Business Engagement Session

Summary

This discussion focused on the intersection of sustainability, technology, and collaboration in addressing global challenges. The panel featured experts from various fields discussing how to leverage digital transformation and sustainable practices to drive progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Dr. Mohamed Al-Surf highlighted the importance of green certifications and sustainable design principles in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, particularly in data centers. He emphasized the need for a combination of certifications and innovative technologies to achieve sustainability goals.

Maria Fernanda Garza stressed the role of digital transformation in driving sustainability efforts. She emphasized the importance of data integration and standardized metrics in empowering businesses and tracking SDG progress. Garza also addressed the challenges of the digital divide and the need for a global approach to data governance.

May Siksik discussed the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in developing innovative solutions to global challenges. She provided examples of how the Canadian Innovation Network brings together diverse stakeholders to create holistic solutions in healthcare and other sectors, emphasizing the importance of responsible technology development and community involvement.

Throughout the discussion, the panelists repeatedly emphasized the critical role of collaboration in addressing complex global issues. They highlighted the need for multi-stakeholder approaches, involving businesses, governments, civil society, and local communities in developing and implementing sustainable solutions. The discussion concluded with a call for continued collaboration and the importance of forums like the IGF in shaping the future of digital governance and sustainability efforts.

Keypoints

Major discussion points:

– The importance of sustainable design principles and green certifications in advancing energy-efficient data infrastructure

– The role of data integration and standardized metrics in driving sustainability efforts and SDG progress tracking

– The need for collaboration and partnerships across sectors to address sustainability challenges

– Bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to technology

– Developing responsible and inclusive technological solutions that benefit underserved communities

Overall purpose:

The goal of this discussion was to explore how technology, innovation, and collaboration can be leveraged to advance sustainability efforts and address global challenges, with a focus on data-driven approaches and inclusive development.

Tone:

The overall tone was informative and optimistic. Speakers shared their expertise and experiences in a constructive manner, emphasizing the potential for positive change through collaboration. There was a sense of urgency about addressing sustainability challenges, but also enthusiasm about the possibilities offered by technological innovation and cross-sector partnerships. The tone remained consistent throughout, with all participants maintaining a forward-looking and solution-oriented approach.

Speakers

– David Okpatuma

Role: Moderator

– Maria Fernanda Garza

Role: Honorary Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce

Expertise: Global advocate for sustainable business practices and transparent progress tracking

– May Siksik (referred to as Maya Sik-Sik in the transcript)

Role: Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Innovation Network (now Innovation Network Canada)

Expertise: Interdisciplinary collaboration, healthcare innovation

– Dr. Mohammed Al-Surf

Role: Founder and President of Sustainability Professionals of Saudi Arabia

Expertise: Sustainability, sustainable design, green certifications

Additional speakers:

– Audience member

Role: Researcher

Expertise: Blockchain technology

Expanded Summary of Discussion on Sustainability, Technology, and Collaboration

This discussion brought together experts from various fields to explore the intersection of sustainability, technology, and collaboration in addressing global challenges. The panel focused on leveraging digital transformation and sustainable practices to drive progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Key Themes and Arguments:

1. Sustainable Design and Green Certifications

Dr. Mohammed Al-Surf, Founder and President of Sustainability Professionals of Saudi Arabia, emphasised the critical role of green certifications and sustainable design principles in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, particularly in data centres. He highlighted that data centres alone account for 1.3% to 3% of global energy consumption, underscoring the importance of sustainability efforts in this sector.

Dr. Al-Surf’s organization, which now boasts over 16,000 members from 95 countries, aims to export sustainability results globally. He stressed the need for a combination of certifications and innovative technologies to achieve sustainability goals effectively. Dr. Al-Surf emphasized that exporting sustainability results requires education and community building, highlighting the importance of knowledge transfer in global sustainability efforts.

2. Data Integration and Digital Transformation

Maria Fernanda Garza, Honorary Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), emphasized the role of digital transformation as a powerful catalyst for sustainability efforts. As the first woman elected to chair the ICC in its 100-year history, Garza brings a unique perspective to the organization’s efforts in promoting sustainable business practices globally.

Garza argued that data and analytics allow for informed decisions on resource use, enabling businesses to optimize their operations and reduce their environmental impact. She highlighted how digital tools enable sustainable product development and support the circular economy. Garza stressed the importance of data integration and standardized metrics in empowering businesses and tracking SDG progress. However, she also addressed the challenges of the digital divide, stating, “Digital transformation cannot be sustainable if it leaves billions of people behind.” Garza emphasized the need for a global approach to data governance, built on trust and cooperation, to ensure equitable access to digital technologies and opportunities worldwide.

3. Collaboration and Interdisciplinary Approaches

May Siksik, Chief Executive Officer of Innovation Network Canada (formerly Canadian Innovation Network), discussed the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in developing innovative solutions to global challenges. She provided examples of how her organization brings together diverse stakeholders to create holistic solutions, particularly in healthcare and projects involving indigenous communities.

Siksik emphasized the potential for high impact through interdisciplinary collaboration, arguing that bringing together diverse stakeholders leads to more comprehensive and effective solutions. She highlighted the importance of co-creation with communities for responsible technology development, stating, “We bring end users to this consortium, people who want to use these technologies or they say, okay, once the solution is ready, we are going to use it.”

4. Addressing Global Challenges and Inclusivity

All speakers agreed on the need to address the digital divide and ensure that technological solutions are inclusive and accessible to underserved communities. Garza emphasized that bridging the digital divide requires investments in infrastructure, services, and skills development. Siksik highlighted the need for innovative approaches to make technologies accessible in less developed areas, while an audience member suggested that sometimes simpler, locally-adapted technologies are more effective, particularly in African countries.

