Insights from the: 8TH ANNUAL INNOVATE RALEIGH SUMMIT,‘THE TRIANGLE 2050’

This year Innovate Raleigh led a conference looking at the future of region by exploring how global trends like climate change, population growth, and AI will impact the region over the next 30 years. It was a great conference discussing the future of sustainable development, entrepreneurship, and technology. Specifically the theme around how forward-thinking leadership and innovative thinking are paramount to the community’s success. This Summit served as a catalyst for ideas for innovation and connected to the work of the many partners in the region. Here was some key agenda items and points shared at conference that stood out:

• THE CITY OF TOMORROW: A NEW APPROACH FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH
• CAN CITIES BE ENGINES OF SUSTAINABILITY? THE CHALLENGE OF LIVING ON EARTH IN THE AGE OF HUMANS
• CITIES OF THE FUTURE: INNOVATIONS IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
• THE FUTURE OF INNOVATION

Key Points Shared:

• Think of our impact on environment. Global warming? Three impacts of our growing CO2 levels impacting climate change is earth gets warmer, it rains harder, and seas rise. In addition, consider impacts on human health due to longer higher temperatures that impact productivity and result in more insect borne illnesses from those that breed in hotter weather scenarios. The key to fight this is reducing fossil fuel burning like the fossil fuel plants alongside electricity and heat systems based on fossil fuels and 300 million cars burning this fuel.
• Think about what future we will choose based on our choices? Think of the consequences. Make good changes now to have better future later.
• Look for opportunities to walk more in your city and find the bike and walk paths to utilize for better and healthier ways to transit. Plus encourage your city to do more to support better pathways for pedestrians versus favoring car transit. In 1946 1/3 of Americans walked, biked, or took public transit to work. And travel between cities was mostly by train. Only 50% of people had cars. Think about un-building our transit mistakes and going back to more sustainable and efficient healthier travel.
• How innovation can help cities achieve inclusive and sustainable growth? Provide innovations that scale and cover needs of all constituents. Ensure robust public engagement to educate, communicate, and get people involved in new projects that impact work and living. 

​Local thought leaders who are tackling evolving challenges in entrepreneurship and innovation shared how their work is contributing to a more equitable and sustainable future for the region. Here is some wisdom shared:

• The fashion industry making billions of clothing items result in some of the worst waste water problems like toxic sludge. (ie. 5-10 tons a day from some manufacturing). Through innovations like SeaChange Technologies, waste water and pollution can be reduced while creating re-usable particles. In some cases, 50% reduction in pollution through implementing new technologies during production process.

• New clean tech offerings improving environment, health for people, and generating new jobs. 24+% industry growth in clean tech and leading the number of new patents being generated.  Some new innovations include, creating micro grids and using wind power to create electricity for 15,000 people in Alaska. Self-charging buses that can drive on battery with charging system. Stop to let people off and within 15 seconds of stop, the bus can be re-charged. 

• This is our time to be brave, courageous, and follow what you believe is right.
• Growth of population in city centers is not the problem. Ignoring the growth is the problem.If you adopt and change, new opportunities open up.
• Best practice is to engage with your community to educate and inform. Then engage the public to get informed feedback and help influence in ways best for people.
• Balance both "Equality and Equity" so all sides impacted by actions are covered and have fair share with a voice and participation in cause & effects from changes.

• Ecosystem Building:  Think of nature as best example of community. The plants and animals within mother earth working together to help all in that forest thrive. This is the way ecosystems of people and companies in communities can thrive too.
• Think how you can contribute to all people and companies around you so all grow and thrive. A rising tide floats all boats. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Think big picture and team work. We are all in this together!
• The Gig Economy:  53 Million Americans are independent work force. Consultants. 61% do so by choice. It's a new powerful workforce! 42% of freelancers do so for flexibility and control over life and family.  Gig economy is now a $200B industry!
• Key to success in your consulting and contracting work is networking and continuous learning and growing. 

Overall a great conference with excellent panel discussions, keynote lectures, and presentations connecting great leaders and participants in all various aspect of work in region creating great dialogue about the most important elements that will contribute to our community’s success. Thank you Bridget and Innovate Raleigh team for setting this up and all the wonderful speakers and moderators!