davosdubai08

Here is the full text of speech by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, addressing participants at the World Economic Forum’s Summit on the Global Agenda.

The activities of a Global Agenda Council are structured around 4 annual meetings: 3 of them carried out virtually, and the fourth a physical meeting during the Summit on the Global Agenda (i.e the upcoming Dubai summit).

Each member of Global Agenda Councils should provide a written summary of his/her most compelling idea of the year in around 800 words.

Dr. Daniel Sperling is recognized as a leading international expert on transportation technology assessment, and energy and environmental aspects of transportation. He is the Director of Institute of Transportation Studies and Acting Director of Energy Efficiency Center. (He is a Professor of Transportation Engineering and Environmental Policy at University of California, Davis). He exclusively talks to DubaiBeat.com before attending the World Economic Forum’s Summit on the Global Agenda here in Dubai.

Would you please tell us a bit about the background of your relationship with the World Economic Forum and your participation in the upcoming Summit on the Global Agenda?

I was honored to be chosen by the WEF to chair the “Future of Mobility” Council. Some key issues my Council will address include:

· Rapid motorization and its impact on cities:
· Oil dependency
· Impact of mobility on global climate change:
· Role of innovation and emerging technologies, especially the use of “intelligent transportation systems”
· Safety, security and equity.
· Restructuring the mobility industries (responding to financial duress in the automotive and airline industries)
· Innovative and effective policies to improve mobility while protecting the environment
· Transport infrastructure challenges (including under-investment in transport infrastructure)
· Freight transport issues within cities and between cities and countries

What specific area is your focus and how do you say it can help improve state of the world?

I am a professor of transportation engineering and environmental policy at University of California, Davis and a board member of the California Air Resources Board. My research and policy responsibilities are devoted to improving environmental quality while also improving mobility. My new book, Two Billion Cars: Driving Toward Sustainability (Oxford University Press) addresses these issues.

What do you think about the city of Dubai, the host for this summit?

I’ve never been there, but have heard many amazing things about the city, and thus look forward to the adventure with great enthusiasm.

Related:
- Interview with Journalism Professor and Blogger, Jeff Jarvis
- Interview with Silicon Valley Entrepreneur, Jim Fruchterman
- Davos in Dubai – this weekend

Membership in each Global Agenda Council (GAC) is on an annual basis and by invitation-only. Membership can be renewed year after year depending on engagement and relevance of the member.

Jim Fruchterman is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur. An engineer turned social entrepreneur, he is a former rocket scientist, founded two of the foremost optical character recognition companies, and developed a successful line of reading machines for the blind. He now runs his own nonprofit technology company, Benetech. (He also won the 2006 MacArthur Fellowship, the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship in 2004 and 2006.) He exclusively talks to DubaiBeat.com before attending the World Economic Forum’s Summit on the Global Agenda here in Dubai.

Would you please tell us a bit about the background of your relationship with the World Economic Forum and your participation in the upcoming Summit on the Global Agenda?

I was award the Schwab Award for Social Entrepreneurship (Prof. Klaus Schwab is the founder of the WEF) in 2003. I have had the honor of attending the Annual Meeting in Davos five times, as well as regional summits in Africa and India. My organization, Benetech, is one of Silicon Valley’s leading nonprofit organizations, with a mission of bringing technology to all of humanity. I am part of the Global Agenda council on philanthropy.

What specific area is your focus and how do you say it can help improve state of the world?

We serve people with disabilities, as well as human rights and environmental groups. We believe that technology helps disadvantaged communities just as it helps those with great advantages.

What do you think about the city of Dubai, the host for this summit?

I’m quite looking forward to my first visit to Dubai!

Related:
- Interview with Journalism Professor and Blogger, Jeff Jarvis
- Davos in Dubai – this weekend

Jeff Jarvis is a journalism professor at the City University of New York and writes the media and news blog BuzzMachine.com. A founding editor of Entertainment Weekly, he is consulting editor of Daylife, a news startup. He writes a new media column for The Guardian and consults for media companies. He exclusively talks to DubaiBeat.com before attending the World Economic Forum’s Summit on the Global Agenda here in Dubai.

Would you please tell us a bit about the background of your relationship with the World Economic Forum and your participation in the upcoming Summit on the Global Agenda?

I was lucky enough to get involved with the WEF when they asked for some help in opening up the annual meeting in Davos to the conversation on blogs and the internet. That led to the Davos Conversation Page, which in turn led to more videos at the conference (last year, with YouTube playing a central role there). As a result, I've been able to go to the last two annual meetings and I wouldn't miss them for the world. I come away with new perspectives on the world and with inspiration (much of which found its way into my book, What Would Google Do?, which is coming out in English in January). A few months ago, Prof. Klaus Schwab announced that the WEF would create its Global Agenda Councils and I'm lucky again to be included.

What specific area is your focus and how do you say it can help improve state of the world?

I am in a group devoted to the future of the internet, which is rather intimidating considering that the council also includes people who helped create the internet and some of its greatest institutions. I think the WEF stands in an excellent position to demonstrate to nations and companies the value of ubiquitous, broadband, open internet access leading to economic development, education, entrepreneurism, involved citizens, and free speech.

What do you think about the city of Dubai, the host for this summit?

I've never been to Dubai and so I'm delighted to be coming and don't know exactly what to expect except surprises.

Related:
- Interview with Silicon Valley Entrepreneur, Jim Fruchterman
- Davos in Dubai – this weekend

This weekend, Dubai is going to be the host to an important event: 800 of the world’s smartest people are going to gather in a summit called “Summit on the Global Agenda” organized by the World Economic Forum, the organization famous for its annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland.

DubaiBeat.com is proud to be officially accredited by the World Economic Forum to cover this event. What has this summit got to do with PE and VC in the Middle East? We believe PE and VC are essentially about innovation and finding the next big thing; and the Summit on the Global Agenda has a similar mission: brainstorming and setting priorities for the most compelling ideas for improving the state of the world.

We will keep you updated about participants, themes and ideas in the next couple of days. Stay tuned!

Related:
- Interview with Silicon Valley Entrepreneur, Jim Fruchterman
- Interview with Journalism Professor and Blogger, Jeff Jarvis