The discussion also touched on the importance of considering cultural and historical factors in data management and technology implementation. Siksik brought attention to the sensitive issue of data management for indigenous communities in Canada, highlighting the government’s reconciliation initiative to address past mishandling of First Nations data. An audience question about the potential use of blockchain technology for ensuring data privacy in indigenous communities further emphasized the complexity of these issues.

Areas of Agreement and Disagreement:

The panelists demonstrated a high level of consensus on the core themes, particularly on the need for collaborative and inclusive approaches to sustainability and technological development. They agreed on the importance of digital transformation as a catalyst for sustainability, the need to address the digital divide, and the value of interdisciplinary collaboration.

While there were no significant disagreements, the speakers had different areas of focus and approaches. Dr. Al-Surf emphasized certification systems and specific sustainability goals, while Garza focused more on digital transformation and global data governance. Siksik highlighted the importance of co-creation with communities and bringing diverse stakeholders together.

Key Takeaways and Unresolved Issues:

The discussion yielded several key takeaways, including the essential nature of collaboration and partnerships in driving sustainability efforts, the crucial role of data integration and digital technologies in advancing sustainability goals, and the importance of responsible technology development.

Unresolved issues included specific strategies for bridging the digital divide in underserved communities, balancing data privacy concerns with the need for data integration, and scaling successful sustainability initiatives from developed countries to emerging economies.

The panel suggested potential compromises, such as adapting advanced technologies to use simpler, locally-available components in developing regions and exploring the use of blockchain and other technologies to ensure data privacy while enabling data sharing for sustainability efforts.

Conclusion:

This discussion highlighted the complex interplay between sustainability, technology, and collaboration in addressing global challenges. The panelists emphasized the critical role of interdisciplinary approaches, digital transformation, and inclusive development in driving progress on the SDGs. As the world continues to grapple with sustainability challenges, multi-stakeholder forums like the Internet Governance Forum play a crucial role in shaping the future of digital governance and sustainability efforts, fostering collaboration and innovative thinking across sectors and disciplines. These discussions are essential for developing policies and strategies that harness the power of new technologies while ensuring their responsible and equitable implementation globally.

David Okpatuma: So, ladies and gentlemen, permit me to introduce firstly Dr. Mohamed Alsourf, the founder and president of Sustainability Professionals of Saudi Arabia, whose groundbreaking work and initiatives in sustainability and sustainable designs and green certifications have set benchmarks in the region and beyond. You’re welcome, Dr. Tharfi, it’s good to have you. And also we have Ms. Maria Fernanda Garza, who is the Honorary Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce, and she is an amazing visionary advocate for global standards in sustainable business practices and transparent work, transparent progress tracking. It’s so good to have you join us today. And last but not least, we have May Csikszentmihalyi, and who is the Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Innovation Network, which is a network that is heralding the emergence of newer strides of collaboration and partnerships for global development workers in health and other strides. It’s so good to have you join us on this session. So moving right into it, I will start by mentioning some of the areas that our conversation will focus on, and then address some questions to our speakers, and by the end of their speeches, we will be able to have some submissions from the audience, and probably directed questions to some of the speakers, just in case we have enough time for that. So our discussions today will focus on four transformative thematic areas. And this is one, investing in the future, building transparent metrics, bridging the digital divide, and establishing and adopting green certifications, which sets the benchmark for industry-wide sustainability. So through this dialogue, one thing we’ll be able to do is to exchange ideas, but also inspire actionable solutions, drawing from the wealth of knowledge and experiences represented both by the speakers and our esteemed listeners and guests. So before we begin, let us remember one thing. Sustainability is not merely a goal. It is a shared responsibility and transcends bodies, industries, and disciplines. Together we have the power to shape a future where technology serves humanity and the planet. So thank you once more for joining this session, and we are going right into the conversations. So I will start first with you, Dr. Mohamed. So tell us, please, how can sustainable design principles and green certifications, such as LEED and TRU, be leveraged to advance energy-efficient data infrastructure and clean technologies in Saudi Arabia and, of course, the Middle East by extension, while addressing the scaling challenges and promoting globally recognized sustainability benchmarks in emerging economies?

