MACAO, May 23, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- The BEYOND Expo 2024 commenced with a spectacular
opening ceremony on May 22 at the
Venetian Theatre in the Venetian Macao. The ceremony brought
together global leaders in technological innovation under the theme
"What's Next?", delivering profound insights and unique
perspectives to kick off this tech event of the year.
The Opening Ceremony, hosted and moderated by Jason HO,
Co-founder of BEYOND Expo, featured an extraordinary lineup of
distinguished guests. Through fireside chats and panel discussions,
these leaders shared their visionary insights and groundbreaking
work in various fields. Jason HO inaugurated the 4th BEYOND Expo by
highlighting the current global uncertainties, economic downturns,
and the transformative impact of AI on industries and the
workforce. Despite these challenges, he expressed confidence that
with the right mindset, partnerships, and strategic platforms like
BEYOND, the community can collectively embrace and navigate these
uncertainties.
Highlights from the Opening Ceremony:
Fireside Chat with Robin ZENG, Founder, Chairman, and
CEO of CATL
Dr. Robin ZENG discussed the transformative potential of energy
storage, highlighting its critical role in stabilizing renewable
energy sources. He explained, "Because of energy storage, we can
store energy in the morning and use it in the afternoon and the
nighttime. This gives you more freedom to make timing differences.
You can even store energy for the whole year to use it later
on."
Innovation, according to ZENG, is the key to addressing current
challenges in the technology industry. He pointed out the ongoing
issues with electric vehicles (EVs), such as range, charging, and
low-temperature performance. "That's why we keep innovating new
technologies, which can really ease the concerns of our consumers,"
Zeng concluded.
Fireside Chat with GUO Guangchang, Chairman of Fosun
International
At the fireside chat, GUO Guangchang discussed the
sustainability of technology and startups: "Fosun has steadfastly
committed to 'Developing Business for Good' by using commercial
means to make society better. Fosun has been an
entrepreneurial company for 31 years, we have engaged in many
charitable initiatives and are enthusiastic about assisting
startups. Supporting young entrepreneurs is highly valuable.
Therefore, we have the Protechting Startup
Accelerator Program, which aims to empower young
entrepreneurs worldwide."
GUO also emphasized Fosun's commitment to ESG issues,
highlighting one of Fosun's public welfare programs that he cares
deeply about is the Rural Doctors Program. "We have long aimed to
support village doctors in caring for elderly and young patients
who cannot access large cities. These initiatives reflect our
commitment to making a positive impact on society."
Panel Discussion: Siddharth CHATTERJEE, UN Ressident
Coordinator in China and Jon
CREYTS, CEO of RMI
The panel discussion on climate tech featured two leaders in the
field. Siddharth CHATTERJEE highlighted: "We've seen a
crisis of health with the COVID pandemic, which showed the
fragility of human health and health systems. The second is a
crisis of the climate, which has upended lives and livelihoods. I
think what we need to do now is find a new multilateral space,
bringing together nation states and not just nation states, but
also public-private partnerships, to give velocity to the climate
agenda. Because quite clearly, that 1.5℃ rise may become completely
unachievable unless we get together to deal with it."
Jon CREYTS added, "We have to accelerate innovation, especially
in hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, cement, aluminum, heavy
freight, shipping, etc. These ideas are going to come from all over
the world, and we need to ensure that there is alignment between
venture capital, equity investment, and bank financing to support
these innovations. We also have to scale existing solutions. This
is the area where significant reform needs to happen so that we can
mitigate the risk associated with project pipelines."
Panel Discussion: LIU Qingfeng, Chairman of iFLYTEK Co.,
Ltd., XU Bing, Co-founder of SenseTime, and ZHANG Wen, Founder,
Chairman, and CEO of Biren Technology
The panel offered deep insights into the future of AI. LIU
Qingfeng underscored a fundamental principle in AI development,
stating, "The focus of AI development should be on building a
better world, not merely changing it. The future belongs to those
who master AI, rather than to AI itself." He addressed concerns
about AI's impact on employment, adding, "AI should evolve with
humanity, empowering individuals to become better versions of
themselves."
XU Bing highlighted AI's pivotal role across industries and the
necessity for a diverse global AI market. He emphasized, "AI's
development has a profound global impact, creating substantial
value across economic and labor sectors. This growth will foster
numerous new enterprises valued from hundreds of billions to
trillions of dollars, bringing disruptive innovations to education,
healthcare, social interaction, gaming, and entertainment."
ZHANG Wen added, "The gap in AI capabilities between
China and the US is likely to
narrow in the long term." He further elaborated, "Contrary to
concerns about AI development being too fast, I think the progress
has been too slow. The impact of internet is far greater than that
of AI. I believe AI will have a huge impact on humanity in 5 to 10
years, but in the short term, the impact won't be as
significant."
Fireside Chat: Neil SHEN, Founding and Managing Partner of
HongShan Capital
Finally, Neil SHEN shared his insights on embracing
uncertainties, which is also the theme of BEYOND Expo 2024. "As
investors, particularly in venture capital, dealing with
uncertainties is a constant reality. These uncertainties arise from
multiple sources. Our portfolio companies face inherent business
uncertainties, but broader challenges also play a significant role.
Financial market fluctuations can impact even early-stage
companies, affecting capital availability and venture funding."
SHEN further elaborated, "Disruptive technologies add another
layer of uncertainty. For our portfolio CEOs, the key is to
anticipate and strategically position for such uncertainties. Much
like adjusting speed to navigate potential hazards on a highway,
being proactive, staying ahead of trends, and planning
strategically are crucial."
He emphasized, "For companies aiming to establish their
differentiation, it is crucial to delve deeply into one area to
develop expertise. The first essential step is to become a dominant
leader in a specific field before considering expansion."
The BEYOND Expo 2024 opening ceremony set the stage for an
inspiring and thought-provoking event, driving forward the
conversation on what's next in technology and innovation. BEYOND
Expo will run from May 23 to May 25
at the Venetian Macao Cotai Expo. Themed "Embracing the
Uncertainties," the event will cover three sub-brands: BEYOND
ConsumerTech, BEYOND ClimateTech, and BEYOND Healthcare. The expo
is anticipated to attract industry leaders, innovators, investors,
and professionals from various sectors, to explore and discuss the
latest advancements in technology. This diverse gathering promises
to foster collaboration and inspire groundbreaking innovations that
will shape the future.
About BEYOND Expo 2024
The BEYOND International Technology Innovation Expo (BEYOND
Expo) is Asia's leading annual
technology event. Serving as a dynamic platform since 2021, BEYOND
Expo not only showcases global technological innovations but also
provides a unique opportunity to foster innovation upgrades across
diverse industries and regions. BEYOND Expo has attracted
participation from Asia's Fortune
500 companies, multinational corporations, unicorn companies, and
emerging startups. Through a multifaceted approach involving expos,
summits, and various activities, BEYOND Expo has successfully
cultivated an innovative ecosystem, propelling collective
development in the Asia-Pacific
region and the global technology innovation industry.
BEYOND Expo 2024 is being held at The Venetian Macao's Cotai
Expo, a leading conference, meetings and exhibition venue in
Macao. It is one of the largest
MICE venues in Asia and has
approximately 71,000 square meters of exhibition space. It features
six independent exhibition halls over two levels, accommodating up
to 5,000 exhibitors. It offers a wide range of flexible spaces, an
international team of professional event planners, and a one-stop
MICE solution with diverse facilities and services.
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SOURCE Beyond Expo