The VIII Global Energy Prize Summit will take place at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany, on April 10, 2019. Under the heading “Energy in the new technological cycle” world-leading scientists, politicians and industry experts from 13 countries will meet to discuss the most pressing energy and climate challenges of today. Within the framework of this topic, a panel session and several round tables will be held at the Summit.
World experts share the view that humanity is on the threshold of a new technological cycle, which entails changes in the main spheres of society. Undoubtedly, the transition to a new stage is not possible without efficient, reliable and safe energy. Are the world community and modern infrastructure facilities ready for large-scale transformations? The participants of the panel session "Energy in the new technological cycle" will consider the obstacles to transitioning to a new paradigm, the trends of the future of energy, and how humanity will benefit from this next industrial revolution.
In addition, experts will identify ways to achieve universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy sources for all, which the UN defines as one of the key goals of sustainable mankind`s development. According to the UN, one in five people worldwide does not have access to electricity. More than a billion people, mostly in rural areas, suffer from "energy hunger". The round table "Energy requirements for sustainable development" will consider the environmental, economic, and social aspects of achieving global energy goals and the role of international energy cooperation in this regard.
The need to determine these factors today is dictated, among other things, by the fact that the scale of change and the complexity of implementing the solutions that the current industrial revolution will require is different from previous global transformations. This revolution is characterized by full automation of production, the growing role of robotics and artificial intelligence, as well as the increasing interconnection between people and machines. The introduction of cyber-physical systems and the digitalization of production processes will not only lead to significant changes in traditional industries, but also to the creation of entirely new sectors of the economy.
Do we expect the revolution, or do we already live in it? What changes do we need to prepare for? Will robots and unmanned equipment be able to replace humans? Which projects of the future are already being implemented today? The experts at the round table on the fourth industrial revolution will answer these questions, among others, and consider the impact of the new technological reality on the energy sector.
"Our generation is witnessing global technological changes that will affect all spheres of society. The scale of these changes is comparable to the invention of the steam engine, the first computer technology, the world wide web. We live in a period of transition. Technology is changing faster than ever, creating new challenges, including in the energy sector. We need to be prepared to accept the demands of the new era. For these purposes, it is necessary to develop a common strategy of action. I am convinced that our Summit as a permanent communication platform will help to find solutions to these issues and will contribute to the development of energy dialogue, in which the leading role is assigned to scientists-developers of advanced technologies," said the Acting President of the Global Energy Association Alexander Ignatov.
In addition to the discussion part of the Summit, the Global Energy Association will also present its new Global Energy Youth Program. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has previously expressed interest in the project and is already selecting its students to participate in it. The best researchers of the KIT will present their scientific work to the Global Energy Association`s experts and will receive meaningful assessments of their works. The authors of the best projects will get a chance to be one of the first to join the Global Energy Youth Program.