Ursula von
der Leyen
Welcomes
Technology
Collaboration
Labs
Sustainable
Finance
Goals
DECEMBER 2024
WORLD FUTURE
FORUM
A N E W B E G I N N I N G
A game-changer
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INNOVATORS MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2024 | 3
WELCOME/CONTENTS
Welcome from
the editor
l
Labelled “a conversation that
will define tomorrow’s world”
the inaugural World Future Forum in
Lisbon might be the disruptor, the new
beginning, the global financial system
needs to compound with technology and
deliver a better future for all.
Welcoming the launch of the event,
President of the European Commission,
Ursula von der Leyen, hailed the Forum’s
new Technology Collaboration Labs,
dynamic hubs where the focus is going
to be on interdisciplinary teamwork and
ensuring that technological innovations
are not only cutting-edge but are
ethically sound and beneficial to both
humanity and the planet.
Von der Leyen also praised the
Forum for introducing the Sustainable
Finance Goals (SFGs), a framework
for divesting, shifting, and mobilising
capital to fund green ventures, which
organisers Allied4Future (AF4) say will
help ‘leverage capital and investment
mechanisms, not just as tools for
financial returns but as powerful
drivers of the transition to a climate-
neutral and sustainable economy’.
Many of the powerbrokers critical
to the success of the transition:
the world’s leading scientists,
technologists, visionary business
leaders, investors and policymakers,
arrived in the Portuguese capital intent
on moving beyond words and into the
nuts and bolts of transformation.
As Portugal’s Minister for Environment
and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho,
said on day one of the Forum: “the
mission of the Forum, like the mission of
Portuguese government, is to make sure
that everything it does has a positive
impact, not just in helping meet our
climate goals, but also in terms of creating
economic growth, attracting investment
and improving people’s lives.”
This special World Future Forum
edition, produced in partnership with
A4F, not only sets out the ‘how’ of this
mission – it invites you to be part of it.
Iain Robertson
Editor
4 Foreword, Maria da Graca Carvahlo, Minister for
Environment & Energy, Portugal
5 Foreword, Tim van der Hagen, TU Delft
6 Roland Strauss shares ‘The mission and ambition
of Allied4Future’
8 A conversation that will define tomorrow’s world
10 Carlos Moedas takes us inside Lisbon’s iconic
Unicorn Factory
12 Ursula von der Leyen welcomes launch of new
World Future Forum
14 The future of the financial sector… and what it needs
16 Europe Lines up to make Quantum Leap
18 Striking the right relationship with AI
20 Defining ‘Green’ Space technology
21 Climate Geoengineering – last resort or
important solution?
22 Investing in women generates big returns for
everyone: Interview with Shiva Dustdar of
EIB Institute
24 Shaping the European innovation landscape:
Interview with Marceline Du Prie of TU Delft
26 New collaboration labs can “shape our future”
inside
Content copyright of Innovators Magazine I innovatorsmag.com
Innovators Magazine is published by OnePoint5Media I onepoint5media.com
advancing innovation in this deep tech field.
4 | INNOVATORS MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2024
FOREWORD
F O R E W O R D
Maria da Graça Carvalho
Minister for Environment and
Energy of Portugal
I
am delighted that the first-ever
World Future Forum chose the
Portuguese Capital as its home
and look forward to it becoming an
international event synonymous with
advancing solutions to climate change.
The mission of the Forum, like the
mission of Portuguese government, is to
make sure that everything we do has a
positive impact, not just in helping us to
meet our climate goals, but also in terms
of creating economic growth, attracting
investment and improving people’s lives.
Take three areas in my portfolio as
Portugal’s Minister of Environment and
Energy that are of critical importance
to our future: water; biodiversity;
and energy, climate and the
decarbonization of the economy. We
are making a positive impact in all of
them, ensuring what we do is good for
the climate and benefits the public.
We have, for example, created a new
Climate Agency, which will manage all
our climate funds, making investments
simpler, more efficient and, at the
same time, increase accountability.
These are priorities the Forum shares
and plans to impact through new
initiatives including its Technology
Collaboration Labs and Sustainable
Finance Goals (SFGs).
Collaboration is a tool we use to
accelerate change and it is integral
to everything we do. By reaching
an historic agreement with Spain,
within the scope of a convention that
manages water resources shared
between the two countries, we are
ensuring the better management of
two rivers that are very important for
Portugal: the Tejo and the Guadiana.
Restoration of our natural resources
is vital if we want to achieve our
ambitions on climate change. In
Portugal we are working to develop
our National Restoration Plan, with
the renaturalisation of more than
540 kilometres of our rivers already
underway; and several other ongoing
projects happening in the fields of
marine protection, coastal protection
and biodiversity.
We are also investing heavily in the
transport sector which, in Portugal,
is a big contributor to greenhouse
emissions. We are pledging billions
of euros, from national and European
Climate funding to sustainable public
transportation and have laid the
foundations of a large consortium –
The Aviation Sustainability Alliance,
to develop sustainable fuels for
this sector and help solve other
decarbonisation challenges.
