In 2008 at the NASA Research Park in Mountain View, California, innovators Ray Kurzweil and Peter H. Diamandis, with program funding from organizations that included Google, Deloitte, and UNICEF, launched Singularity University (SU). This is not a traditional university. SU is a think tank for technology experts, social entrepreneurs and futurists. Together, the members and leaders of SU hope to shape a better future for humankind.
In 2017 SU came to Canada (SingularityU Canada). According to a press release, “Change is happening at an accelerated rate. Many of the changes are a result of the exponential speed of technological advancement. The challenge with this kind of change is that once the underlying trajectories are obvious, it’s too late: the tipping point has been reached… Organizations from the public and the private sector, from different industries and across the country, all came together to bring Singularity University to Canada. Our first Summit (2017) brought 1,300 leaders to Toronto for two days of strategic conversations about our collective future.”
Now, SU Canada is gearing up for The Summit 2019, which will take place in Edmonton on April 23 & 24.
“Following on from the success of our inaugural Summit in 2017, we are really hoping to expand the conversation by helping to share the best of Canadian and international technology, innovation, and the big ideas that are shaping our world today and in the future,” said Oren Berkovich, SingularityU Canada president & CEO.
“The summit is devoted to reinforcing Canada’s global role as a key technological innovator. It aims to give a deeper understanding of how exponential technology will benefit nearly every aspect of our daily lives,” the press release notes. “Attendees can listen to and participate in expert panel presentations and open discussions; work and play with product demos that let you experience the future today; meet like-minded forward-thinkers, and join a growing network of thought leaders, trailblazing practitioners, and impact startups.”
This year’s summit will focus on energy, health, citizenship, and prosperity. Topics and demonstrations will centre on the impact artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and digital medicine will have on our lives and our world.
The first round of speakers for The Summit 2019 has been announced and will include: Dr. Irwin Adam (Future of Food), Dr. David Bray (Cybersecurity), Anne Connelly (Blockchain), Dr. Philip Marc Edgcumbe (Exponential Medicine), Suzanne Gildert (AI and Robotics), Jane Kearns (Clean Tech), Jeffrey Rogers (Leadership and Innovation), Dr. Tiffany Vora (Exponential Health), Shawn Kanungo (Innovation), Pascal Finette (Corporate Innovation) and Matthew Spoke (Blockchain).
Guests of The Summit 2019 have the opportunity to listen and participate in the presentations and play with futuristic prototypes, while networking with some of the brightest and most influential minds on the planet.
This is a highly sought after event. Less than half of the 1,000 tickets remain available. To secure your spot, visit sucanada.org/summit2019/#register.
Learn more about SU Canada online at sucanada.org, on Facebook and Twitter @SingluarityUCanada, or LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/singularityu-canada.
