to live your life? It may sound a like a somewhat philosophical question, but individuals around the world are recognising that the planet can no longer support continued current rates of consumption. More and more consumers are balancing their buying decisions with their social, environmental and political convictions.

You probably have already heard something about cryptocurrency, or you may be more familiar with its most popular version, Bitcoin, which was the first decentralized cryptocurrency, introduced in 2009. Since then, many others have followed –there are now more than 6,000 different cryptocurrencies in circulation.

Eliminating waste and continuously using resources so that they last longer is the principle of the circular economy. Reusing, sharing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing and recycling can all help to create a closed system, minimising the use of resources and waste, as well as carbon emissions. Many industries are adopting a circular economy principle for their processes.

Even a year ago, who would have thought that Genomics and the manipulation of genetic material could deliver such meaningful impact? Then came the Covid pandemic and the astonishingly fast and effective development of mRNA vaccines. What would have taken decades has instead delivered results in less than 10 months. Technology is being used for gene editing, testing, and many other applications. Scientists now believe that Genomics, the study of genes, has the potential to revolutionize healthcare.

What would happen if our Internet connections were sabotaged? What if our activity trackers' information suddenly were stolen? Data breaches area a juicy business for cyber-criminals. You might not realize it yet, but they are just as dangerous as threats to our physical and personal security.