WEF expands Fourth Industrial Revolution Network

Professor Hugh Brady, president of Imperial College London, said: “At Imperial, we have a proud history of turning cutting-edge research into real-world impact. Our Centre for AI-driven Innovation builds on this track record – convening partners from academia, industry and government to deliver scalable, responsible AI adoption that benefits everyone across society.”

Centre for Frontier Technologies, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: hosted by the Technology Innovation Institute, the Abu Dhabi Centre for Frontier Technologies will advance innovation in quantum technologies, robotics and space, while advancing public-private collaboration to accelerate the responsible deployment of frontier technologies and strengthen global competitiveness.

Dr. Najwa Aaraj, chief executive of the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), said: “As frontier technologies accelerate, there is a growing imperative and opportunity to guide their responsible and impactful adoption. This centre brings together research excellence, policy leadership and global collaboration in one platform, pushing the boundaries of frontier research and development, while enabling breakthrough science to move beyond the lab into real-world application. By translating innovation into responsibly governed, scalable solutions, we are reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s role as a global hub for science, innovation and impact.”

“As frontier technologies accelerate, there is a growing imperative and opportunity to guide their responsible and impactful adoption”

Centre for Intelligent Future, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: hosted by Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the Centre for Intelligent Future will focus on advancing global AI excellence by strengthening capabilities in research, infrastructure, adoption and innovation. It will convene leaders from government, business, civil society and academia to lead cross-sector initiatives, reinforcing the university’s role as a key driver of regional and global AI competitiveness.

“Through our partnership with the World Economic Forum, MBZUAI is launching the Centre for Intelligent Future as a global platform that connects frontier AI research directly to the world’s most pressing economic, social and human challenges,” said Eric Xing, President of MBZUAI. “By focusing on how AI systems interact with people, institutions and economies, the centre will help translate advanced algorithms into real-world impact, reinforcing the university’s role in shaping not only scientific and technological progress, but the future of societal development.”

Centre for Energy and Cyber Resilience, Andhra Pradesh, India: established in partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the Centre for Energy and Cyber Resilience will promote innovation-led approaches to the energy transition while strengthening cyber resilience across industries. Through pilots, consultations and knowledge exchange, the centre will develop scalable solutions spanning green energy systems, cybersecurity strategies and workforce development.

“This partnership with the World Economic Forum echoes our commitment to building capacity where the world is most fragile: energy security, cyber resilience, trusted digital systems and talent at scale," said N Chandrababu Naidu, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.

Together, the new centres will strengthen the global Fourth Industrial Revolution Network, bringing governments, industry and experts together around shared technology challenges. As the Network continues to grow, it will continue to support the responsible development and deployment of emerging technologies to address global priorities.