Yorkshire Science

Innovation Horizons Debate

New innovations in technology are re-shaping the global economy at a dizzying speed. As part of the BA Festival of Science, Yorkshire Science and Yorkshire Forward hosted a lively debate on how new applications of science and technology will shape our future. Listen below to the four debate speakers discuss the businesses opportunities and challenges presented by their technology area. The audience on the night voted for 'Assisted Living' as the technology area likely to have the biggest impact in the future.

Event Facilitator, Bill Boffin, Strategic Sector Champion, Digital Industries, Yorkshire Forward

Nanotechnology

Forecast as the next industrial revolution and with a predicted UK market of £25 billion by 2015, increasing awareness of micro and nanotechnology is vital for the UK economy. Dr Alan Smith, Associate Director, UK Micro and Nanotechnology Network, discussed this topic.

Communications

A quarter of GDP growth within the EU can be ascribed to ICT, with the latest technologies playing an important role in the competitiveness of many high value sectors. Professor Jim Austin, Director of the Advanced Computer Architectures Group, University of York, discussed this topic.

Assisted Living

The trends of an ageing population; increasing demand for - and costs of - healthcare provision are global and, as a result, offer UK organisations significant market opportunities. Steve Sadler, Group Technical Director, Tunstall, discussed this topic.

Sustainable building and production

Worldwide concerns about rising energy and materials costs, and awareness of society's growing impacts on the environment and global climate, are creating substantial opportunities for industry.Bill Dunstar, Founder, Zed Factory Ltd, discussed this topic.

Listen to the Innovation Horizons Debate (Click to open or right-click and choose "Save As..." to download