Opportunities & Challenges of the 4th Industrial Revolution with Future of Work

The aim of this event, in partnership with VentureFest Scotland 2019, is to explore how business and academics can work together to address the challenges raised by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and deliver benefit from the opportunities that will arise.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4Id) is set to transform society and how businesses are organised and innovate by using a range of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, digital fabrication technologies and data analytics.

The economic benefit is predicted to be huge, but challenges of this transformation include:

i) the agility of business to adapt
ii) meeting customers' evolving expectations
iii) skills needed by the future workforce

To address these challenges, new forms of collaboration are required, with this event an opportunity for businesses, academics, policy makers and others interested in the future of work to start exploring ways of working together.

You will hear from a range of speakers, including SMEs, large corporates, entrepreneurial and employment academics, as they give their views and experience on the identified challenges and how to adapt to them.

The agenda for the evening is as follows:

Keynote speeches
1: Tom Swanson: Chief Digital Officer, Atos

• Anticipating where the market is going when it comes to digital, the disruption predicted and exploiting the opportunity through innovation (AI and IoT)
• What needs to happen for Scotland to develop digital maturity?
• How should businesses adapt when technology is continuously evolving?
• What role can universities playing in the development of the 4Id?

2: Chris Warhurst: Director, Institute for Employment Research, University of Warwick

• How is it anticipated the quality, quantity and distribution of work will change over time?
• What will happen to skills in the future?
• How can skills and future work be developed to ensure we have the best opportunity for an inclusive workforce/society?

This will be followed by an audience Q&A and then a broader panel discussion which will include our remaining guest speakers:

Neil Campbell: Managing Director, CCRS Brokers
Scott Hurrell: Senior Lecturer, Human Resource Management/ Organisational Behaviour, University of Glasgow
Sarah Graham: iCL Consultant, Integrated Environmental Solutions Limited

Throughout the event there will be plenty of chances to network with those in attendance and discuss potential opportunities to work together on areas around 4Id and the future of work.

If you have any questions on the event or would be open to the possibility of collaboration, please get in-touch with Morven Fraser at morven.fraser@glasgow.ac.uk.