Technology and its progress in society can therefore give indicators as to how well society is functioning or how inclusive it is. Innovation and technology can therefore be defined as a method, a set of means to achieve a goal, and are considered as progress as well as a risk, which in today's society requires more than ever that moral limits be set. In IEM teachings, our lectures focus on these topics and invite students to deepen their understanding and answer the question of how innovation and technology can contribute to a better world by supporting a better future.
These ideas seem obvious. But can we imagine a world without technology? Are current technologies not enough? Does a better world necessarily mean new innovations and technologies? At ScAIEM, we take the opportunity to bring together researchers, academics and practitioners to debate these ideas and to present and discuss emerging topics, education and knowledge transfer to support the idea of a better world for a better future based on innovation and technology.
Putting innovation and technology at the service of a better world is a complex challenge for our society: it is also a great opportunity for entrepreneurship. Environmental constraints are driving technological innovation in areas such as renewable energy production or use to increase economic and ecological performance. The trend in innovation and technology states that the wave of technological change triggered by renewable energy and other green technologies is opening up new perspectives. This allows for greater resilience to various environmental threats, the development of more robust and diversified economies, and a move towards better development trajectories with a lower environmental burden for all societies, both developed and developing. Green products can therefore reduce negative environmental impacts throughout their life cycle. This can be achieved by reducing toxic substances and materials in the composition of products, by reducing energy consumption and pollutant emissions, or by extending use and recycling practices.
Yet technology has an ambivalent relationship with ecology. On the one hand, it contributes to global warming because of its high consumption of resources, while on the other hand it offers a wide range of solutions to protect the planet. Importantly, it offers a wide range of solutions to protect the planet. It is then expected to push innovation beyond the performance and energy consumption limits of current infrastructures, ensuring a positive impact on the planet. IEM's objectives and role are to develop this debate.
In ScAIEM, we will examine the evolution of new technologies through innovation and the freedom and/or capabilities they enable, and then look at their possible negative effects on everyday life if they are not initially designed to serve a better world. Participants will focus on the most innovative ideas proposed and used in recent years, taking into account the role of new technologies and emerging scientific fields in maintaining a positive impact on society. In a world threatened by climate emergency and growing social inequalities, where do we go from here? Should we rush into technological progress at all costs or focus more on solutions that are already there?
Anticipating change: the world is changing and the world of tomorrow is being born before our eyes. Innovation and technology can improve working conditions and create jobs. Some jobs will disappear but others will emerge and 60% of the jobs that will be recruiting in 2035 do not yet exist. This is certainly one of the challenges of the economy: to anticipate and prepare for the impact of innovation and technology on businesses. A message that also applies to our universities, which must anticipate the needs of the future by putting in place an ethical reflection on innovation and technology for a better world.
The conference will cover (but is not limited to) topics related to innovation and technology that contribute to sustaining a better world. We invite the submission of work-in-progress papers, proposals for roundtable discussions, workshops, and other activities related to mission-oriented teaching and research within IEM. We aim for an open and inclusive discussion where a multiplicity of perspectives and voices are warmly welcome, not only from senior and junior scholars but also from students, and other industry stakeholders.
A new element of ScAIEM conference will the invitation to publish in a range of international journals / calls for book chapters, we’ll keep you posted on this new publishing opportunity innovation for ScAIEM 2023.
Warm welcome!