Dr. Mohammed Al-Surf: Thank you very much for this. Good afternoon. Thank you, first of all, for IGF for hosting us and this amazing event, which highlights the importance of the Internet and technology and incorporating sustainability into it. I come from a background focusing on sustainability basically in the built environment, but recently I’ve expanded to be a cross-sector professional, so that’s why we established the Sustainable Professionals of Saudi Arabia to cover all aspects we deal with on a daily basis. Internet is one of the technologies, again, permitted for expanding the knowledge and expertise. Looking at where we’re heading with Internet, with data centers and all of that, certifications come into a pivotal role to play in reducing our overall consumption of energy and greenhouse gas emissions. Just before I joined today, I was kind of like just refreshing my numbers and updating my figures about energy consumption, data centers, and all of that, and it’s quite astonishing where we’re heading, the trajectory of energy consumption from a global scale. But taking into perspective Saudi Arabia as one of the fast-expanding markets in all aspects, but mainly in Internet and data centers and AI, the energy consumption and the overall resulting carbon emission coming from it is going to be exponential. Globally, we’re looking at 1.3% to 3% of energy consumption just for data centers. So when we talk about sustainability, when we talk about the certifications, it’s not just about a typical or one certification per se, but what’s the main goal behind it? So the Green Building Certification for LEED, for example, it looks at different aspects, different perspectives, ranging from energy efficiency, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and all of that. There’s also the True Certification for Zero Waste. There’s the Envision Rating System for Sustainable Infrastructure. There’s Mostadam, which is the local rating system, and many, many, many other certifications. For energy itself, we’re looking at the Energy Star Rating System to certify that the equipment itself is energy efficient. So there’s no right answer or solution to go for. You can use a combination of any of these certifications, but what is the main goal? What is the KPI you want to look for at the end of the day? So looking at where we’re going and looking at the amount of equipment that we’re going to have in the near future, some of the targets are looking at 2030, and I’m pretty sure we’re going to reach those targets or KPIs before that, and Saudi has proven that they have reached several of their KPIs before 2030, including tourism and other sectors. So our target is basically to look at what innovations are available, not just from the certification point of view, but the energy efficiency technologies that we can have. The new innovations, for example, you know, emerged data centers that, you know, the rocks themselves are emerging and solutions that can actually reduce the energy consumption 30, 40 percent instead of just cooling down the traditional way. So there’s a lot of pieces to this puzzle, and it’s like these platforms, like these forums that we will discuss where are the difficult parts that don’t link together and try to solve the issues together. So you can stay days here to discuss this topic, but I’m interested to hear what my other colleagues have to say about this. Thank you very much for that submission, and it interests me because with some of the submissions you made, I basically have one follow-up question on that, because obviously we understand that you’re the first Saudi to basically be a faculty member of the U.S. Green Building Council. And based on that, it shows that some of the initiatives you implement here works, and with your over 9,000 members in the association you founded here, for example, how are you able to export your results? Because with the metrics currently, we have the Sustainable Development Goals targets having 17 percent success rates. So how are you able to mitigate this with your expertise and experiences as someone who has been able to achieve this level of results in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East? How are you able to export these results? It was a difficult journey, to say the least. As you mentioned, I was one of the first few in Saudi to basically tackle the sustainability industry, one of which was being the U.S. GBC faculty back, I think it was 12 years ago or something like that. A lot has happened since then. But several kind of, let’s say, obstacles have been, I’ve seen them over and over again. Is this good? Yeah, okay. Good? Can you hear this? Okay. So anyhow, the obstacles basically start with lack of expertise. And that’s why I approached to be a faculty basically 12 years ago. Lack of awareness, lack of initiatives that can advance people to really do something with their capabilities. You know, we’re not talking about rocket science here. You know, we’re talking about something that people, normal people can do and contribute to the industry. So over the years, educating the professionals. educating the public, it was evident that there needs to be a body or an entity that can be an umbrella to communicate all of the efforts that Saudi Arabia is doing and promotes the efforts done by either entities or individuals. So that’s where the Sustainable Professionals Association came into play. And the idea was taken actually adopted from the International Society for Sustainability And I became an associate with them again a few years back. I tried to get them to come to Saudi, but they don’t have that in their business model. So the other way around it was to actually initiate our own entity and become a member in that international association. So that’s what happened here. Now the numbers you mentioned are actually outdated. I need to go back and check all of my social medias and update the numbers. We’re actually beyond the 16,000 members from 95 different countries. So it’s not just Saudi Arabia. So that shows you how people are eager to find something that they can be part of as a community. And that’s basically SDG 17, the partnership part. So we’re over 95 countries participating in this association and it’s an open platform for everybody to contribute. And through this contribution, through this community, we try to kind of tackle the challenges that we find. And it’s not just for Saudi Arabia, it’s for the region, for the world. We’re not part of planet C or D, we’re part of one planet. So anything we can do here in Saudi and take it as a model and deploy it, export it to other entities or governments or countries, we are happy to have Saudi Arabia as your testing ground or as a platform that we can actually contribute to the rest of the world. That’s what’s happening now.

David Okpatuma: Amazing. And that submission just gave me the perfect motivation to go and get your book, 10 Steps to Become a Sustainability Professional. And I think that will be a very good read to help me replicate some of your progresses. Thank you very much for that. And next we will have Miss Maria Fernanda Garza. So as a visionary and a global advocate for global standards, especially in sustainable business and practices, why do you believe the integration of data is essential in driving sustainability efforts? How can standardized data platforms and transparent metrics, for example, supported by organizations like the ICC, drive sustainability efforts to enhance the SDG progress tracking, for example, and to empower businesses, particularly SMEs, while addressing the barriers to global consensus on data integration and accountability?

