Socio-economic development
Quantum Computing takes off: A look at the evolution of Quantum Technology and Patents
In 1980, the idea of a quantum processing unit was proposed. Such a processing unit doesn’t use the 1s and 0s with which we’re familiar. That “classical” way of thinking is the way we think, with a 1 for true and a 0 for false, and combinations—for example, a “false positive.” Quantum computing is based on a “superposition” of states called “quantum bits” or “qubits” for short. But there’s a big difference between the way we think and the way nature behaves.
Top Internet of Things (IoT) Trends for 2022: The Future of IoT
The growing Internet of Things (IoT) is connecting devices to a variety of sensors, applications, and other IoT elements to automate business processes and support human efficiencies in business and the home. IoT continues to change as engineers and companies discover new use cases and develop the infrastructure necessary to support more IoT networks. Read on to learn about some of the top Internet of Things trends of today and how they’ll impact the course of development in this field.
Ethical and Educational Marketing (ME2): Marketing for the XXII Century
Innovation Council member AVA is proposing a new trend for responsible, ethical and educational marketing, which will for the benefit of the consumer, providing a multidisciplinary vision focused on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals to positively impact society in terms of education, consumer protection, intellectual property and the future of society.
Environmental sustainability and a greener economy: The transformative role of 5G
A new Qualcomm report highlights the many ways 5G technology can achieve critically needed sustainability benefits and calls for joint efforts by industry and government to accelerate 5G adoption. The report finds that 5G can transform and positively impact industries across the globe by creating new products and processes that support environmental sustainability. Importantly, the report shows how 5G enabled sustainability is an economic opportunity with major potential for increased revenues, profit margins and productivity – as well as a range of other business benefits.
With 5G, industries and organization can increase their overall sustainability and competitive advantage by significantly improving greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, pesticide usage, and energy consumption.
South Korea launches task force on vaccine and lays out new approach to trade
With the launch of a task force on vaccine production South Korea aims to become the world’s fifth-largest vaccine-producing nation in the next four years. President Moon Jae-in said South Korea aims to become the world’s fifth-largest vaccine-producing nation in the next four years. Moon has pledged to designate vaccine development as one of the nation’s three strategic technology areas, along with those of semiconductors and batteries, and invest 2.2 trillion won (US$1.92 billion) in the next five years (read the full story here).
Furthermore, according to Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo, South Korea will present a new concept for trade in five important sectors, including pharmaceuticals. Korea will provide the necessary support to companies producing vaccines to enter the global vaccine supply and establish bases in countries where major vaccine producers are located. The country will seek to reduce tariffs on vaccines through partnership with World Trade Organisation member countries (read the full story here).
Tehran Municipality honors inspirational women of century
Many women in the history of Iran and especially in the last century have been influential in various social, cultural, political, and economic fields of the country and have worked for the progress of the country, Zahra Behrooz, head of Women’s Affairs Department of Tehran Municipality, stated. The proportion of female inventors to male inventors in Iran is significantly higher than the global average and even higher than the leading countries in the field of patents.
2021 State of the Union Address by President von der Leyen
In her State of the Union Address on September 15, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, emphasised the need for Europe to focus on long-term innovation priorities, and to connect them to key green and digital goals. She stated that the EU has the necessary innovation and science capabilities, but needs to create the right conditions to foster innovation. This is particularly important for Europe’s planned digital transformation and in regard to the growing demand for chips, she said, and should be addressed through the European Chips Act, which will invest in European technology sovereignty, strengthen global supply chains, and develop new investment projects for green and digital technologies as part of the European Green Deal.
Read the full story.
Call for game changing solutions for the UN Food Systems Summit 2021
WIPO Green is calling for game changing solutions for the UN Food Systems Summit, which will take place later this year. The summit is part of the larger process of pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals, and has the ambitious objective of transforming the way the world produces, consumes, and thinks about food. The process is guided by five Action Tracks, and the Summit will bring together key players from the worlds of science, business, policy, healthcare, and academia, as well as farmers, indigenous people, youth organizations, consumer groups, environmental activists, and other key stakeholders. The first wave of callsfor solutions has been completed, and a second wave is now active, with a deadline of April 30th. If you are interested, and would like to know more or need assistance, you are welcome to contact Peter Oksen at WIPO GREEN (peter.oksen@wipo.int).
As Locusts Swarmed East Africa, This Tech Helped Get Rid of Them
In 2020, billions of locusts descended on East African countries that had not seen them in decades. The cause? Unusual weather connected to climate change. Kenya last dealt with a plague of this scale more than 70 years ago; Ethiopia and Somalia, more than 30 years ago. Nineteen million farmers and herders across these three countries, which bore the brunt of the damage, saw their livelihoods severely affected.
Tech and crowdsourcing operations have proven useful in managing such locusts invasions more efficiently. The app PlantVillage, for example, uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help farmers in 60 countries, primarily in Africa, diagnose problems in their fields. Borrowing from PlantVillage’s blueprint, another app called eLocust3m was developed in just a month. The success to date of these apps shows that crowdsourcing and artificial intelligence can be absolute game-changers for hundreds of millions of people as we adapt to climate change.