Franz Fischler, President European Forum Alpbach
Monika Eigensperger, ORF Radio Director
SCIENCE & INNOVATION – "FUNDAMENTALS" OF OUR SOCIETY
FOUNDATIONS OF THE FUTURE
For years now, populist, anti-democratic and otherwise backward-looking forces have been trying to delegitimize science and elites in general and equate fact-based findings with personal opinions. Fundamentally fact-based decision-making is important for our survival. In the corona crisis, political decisions were suddenly made on the basis of scientific findings.
More than 60,000 studies dealing with the corona virus, consequences of the corona pandemic and possible solutions are currently recorded in the World Health Organization (WHO) database. The expectations on pandemic research are high. However, basic research must also address other topics in order to use the versatility and robustness of the science system to lay the foundations for overcoming the crises of tomorrow.
The Technology Symposium made it clear that phenomena such as the current pandemic situation and the climate catastrophe by no means exist independently of each other, but have common causes and also direct effects on each other, as was shown, e.g., by the restriction of mobility. A shift towards sustainability in the mobility sector is urgently needed. It is important that new technologies such as AI are always used in such a way that they serve humanity and improve life. Organizing the European Forum 2020 was a challenge. I am therefore particularly proud to be able to say that there are strong teams behind our organization and also behind our partner organizations such as AIT and Ă–1, for whom innovative thinking and the constant reinvention of our event is an integral part of their work.
In this "exceptional year", the Technology Symposium once again addressed a wide range of topics that demonstrate the significance of this event as a "trend radar" and forum for future topics. The focus on complexity research, a trademark of the TEC, is of particular relevance due to the increased need for simulation and the translation of complex scenarios into scientific recommendations for political action. The surge in digitalisation triggered by the pandemic and the advance of Artificial Intelligence affects the foundations of our social and economic system. The fact that new "team solutions" of man and machine were discussed at the Technology Symposium in a "tandem" that does not blindly rely on AI solutions is an encouraging approach of technological maturity. How to not only use technology but also master it is one of the fundamental questions linking science and society. They require presentation and translation by the media. For many years, Ă–1 has been a partner of the Technology Symposium and offers a media platform for debating these current questions regarding the future in the fields of science, technology, and society.
Photos: ORF/Ramstorfer, ORF/Hans Leitner
Europe is facing many challenges. The climate crisis, which really hit the headlines only in 2019, is an example of a much greater threat than the corona pandemic. Climate change deniers continue to sit in high offices almost everywhere in the world. Lax laws still exist that offer environmental sinners a number of loopholes or opportunities for delay. An immediate, united and above all effective response from all countries of the world is absolutely necessary.
It remains to be seen how long the pandemic will be with us. But we will do our best again in 2021 to provide an ideal framework for building strong intra-European and international relations. For there is nothing more important for our future than mutual support and trust.
4
REVIEW #Efatec 2020