Maria Fernanda Garza: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. I’m so happy to be here on this so very important panel. As honorary chair of the International Chamber of Commerce, I represent businesses across the globe that are deeply committed to driving inclusive, sustainable development through innovation and collaboration. And just let me, for those of you who are not familiar with the ICC, let me tell you a little bit about it. ICC is a business representative of over more than 45 million companies in more than 170 countries. So we are basically the world business organization. And through our unique mix of advocacy, solutions, and start-up settings, we promote international trade, responsible business conduct, and a global approach to regulation. Our members include most of the world’s leading companies, but also SMEs like myself, and business associations and local chambers of commerce. ICC was founded in 1919, and for over 100 years, it has served as the voice of business across many international organizations and multistakeholder like this one. So today, I want to focus on the interplay between the digital transformation and sustainability. And I would like to highlight the shared responsibility that businesses, governments, and other stakeholders have to ensure that technological advancement really benefits the people and the planet. Digital transformation, we all know it is a powerful catalyst for sustainability, that it’s capable of reshaping industries and driving environmental, social, and economic progress. And at its core, digitalization enhances efficiency, reduces resource consumption, and fosters innovative and sustainable solutions. So one way in which digitalization drives sustainability is through data and analytics. The ability to collect and to analyze vast amounts of data allows businesses and governments to make informed and optimized decisions and resource use, and minimize environmental impacts. For example, the smart grids and the AI-powered energy systems can monitor and manage energy consumption in real time, improving energy efficiency and reducing waste. And this can be applied to everything from renewal energy integration to optimization of supply chains, leading to more sustainable business practices across all industries. Another significant area is in sustainable product development and circular economy. Digital tools like the 3D printing, the Internet of Things, and the blockchain allow companies to design products with longer life cycles, track the sourcing of materials, and ensure the products that can be more easily recycled and repurposed. So this shift towards a circular economy helps reduce waste and minimizes the depletion of natural resources. Digital technologies also empower better management of these same natural resources, from agriculture to water management. Today, precision agriculture uses the Internet of Things and AI to monitor crop, the health of the crops, optimize irrigation, and to reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers. So this not only leads to more sustainable farming practices, but also contributes to food security and improves livelihoods. But the role of digitalization in sustainability extends beyond just technology and innovation. As more people gain access to digital technologies, they can participate in the global digital economy. This can have far-reaching impacts, from improved access to education and healthcare to greater economic opportunity for marginalized communities. When people are digitally connected, they have the tools to unlock their own potential and to contribute to inclusive growth and social equity, which are key pillars of sustainable development. And the benefits are many and far-reaching. The key challenge here is ensuring that they are shared widely and that we manage these technologies responsibly, keeping sustainability at the heart of everything that we do. This means developing and scaling technologies that minimize environmental impacts while maximizing social and economic benefits. Businesses are leading this effort by developing innovations like AI, driven energy optimization, and renewable energy powder systems, but these must be supported by clear policy incentives and public-private collaboration. Data plays a huge role in today’s global economy, and it’s essential for running businesses, delivering government services, and fostering international cooperation. Simply put, data helps us make better decisions, whether it’s tracking progress on the SDGs, using resources more efficiently, or identifying gaps in connectivity. It is crucial for businesses, for governments, and for the communities to act with more precision and accountability. So that said, mistrust in data is on the rise. A lot of it comes from the complexity of understanding data, how it works, and the risks that are involved in handling it. There are also concerns about sharing data across borders that could impact national issues like security. like privacy and economic safety. And this fear is driving more countries toward data localization and digital protectionism, and these policies restrict the data, the free flow of data. While these policies may feel like they protect the national interest, they often lead to more fragmented Internet systems, which can occur to the economic growth and make cybersecurity even more difficult to manage. So to fully unlock the data’s potential, we need a global approach to data governance, one that is built on trust and cooperation, that really protects individual rights while enabling cross-border data flows to drive innovation and growth. Furthermore, digital transformation cannot be sustainable if it leaves billions of people behind. Yet the digital divide remains a start. Entire regions lack meaningful Internet access, and too many people face barriers to participation in the digital economy. So closing this gap requires targeted investments. First of all, we have infrastructure. We need to expand the resilient connectivity through diverse technologies that are tailored to the local needs and conditions. Also, locally relevant applications and services that are responsive to the unique needs of each community and are accessible in their own languages. And third, we need skills to equip people with the tools and the abilities that they need to really thrive in a digital world. And this is not just about connecting people to the Internet. It’s about unlocking human potential. It’s about creating resilient communities. Because when people are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy, the ripple effects are very profound. And new markets emerge, innovation accelerates, and societies prosper. So none of these goals, reducing environmental impact, optimizing data for sustainable development, or bridging the digital divide, can be achieved in isolation. Collaboration is absolutely essential. Business must innovate responsibly, investing in sustainable technologies and inclusive practices. Governments must create enabling environments with policies that incentivize green innovations, support digital inclusion, and uphold ethical standards for data use. And civil society must hold people accountable, ensuring that all voices, especially those from marginalized communities, are heard and are considered. The IGF exemplifies precisely this kind of multi-stakeholder cooperative that we need to address these challenges. It is in a space like this one where ideas can transform into actionable commitments and where diverse perspectives can shape a shared vision for a sustainable digital future. So digitalization has the power to accelerate our progress toward a more sustainable and equitable world, but this progress will not be automatic. It requires intention, it requires innovation, and collaboration at every level. So international cooperation rooted in meaningful multi-stakeholder input and evidence-based policymaking can help ensure that digital technologies are not only tools of convenience, but engines of transformation that will drive sustainability and prosperity for all.

David Okpatuma: Thank you so much for that informative and yet inspiring submission. And when you were making some submissions, some questions and thought comes to mind, and then the next comment you make answers them. So I was hoping to ask you some questions, but it seemed as though you kept on answering them. And that leaves me with one question. We understand that in June of 2022, you became the first woman to be elected as the chair of the International Chamber of Commerce. And my question now is a bit personal. Has there been any noticeable challenges for you personally in advancing some of the sustainability agendas you have? Personal agendas now, not corporate, because you already answered all aspects I was going to ask corporately.

Maria Fernanda Garza: Well yes, there have been many challenges. I come from a country that invented the word machismo, so you can imagine. But I’ve seen in the last years a transformation that Saudi Arabia basically, I mean, portraits so beautiful. You can see like in the past six years how much things have changed. So that really brings me a lot of hope for the rest of the world. Because if you can accomplish it here, if you would ask me 10 years ago, I would say that was not possible to happen. Then every country in the world can accomplish it, not only in gender equality, but also in precisely utilizing all of these technologies to improve the livelihoods of all the citizens of the world.

