Horizon unknown: The age of exponential technologies
Few leaders have the insight, passion, and strategic foresight to make real, meaningful changes across industries and society. Dr. Zina Jarrahi Cinker is one of these visionaries, a globally recognized strategist in exponential technologies and deep science. She has spent decades bridging the gap between cutting-edge technologies and their societal impact and is living out her bold vision with her latest venture, XPANSE – the most influential exponential tech forum of the year, taking place November 20-22 in Abu Dhabi.
The core of her work is the idea that exponential technologies can change how we solve the world’s most pressing problems. But, as Dr. Cinker explains, it’s not just about the technologies themselves; it’s about building a network of visionaries, innovators, and decision-makers who can come together to make it happen. To serve this purpose, she created XPANSE, the global agenda-shaping exponential tech initiative, and forum hosted by ADQ, the Abu Dhabi-based investment holding company.
“Centuries ago, kings would send envoys to different lands to learn about the most exotic and cutting-edge developments of their time, translated from many languages and fields. That is what is needed now. Leaders need a credible source that is translating this news in the right way, so they know what is coming but don’t have to spend too much time on it.” Dr. Cinker says in a recent interview.
Dr. Cinker emphasizes that collective intelligence is needed now more than ever as advancements in quantum computing, neuromorphic technology, and genomics accelerate. XPANSE, in many ways, reflects this ethos—bringing together 2,500 of the world’s brightest minds to collaborate, share insights, and shape the future.
A transformative period in human history
Dr. Zina Jarrahi Cinker at the launch of XPANSE
We are entering a transformative period in human history, Dr. Cinker calls it “the age of exponential technologies.” Four key areas of human knowledge—nano assembly, quantum technologies, AI, and genomics—are accelerating one another, creating hybrid developments that are reshaping industries and society in ways we could not have predicted even a few years ago.
“At this point in the development of exponential technology,” she explains, “we can no longer follow predictive linear models, where we say, ‘in five years, we’re going to be there.” Instead, these technologies are converging and emerging at a pace that forces businesses, policymakers, and society to adapt quickly. Rapid progress in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and advanced genomics seems to happen out of nowhere, so many are caught off guard.
“We can no longer follow predictive linear models at this point in the development of exponential technology”
Businesses, legislators, and policymakers face new challenges and opportunities in this era. “You need to know what is happening on the horizons of all these different areas,” Dr. Cinker urges, emphasizing the need for decision-makers to understand how breakthroughs in one field might ripple across others. It’s not just about staying ahead in one sector; it’s about understanding how unexpected connections can happen between fields, such as how biological computation could solve the energy requirements of AI-driven technologies.
XPANSE: The most influential exponential tech event of the yearSet to take place from November 20-22 in Abu Dhabi, XPANSE is the premier UAE global exponential tech initiative, uniting the world’s most powerful voices, government, Sovereign Funds, family offices, and key industries. Hosted by ADQ, the Abu Dhabi-based holding and investment company, it is not just another tech event, it’s a blend of a powerful agenda-shaping forum and an experiential immersive design with multi-media and sensory experiences designed to activate opportunities and build strategic relationships.
2,500 world’s brightest minds, Nobel Laureates, industry leaders, policymakers, scientists, and entrepreneurs will gather to exchange knowledge on topics ranging from AI, quantum, and genomics to space habitats and organoid intelligence, all to tackle some of the world’s most complex and pressing challenges.
Key speakers at XPANSE:- Dr. Steven Chu, Nobel Laureate, Former US Secretary of Energy, Stanford University
- Dr. Anton Zeilinger, Nobel Laureate, University of Vienna
- Sir Martin Sorrell, Founder of WPP and Executive Chairman, S4 Capital
- Sir Ronald Cohen, Co-Founder and President, GSG Impact
- Honorable Cristina Gallach, Former Under-Secretary-General, United Nations
- Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO, TII
- Prem Akkaraju, CEO, Stability AI
- Carolina Aguilar, CEO and Co-Founder, @INBRAIN Neuroelectronics
- Shahid Ahmed, Group EVP, NTT
Sharing her excitement about XPANSE, Dr. Cinker describes the event on LinkedIn as “THE MOST ambitious, mesmerizing, and groundbreaking experience I have ever created in my entire career.” For her, XPANSE is more than just a gathering to talk about the latest developments in deep tech, it is a force for transformative change, bringing the right people and the brightest ideas together in a way that can actually make a difference.
Connecting deep tech entrepreneurs with UAE & global decision-makersThe Startup Pitch Competition is one of the key components of XPANSE, an opportunity for early—and growth-stage deep tech startups to pitch their solutions to UAE & GCC and global investors, industry leaders, and government officials and win $20,000 for the best pitch. This isn’t a competition about winning funding, instead, it positions startups as central players in the emerging landscape of exponential technologies in the UAE and globally.
Dr. Cinker believes deep tech startups have a powerful role in translating complex scientific breakthroughs into practical solutions that can help society. XPANSE will be the platform for these startups to gain visibility, connect with UAE and global decision-makers, and secure the resources they need to scale. “That is another reason why we create forums like XPANSE,” she explains, “to show the world what the explorers in the fields of quantum, 2D materials, fusion energy, and carbon capture are creating and how it will change the next chapter for cities, citizens, industries and societies.”
Why you should apply to the Startup Pitch at XPANSEThe XPANSE Startup Pitch invites early-stage and later-stage startups in deep tech to apply by October 15, 2024, to showcase your solution to UAE and international leaders and win $20,000 for your pitch. This is a rare chance to access strategic receptions and networking events to forge partnerships with influential investors and VCs from the Middle East, US, and Europe, including Quantonation, Shorooq, Curiosity VC, Plug& Play and more.
Whether your focus is AI, genomics, advanced materials, or quantum computing, XPANSE provides a unique platform to accelerate your startup’s growth and make your proposed solution a reality. As Dr. Cinker says, “XPANSE will be a place where decision-makers in industry and policy meet with the world’s brightest minds in exponential tech and deep science to look at how we can work together to shape the future.”