Track overview

Technological forecasting is essential for understanding the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and effectively preparing for its broad societal impacts. Track B invites submissions that critically analyse emerging AI technologies, methodologies, and applications, providing forecasts of their development and integration across industries and society. We particularly encourage papers addressing AI-driven disruption, ethical considerations, regulatory implications, workforce transformations, and strategic responses necessary to manage AI’s rapid evolution, including work on AGI preparedness and resilience. Contributions that combine rigorous foresight methods with interdisciplinary insights to anticipate the socio-economic consequences of AI are especially welcomed.

Key topics of interest

Submissions may include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

1. AI-driven Cybersecurity Threats: How might advanced AI capabilities reshape cyber threats, and what proactive strategies can mitigate such risks effectively?
2. Ethical and Regulatory Challenges of Autonomous Systems: What frameworks are necessary to ensure the safe deployment and governance of increasingly autonomous AI systems across a wide variety of applications/contexts, including in national critical infrastructure?
3. AI Impact on Societal Resilience: How can societies measure and enhance their resilience in response to rapid AI-driven transformations across critical sectors?
4. Managing Human Influence Risks from AI: In what ways might AI manipulate or subtly influence human behavior, and what preventive measures should be adopted?
5. Effective Evaluation and Forecasting of AI Capabilities: What robust methodologies can reliably forecast AI development and deployment impacts to better inform strategic decisions?
6. AI and Systemic Risks: How might AI systems amplify systemic risks across economic, environmental, and social domains, and what integrative approaches are necessary to anticipate and mitigate these risks?

We look forward to your valuable contributions and dynamic discussions shaping the future of technological forecasting and social change.

Innovation studies and the innovation systems literature have long emphasised how local entities—such as firms, universities, and local governments—interact and build networks to create niches within the global value chain, especially during the height of globalisation. These studies have been rich in insights, offering both structural and functional perspectives on how lock-in issues have been addressed, thereby enabling technology diffusion and industrial upgrading. They have also shown how innovation systems help different countries achieve goals related to development and societal well-being.

As we enter a multipolar world, innovation system studies stand to be further enriched or revised, as systems across countries, regions, and sectors are reorienting themselves in response to increasing global uncertainties. This track invites scholars who are exploring innovation and innovation systems that are adapting to this era of uncertainty, laying the foundations for competitiveness and sustainability. Researchers from diverse disciplines including economics, engineering, public policy, science and technology studies (STS), and others who are investigating the dynamics of innovation systems, technology systems, the economics of technology, and the role of technology in society are welcome to contribute.

Track overview

The increasingly unpredictable global landscape has highlighted the pressing need for resilient biotechnology and medicine supply chains. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities across all stages of these supply chains, from sourcing and manufacturing to distribution of critical medical products, diagnostics, vaccines, and biotechnological innovations. As geopolitical tensions escalate, nations are prioritising technological sovereignty and supply chain resilience through diversified sourcing, technological advancements, and innovative governance frameworks.

This track invites contributions that explore strategies, frameworks, and technological innovations aimed at enhancing the resilience of biotechnology and medicine supply chains against various disruptions, including geopolitical conflicts, export controls, trade restrictions, and unforeseen pandemics. Interdisciplinary research approaches encompassing biotechnology, healthcare management, supply chain management, public policy, international relations, and technological forecasting are particularly welcome.

Key topics of interest

Submissions may include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

1. Technological Innovations for Supply Chain Resilience

• Application of advanced technologies such as AI, blockchain, and IoT to enhance supply chain visibility, traceability, and security.
• Digital platforms and data analytics for efficient resource allocation, inventory management, and real-time monitoring of biotechnology and medical products.

2. Risk Management and Mitigation Strategies

• Frameworks for assessing and mitigating risks associated with supply chain disruptions.
• Development of contingency planning and adaptive manufacturing strategies to ensure the availability of essential medical supplies and biotechnological products during crises.

3. Geopolitical Impacts on Biotechnology Supply Chains

• Analysis of how economic interdependence, trade controls, and export restrictions affect biotechnology and medicine supply chains.
• Comparative studies of national strategies aimed at enhancing technological sovereignty, resilience, and self-reliance in biotechnology.

4. Public Policy and Regulatory Frameworks

• Examination of public policies and regulatory mechanisms designed to promote supply chain resilience in biotechnology and medicine.
• Analysis of industrial policy interventions aimed at safeguarding national health security and technological independence.

5. International Collaboration

• Opportunities and challenges associated with collaborative global efforts to secure resilient biotechnology supply chains.
• Case studies examining the impact of political tensions on cross-border partnerships and technological innovation in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.

6. Future Outlook

• Predictive analyses of emerging technologies and their potential to strengthen biotechnology and medicine supply chains.
• Exploration of resilience-oriented innovation models and frameworks for future technological development.

Over the past few decades, global value chains have emerged in a wide range of industries, providing growth opportunities for latecomer firms from developing countries while offering economic benefits to consumers in developed economies. However, events that occurred after the mid-2010s, including the U.S.-China trade war, the Covid-19 pandemic, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, increased policymakers' alertness over supply chain disruption, prompting governments in major economies to invest in more self-contained supply chains. The economic landscape that was previously characterised by fragmentation, specialisation, and agglomeration is changing now. This track invites papers that discuss the economic outcomes of the supply chain policies and their impact on technological development and the diffusion of knowledge. Papers investigating the rapid spread of the “supply chain resilience” concept are also welcome. We also invite contributions investigating the application of new technologies to enhance supply chain visibility and measure disruption risks.

Under such uncertain and changing geopolitical dynamics, Track D welcomes submissions which focus on the debate centred the changes of technology’s impact on geo-security, energy security, and economic security.

Potential target areas include:

• Technology changes’ impact on energy and climate change
• resilient supply chains, including food and critical materials
• adaptation to change and robust decision making

Key topics of interests

• Development of Technologies for resilient security and defence

How has technology been aligned with national security to provide state’s defence and security, economy and society to prevent or reduce potential threats?

• Conflicts and debate on Resilient and secure supply chains

Are there any conflicts to secure resilience supply chains especially in highly intertwined technology production?

• Human talents

How does the shocks from geopolitics impact on the human talents which might increase the challenge of human talent flow?

• Technology policies and governance

How do technology policies and governance respond to the forming of multipolar world?

• Responses from the supply chain

How do firms/industries respond to the ever-changing political challenges, including but not limit to tariff, export control, reciprocal sanctions?