David Okpatuma: Amazing. So we will have one last speaker. And after that, the floor will be open to you amazing participants and audience to make contributions, ask questions, and hopefully we address all of these and come up with very good outcomes by the end of this session. So to you, Maya Sik-Sik, that name will stick in my head. The Dr. Mohamed, Ms. Garza, they all mentioned vehemently the concept of collaboration. So what does the Canadian Innovation Network do to advance these levels of collaboration to especially local, underserved communities, marginalized communities? How are you able to represent the voices of all sectors, not in their national or most popular forms, but even in hard-to-reach societies and situations? How are you able to do that in your network?

May Siksik: Thanks, David. Is this working? Okay. So the very first time I was really, truly exposed to interdisciplinary collaboration was through my PhD. So I’m an engineer by training, but my PhD was at the intersection of engineering, medicine, and biophysics. And it was the very first time that I really was exposed to interdisciplinary collaboration and the potential impact that that can have. So I won’t dive into what I did for my PhD, but one of my favorite topics, but that really got me thinking about what else can be done when we sit together, when the right team sits together to design a solution. So we used to be called, by the way, Canadian Innovation Network. We’ve recently changed our name as of several months ago to be Innovation Network Canada because we do want to be global. We’re not restricted to Canada. So Innovation Network Canada, we’re focused on addressing pressing global challenges using interdisciplinary and holistic, underlying holistic collaboration in a way that’s aligned with United Nations SDGs. And as you guys both mentioned, sustainability is not just a word. It really is, it’s sustainability and effectiveness of a solution go hand in hand together. So the way we address this with interdisciplinary collaboration is that we start with our goals. So I’ll give you an example. For example, so we’re quite active in a few sectors. One of them is healthcare. So we establish a consortium in healthcare in every sector that we have that has tech companies that can come together to provide a holistic solution. So not siloed approaches, right? We create these projects and we, oh, sorry. Sorry about that. Got a little too excited. So we bring these companies together. That’s one type of stakeholders. We also bring end users to this consortium, people who want to use these technologies or they say, okay, once the solution is ready, we are going to use it. We bring commercialization entities who say this is a fantastic solution. We are going to go and commercialize it globally. and we bring funding organizations to this. But I want to give an example of how we go about this. So for health, it’s really important that we start with goals and then go about achieving these goals. So for example, in healthcare, we know that we can have a lot healthier population with the technologies we have. We know we really want to cut down the cost of healthcare. We want it to be accessible to everybody, no one left behind, equitable, and inclusive. So we understand then that, OK, to be able to do that, we’re really one of the things that we need to do is to be able to provide a comprehensive picture of an individual’s health. So how do we do this? Then we look at, OK, what are the different pieces of puzzle of human health? We need to look at real-time physiological markers. How are our bodies throughout the day? We need to look at biomarkers, what’s present in our system right now, and what can these biomarkers tell us about our health right now and where we’re headed? We know that not only that we can do things like prevention and early detection, but we can actually, on a population level, we know where we are right now in terms of health and where we’re headed. So we can look at resources much more effectively and efficiently. We also look at brain health. We look at comics. And finally, we really need algorithms that can function all of this data to give us actionable insight and to do this in a sustainable way. So we bring in companies that address these pieces of the puzzle, right? So wearables, bring medical diagnosis, brain tech, and so on, genomics. And we drive these projects. So for example, create an app so that you can, one of the biggest challenges I know in health care in Canada, and I’m pretty sure it’s probably elsewhere in the world as well, about 40% of the population, by the way, on a global level has some sort of heart disease. Maybe not very serious. Some of them are very serious. So we have a chest band. So we replace a Holter monitor, which is cumbersome. It’s very expensive. It’s a device that you get hooked onto. We’ve developed a fabric chest band that you can actually throw in the wash. But it can do your ECG analysis for your heart. And it’s much cheaper. It’s people who are living remotely. And what happens is that cardiac event happens in your heart, which, like I said, about 40% of the population they get cardiac events. Some of them turn into something serious. Some don’t. But the key is that you want to catch these before they turn into something serious, because heart disease is really mostly preventable. So we can catch that without the user even knowing that something happened. We generate a report that goes to the users and tells the users what they have and sets up an appointment if needed, and so on. So these are the type of, I know I probably have talked for too long. Sorry about that. But yeah, so these are the type of product we were working on virtual. So it’s incredible to see what comes out when you bring people from different, like the right set of stakeholders. And I just want to say that it’s not just the tech companies. It’s not just the hospitals. You know, we bring together also communities and I could, it’s really, really, we’re big on responsible development of technologies must be an important aspect of interdisciplinary and holistic collaboration as well. You cannot have an effective solution if you don’t have, if you don’t develop the technology responsibly. So we actually, for example, work with any community that we’re developing a solution for, we bring them to be part of the solution. So we’re working with the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation in British Columbia. It’s one of the main nations in Canada, indigenous nation. And they are part, so we’re building a medical center for them, hospital, not for them. See, I’m catching myself. We’re actually doing it to get, so they’re building it. We’re doing it together. And they are part of the development. You know, they’re part of the say on what does the solution look like? How can we design it together? And what’s incredible is the last, I promise the last thing I’m gonna say. So what’s incredible about this is that once you do this properly, other things come out of this. So for example, this indigenous nation, they are building a school, their land, and we’re now helping design together their curriculum. We’re introducing quantum computing to the kids to be taught, quantum and pictures, and other things. So I’ll stop here.

