I just accepted the invitation of the World Bank to speak in the World Bank funded International Consortium on Applied Bioeconomy Research. The theme for this year is titled “Disruptive Innovations, Value Chains and Rural Development”. My presentation would be part of the plenary.

In inviting me, the invitation noted ” While a major component of the conference will be the presentation of research on the economics of innovation, we are also looking for a few key innovators like you who can talk to us from the perspective of an entrepreneur.”

THE 22th ICABR CONFERENCE

The World Bank, Washington DC | June 12-15, 2018

DISRUPTIVE INNOVATIONS, VALUE CHAIN AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

About the conference

Multiple changes in the structure of the food system and agriculture raise new opportunities and challenges for the agricultural sector.  In the developing world, these changes started in Asia and Latin America, and are rapidly emerging in Africa. Urbanization and increased urban demand for food, fiber, and fuel present new market opportunities for farmers, entrepreneurs, and agribusiness in the developing world. Growing concerns over climate change, pollution and food safety are reflected in increasing consumer demand for environmental services from agriculture, electricity and fuel from biomass, and improved food quality from the food and agricultural sector.  Failure to adapt to these changes may cause the rural sector and smallholder farmers to fall further behind.

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The ICABR Conference on “Disruptive Innovations, Value Chains and Rural Development”organized in partnership with the World Bank, will serve as a multidisciplinary forum of discussion to facilitate interactions between leading academics, World Bank staff, policymakers, government experts, civil society organizations, private-sector representatives, and representatives of other international organizations to showcase the present frontier knowledge on these issues.

With the amalgam of many emerging technologies in the market, companies are facing pressure to adopt and deploy something to be seen as trendy and innovative. Yes, technologies like blockchain, AI, and big data would transform industries and disrupt industrial architectures, fixing frictions along the way while creating new bases of competitions.

To help our clients in the Fasmicro Group, we have come up with what we call Symphonic Innovation. Simply, Symphonic Innovation is innovation that is not domain-specific, but is anchored on a unified and harmonious approach in the deployment of technology components to accelerate productivity gains and cushion competitiveness. With Symphonic Innovation, you do not deploy and launch for blockchain only to be tripped by AI or big data; you launch with a mindset that these technologies are like extended musical compositions which must be carefully organized to make the orchestra an unforgettable experience.

Indeed, a symphony where the beginning is unborn even though the end was already celebrated. With that, you would not have any regret because all sources of technology-induced challenges are eliminated.

We are in town.