David Okpatuma: Thank you so much. And that’s a quite unique angle to it. And after you gave the statistics about 40% of people living globally having a certain, I started thinking, so four out of every 10, interesting. We all should get our hearts checked or maybe get that device. But I have now one question in line with, because I understand by your experience, you created SAPIUS, for example, using AI to solve health challenges, your experience with the Canadian Research Council and all of that. I see how you are able to marry AI, research, and a lot of things that are in a way, very relevant to developed settings and societies. And now you talked about the globalization of your initiative and your network, so it’s not just Canada. So my question to you as it relates to countries that are not so advanced or might not be able to afford that level of healthcare or preventive measure is this. How has your experiences in leading organizations, like maybe even Deep Tech in Canada, for example, and the Quantum Algorithm Institute, for example, influenced your approach to fostering innovative ways to bridging this gap between civilizations? That’s basically it. And how is it, how are you able to employ your vast experiences in research to create market-ready technologies that are able to be accessible to even communities that are not able to afford it by other standards?

May Siksik: Thanks, David, these are great points. So I’ll address them one by one. So in terms of, we do wanna make sure that we give back to these communities. So for example, I’ll give an example of the medical center. We’ve designed part of the system is a digital wallet. So what we’re doing is, there’s a ton of incredible data, and every transaction, so we will be partnering with pharmaceutical industry, with financial institutes, and so on, to incentivize healthy behavior. And every single time we’re creating a market, what we call a market network for this system, where you can be matched with certain specialists, and people who do certain procedures, and people who do certain procedures, and so on. Every single time there’s a transaction, a little bit of money goes back to the nation. And again, also the users are getting incentivized. So insurance companies are, they will, we’re partnering with them to incentivize healthy behavior. Every single time we do any transaction, a little bit goes back to the community to give back. So that’s what we’re doing. And again, what’s incredible about this, by sitting together and co-creating together, by having the communities as part of this, it’s just unbelievable all the opportunities that come up to monetize things, and to give back to the community. Because they’re part of this. They can tell you, yes, we can, this is what we have access to, and so on. So, okay, so the other thing I wanted to mention. So you talked about how do we bring markets ready. Again, I’m gonna go back to trying to work on getting rid of siloed developments. And I wanna give an example here. So Triumph. Triumph is Canada’s national protocol accelerator. Like CERN in Switzerland. And so they’re actually, we collaborate strongly with CERN. So I’ve been working with Triumph for many years now. And Triumph, so prior to my work with Triumph, it was difficult. So you asked, what did you learn from previous organizations? So when I worked with the Quantum Algorithms Institute, there’s a quantum group at Triumph, and we collaborated together. And I remember the board of directors of the Quantum Algorithms Institute saying, you know, these guys are particle physicists, why are we collaborating with them? You know, like, this is where we. because the Quantum Algorithm Institute was focused on commercializing quantum computing in Canada. But people often don’t really look into this enough. Triumph develops algorithms. Yes, they’re used for particle physics, but they are amazing to be applied in other areas, and they can be commercialized. And there’s a, you know, commercialization arm to Triumph, but my board of directors at the time didn’t see this, and it was, you know, and when we worked on it, and of course it all worked out at the end, but just having that approach, seeing that interdisciplinary approach.

David Okpatuma: Amazing, thank you. Dear colleagues, one thing that has been repetitive in all your submissions has been the concept of collaboration, partnership for the goals. And with the little time left, the floor is now open to you to give your amazing responses, to ask your specific questions, and hopefully we get that done shortly. So please, by show of hands, does anyone want to make contribution or ask questions?

Audience: Okay. Thank you. I want to ask a question to the lady who… No, but we don’t have… You can just talk a little loud, it’s totally fine.

David Okpatuma: You can come closer. Yeah, yeah, come here. Come closer, and maybe you take off your headphones. Otherwise others can’t hear. I want to ask a question from you, because you mentioned about engaging the stakeholders, the community. How do you track the data? Are you using something like blockchain to see how the data is tracked?

May Siksik: So this is a really good question, really good point. So indigenous communities, I don’t know if everybody here heard, but data for First Nations in Canada was not dealt with properly a long time ago by the government. So it’s a big issue and it was on the news quite a lot, a while ago. And so we have a… The government has a reconciliation initiative, trying to fix things with the indigenous communities. But they’ve been bit by that, so data privacy is really big. So yes, we are using blockchain for digital wallets, for example, blockchain, based on blockchain. We’re using this technology to make sure that we are very careful with data privacy. Thank you. Sorry, I’m asking these questions because I’m a researcher. I’m interested to find out whether you’re using a specific blockchain. So we have different solutions, so we’re agnostic. But right now, for this particular medical solution, we’re exploring different… We have a few different solutions and we’re actually seeing which one will work the best. And it’s funny, again, this is a good point, because they are also involved in this evaluation. Thank you.

Audience: When you were speaking… Can you hear me? Yeah. When you were speaking, definitely, I agree with you, David, that as they would say in Sesame Street, the word of today is collaboration. I mean, we have huge challenges in front of us, but the only way we are going to be able to solve them is if we collaborate with each other. And your question about the solutions to underdeveloped or underprivileged communities, how to approach that. And I know that this is a technological panel, but I would love to give you an example of one of our members, a company in Norway that manufactures these chambers where they put the pre-born babies, immature babies, incubators. Because in some African countries, that is a huge challenge for the surviving of babies that are born ahead of time. And they were sending the machines, but after a while, they were not working and they were so technologically developed with all kinds of chips and things that they were really become not helpful for the community. So they put their hands, their heads to work and they said, okay, what kind of technicians do we have in these countries? What kind of technology are they familiarized with? And they found out that it was for cars. So they took parts of cars that they were able to fix very fast. And for example, they took the wiper system of the cars and the pump for the water for the windshields. And that is the kind of products and material that they use to develop incubators that can really work all the time, can be fixed inside and can really help the community. So sometimes, even though we have access to the best technology, we need to start lower our expectancies and really go and think how the local people think to really overcome these challenges. And then they will be able to continue developing.

David Okpatuma: Absolutely. Amazing. Amazing. So dear colleagues, I think we’re running out of time. And with a few minutes, about a minute left, I would just like to take the last comments from our speakers, who just in 30 seconds, say something. And we call this session to a close. Well, as you rightly said about what we are talking about here, it’s all about collaboration. And you can see the diversity of the panel and how we can actually combine our efforts together. So it’s just a matter of taking it forward and thinking locally, but acting globally. So I think that’s one message from my side.

May Siksik: I wanted to say that I always find that it’s always great to have a conversation with people around you. And it’s amazing sometimes what comes of random conversations. So it’s always good to chat to people that whom you work with, and different teams and so on.

Maria Fernanda Garza: Well, I really want to thank you for coming to the IGF, because this is the portrait of what the future should be for governance. This is a multi-stakeholder forum, where all the voices are here. And this is how we need to construct the policy for these new technologies and for the future. So thank you.

David Okpatuma: Thank you so much, dear colleagues. And just as a mode of announcement, if you’re interested in ESG, there will be another interesting session in Workshop Room 1 that will start now and last for about an hour. With that being said, dear colleagues, thank you so much for your attention, for your participation and for your collaboration. Thank you on behalf of the Digital Governance Authority of Saudi Arabia. And it’s my pleasure to have served as your moderator today. Looking forward to future collaborations and actions. Thank you. Thank you so much.

Agreement Points

Importance of collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches

speakers

Dr. Mohammed Al-Surf

Maria Fernanda Garza

May Siksik

arguments

Exporting sustainability results requires education and community building

Global approach to data governance needed, built on trust and cooperation

Interdisciplinary collaboration has potential for high impact

Bringing together diverse stakeholders leads to holistic solutions

summary

All speakers emphasized the crucial role of collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches in addressing global sustainability challenges and developing effective solutions.

Digital transformation as a catalyst for sustainability

speakers

Maria Fernanda Garza

May Siksik

arguments

Digital transformation is a powerful catalyst for sustainability

Data and analytics allow for informed decisions on resource use

Interdisciplinary collaboration has potential for high impact

summary

Speakers agreed that digital transformation and data-driven approaches are key drivers for sustainability efforts and informed decision-making.

Addressing inclusivity and accessibility in technological solutions

speakers

Maria Fernanda Garza

May Siksik

arguments

Digital divide must be addressed through infrastructure, services, and skills

Co-creation with communities is crucial for effective and responsible technology development

Innovative approaches needed to make technologies accessible in less developed areas

summary

Speakers emphasized the importance of addressing the digital divide and ensuring that technological solutions are inclusive and accessible to all communities.

Similar Viewpoints

Both speakers highlighted the importance of using data and metrics to drive sustainability efforts and make informed decisions.

speakers

Dr. Mohammed Al-Surf

Maria Fernanda Garza

arguments

Multiple certification systems exist, need to focus on main goals and KPIs

Data and analytics allow for informed decisions on resource use

Both emphasized the importance of considering local contexts and involving communities in developing technological solutions.

speakers

May Siksik

Audience

arguments

Co-creation with communities is crucial for effective and responsible technology development

Sometimes simpler, locally-adapted technologies are more effective

Unexpected Consensus

Importance of adapting technologies to local contexts

speakers

May Siksik

Audience

arguments

Co-creation with communities is crucial for effective and responsible technology development

Sometimes simpler, locally-adapted technologies are more effective

explanation

While the main focus was on advanced technologies, there was an unexpected consensus on the importance of adapting technologies to local contexts and sometimes opting for simpler solutions.

Overall Assessment

Summary

The main areas of agreement included the importance of collaboration, interdisciplinary approaches, digital transformation for sustainability, and addressing inclusivity in technological solutions.

Consensus level

There was a high level of consensus among the speakers on the core themes, particularly on the need for collaborative and inclusive approaches to sustainability and technological development. This consensus suggests a shared understanding of the complex challenges in sustainability and the potential of interdisciplinary solutions, which could lead to more integrated and effective approaches in addressing global sustainability issues.

Different Viewpoints

Approach to sustainability certifications

speakers

Dr. Mohammed Al-Surf

Maria Fernanda Garza

arguments

Multiple certification systems exist, need to focus on main goals and KPIs

Digital transformation is a powerful catalyst for sustainability

summary

Dr. Al-Surf emphasizes the importance of various certification systems and focusing on specific goals and KPIs, while Garza emphasizes the role of digital transformation as a catalyst for sustainability without specifically mentioning certifications.

Unexpected Differences

Overall Assessment

summary

The main areas of disagreement were subtle and primarily focused on different emphases rather than direct contradictions. Speakers generally agreed on the importance of collaboration, sustainability, and addressing global challenges, but had different approaches and areas of focus.

difference_level

The level of disagreement among the speakers was low. This implies a general consensus on the importance of sustainability, collaboration, and technological innovation in addressing global challenges. The different perspectives and approaches presented by the speakers complement each other rather than contradict, potentially leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand.

Partial Agreements

All speakers agree on the importance of collaboration and community involvement, but they differ in their specific approaches. Al-Surf focuses on education and community building, Garza emphasizes global data governance, and Siksik highlights co-creation with communities.

speakers

Dr. Mohammed Al-Surf

Maria Fernanda Garza

May Siksik

arguments

Exporting sustainability results requires education and community building

Global approach to data governance needed, built on trust and cooperation

Co-creation with communities is crucial for effective and responsible technology development

Similar Viewpoints

Both speakers highlighted the importance of using data and metrics to drive sustainability efforts and make informed decisions.

speakers

Dr. Mohammed Al-Surf

Maria Fernanda Garza

arguments

Multiple certification systems exist, need to focus on main goals and KPIs

Data and analytics allow for informed decisions on resource use

Both emphasized the importance of considering local contexts and involving communities in developing technological solutions.

speakers

May Siksik

Audience

arguments

Co-creation with communities is crucial for effective and responsible technology development

Sometimes simpler, locally-adapted technologies are more effective

Key Takeaways

Collaboration and partnerships are essential for driving sustainability efforts and technological innovation

Integrating data and digital technologies is crucial for advancing sustainability goals and improving efficiency

Green certifications and sustainable design principles play an important role in reducing energy consumption and emissions

Interdisciplinary approaches and bringing diverse stakeholders together leads to more holistic and effective solutions

Addressing the digital divide and ensuring accessibility of technologies for underserved communities is a key challenge

Responsible development of technologies, including data privacy considerations, is critical

Resolutions and Action Items

Continue fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration and dialogue on sustainability and technology issues

Explore innovative ways to make advanced technologies accessible to less developed regions

Work on developing global standards and approaches for data governance and sustainability metrics

Unresolved Issues

Specific strategies for bridging the digital divide in underserved communities

Balancing data privacy concerns with the need for data integration to drive sustainability efforts

How to scale successful sustainability initiatives from developed countries to emerging economies

Suggested Compromises

Adapting advanced technologies to use simpler, locally-available components in developing regions

Using blockchain and other technologies to ensure data privacy while still enabling data sharing for sustainability efforts

Globally, we’re looking at 1.3% to 3% of energy consumption just for data centers. So when we talk about sustainability, when we talk about the certifications, it’s not just about a typical or one certification per se, but what’s the main goal behind it?

speaker

Dr. Mohammed Al-Surf

reason

This comment highlights the significant energy consumption of data centers and shifts the focus from certifications to the underlying goals of sustainability efforts.

impact

It broadened the discussion beyond certifications to consider the larger purpose and impact of sustainability initiatives in the tech sector.

Digital transformation cannot be sustainable if it leaves billions of people behind. Yet the digital divide remains a start. Entire regions lack meaningful Internet access, and too many people face barriers to participation in the digital economy.

speaker

Maria Fernanda Garza

reason

This insight brings attention to the critical issue of digital inequality and its implications for sustainable development.

impact

It shifted the conversation to include considerations of inclusivity and equity in digital transformation efforts.

We bring end users to this consortium, people who want to use these technologies or they say, okay, once the solution is ready, we are going to use it. We bring commercialization entities who say this is a fantastic solution. We are going to go and commercialize it globally.

speaker

May Siksik

reason

This comment illustrates a practical approach to collaborative innovation that involves multiple stakeholders from the outset.

impact

It provided a concrete example of how collaboration can be structured to ensure solutions are both useful and commercially viable.

So indigenous communities, I don’t know if everybody here heard, but data for First Nations in Canada was not dealt with properly a long time ago by the government. So it’s a big issue and it was on the news quite a lot, a while ago. And so we have a… The government has a reconciliation initiative, trying to fix things with the indigenous communities.

speaker

May Siksik

reason

This comment brings attention to the historical context and sensitivities around data management for indigenous communities.

impact

It deepened the discussion by highlighting the importance of considering cultural and historical factors in data management and technology implementation.

Overall Assessment

These key comments shaped the discussion by broadening its scope from technical aspects of sustainability to include crucial considerations of energy consumption, digital inclusion, practical collaboration models, and cultural sensitivities. They moved the conversation beyond surface-level discussions of certifications and technologies to explore deeper issues of equity, purposeful innovation, and responsible data management. This resulted in a more holistic and nuanced dialogue about the challenges and opportunities in sustainable digital transformation.

How to export sustainability results and expertise from Saudi Arabia to other countries?

speaker

David Okpatuma

explanation

This explores how successful sustainability initiatives in Saudi Arabia can be applied globally to improve SDG progress.

How to develop a global approach to data governance that protects individual rights while enabling cross-border data flows?

speaker

Maria Fernanda Garza

explanation

This addresses the challenge of balancing data protection with innovation and economic growth on a global scale.

How to close the digital divide through targeted investments in infrastructure, locally relevant applications, and digital skills?

speaker

Maria Fernanda Garza

explanation

This focuses on ensuring equitable access to digital technologies and opportunities worldwide.

How to create market-ready technologies that are accessible to communities that cannot afford advanced healthcare solutions?

speaker

David Okpatuma

explanation

This explores ways to make innovative health technologies available in less developed regions.

How to use blockchain or other technologies to ensure data privacy and security, especially for indigenous communities?

speaker

Audience member

explanation

This addresses the need for secure data management solutions that respect cultural sensitivities.

How to adapt advanced technologies to work effectively in less developed settings with limited resources?

speaker

Maria Fernanda Garza

explanation

This explores creating appropriate technological solutions for different contexts and resource levels.