The Portuguese Government’s
approach towards the green transition
and the energy transition will always be
to make these changes with the people
and for the people; values I am happy
to see are being promoted by our
friends at the World Future Forum.
INNOVATORS MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2024 | 5
FOREWORD
F O R E W O R D
Tim van der Hagen
President of the Board and Rector
Magnificus, TU Delft
T
he World Future Forum in
Lisbon brings together leading
thinkers to tackle the world’s
most pressing challenges. At
TU Delft, we are committed to contributing
through knowledge and innovation in
areas such as quantum technologies,
artificial intelligence (AI), climate
engineering, and space exploration.
These themes are not just at the
forefront of scientific discovery; they
are essential for building a sustainable
and fair future.
Quantum technologies are unlocking
opportunities in secure communication,
groundbreaking computation, and
precision sensing. TU Delft, through our
Quantum Delft ecosystem and QuTech,
leads internationally in both fundamental
research and real-world applications.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping
how we work, innovate, and solve
problems. At TU Delft, we apply AI to
challenges in healthcare, mobility,
and energy, ensuring its development
is ethical, responsible, and benefits
society as a whole.
Climate engineering is critical
to combating climate change. Our
researchers focus on renewable
energy, carbon capture, and resilient
infrastructure to safeguard the future
of our planet.
Space exploration expands human
knowledge and offers practical
solutions for challenges here on
Earth. TU Delft contributes through
sustainable satellite systems, space-
based climate monitoring, and
innovative technologies for exploration.
One highlight of the WFF Lisbon is
the focus on Future Tech Collaboration
Labs, which bring together researchers,
industry, and policymakers to develop
solutions for complex global challenges.
At TU Delft, we embrace this collaborative
approach, as seen in initiatives like our
AI for Society program, Climate Action
research, and active participation in
European innovation projects such as
Horizon Europe.
Looking ahead, Europe must strengthen
collaboration in research and innovation.
The challenges we face demand joint
efforts across borders, and TU Delft is
ready to lead as a trusted partner in
advancing quantum technologies, AI,
climate solutions, and beyond.
The Future Tech Collaboration Labs
provide a vital platform to accelerate
research, exchange knowledge, and
turn innovative ideas into actionable
solutions. They demonstrate the
power of working together to achieve a
sustainable and inclusive future.
As you explore this edition of Innovators
Magazine, I hope you are inspired by the
stories of creativity and collaboration.
At TU Delft, we are proud to play a key role
in addressing today’s challenges and
building tomorrow’s solutions. Together,
we can turn ideas into impact.
6 | INNOVATORS MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2024
SECTION HEADER
6 | INNOVATORS MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2024
WORLD FUTURE FORUM
Roland Strauss,
Organiser, World
Future Forum
The
Mission
and
Ambition
Allied4Future
of
“SFGs are a compass
directing capital flows towards
humane tech and sustainable
investment solutions”
INNOVATORS MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2024 | 7
t Allied4Future, we believe
that groundbreaking
innovations hold the
key to addressing our
greatest challenges. However, to build
a sustainable future, we must also look
back and reflect on the profound impact
of transformative advancements since the
dawn of the Industrial Revolution. This
pivotal era, known as the Anthropocene,
marked a turning point when humanity
began to profoundly reshape Earth’s
natural ecosystems, leaving far-reaching
consequences in its wake.”
Today we stand again at the beginning
of a new epoch driven by transformative
technologies such as artificial
intelligence, quantum computing, space
exploration, biotechnology, and clean
energy. These innovations promise to
revolutionize how we live and work,
shaping a future with unprecedented
opportunities and challenges.
Past industrial revolutions have been
catalysed not only by technological
progress but also by the powerful forces
of capital, investment, and politics.
This dynamic is a key driver in what is
often referred to as the ongoing ‘green’
industrial revolution, which aspires to
steer us toward a more sustainable,
climate-neutral economy and society.
Through strategic partnerships,
collaborative innovation, and the
creation of a robust sustainable finance
ecosystem, Allied4Future brings
together a global community of experts,
academics, entrepreneurs, investors,
practitioners and visionary individuals.
At a time when incumbents strive
to preserve the status quo, the A4F
Zukunftslobby informs policymakers
about the needs and activities of those
shaping a sustainable tomorrow.
Allied4Future:
MISSION AND FLAGSHIP
ACTIVITIES
he inaugural World Future
Forum, held in Lisbon, marked
a significant milestone in
advancing global efforts toward
sustainable development. As
the annual flagship event of
Allied4Future, the Forum serves as
a powerful platform to highlight
the initiative’s mission of driving
meaningful change through the
alignment of investment with
sustainability and the advancement
of transformative technologies.
The enthusiastic response from
participants underscores the growing
recognition of the urgent need for
systemic change in the financial sector
and the current economic model, where
nature and natural capital must play
an equally important role as financial
interests in investment decisions and
industrial activity planning.
While collaboration in technology
and finance is key, future agendas
of the Forum will include debates on
geopolitics, trade, global partnerships
and international cooperation among
nations that share the values of
freedom, democracy, human dignity
and equality.
T
he mission of Allied4Future is to
drive positive change by fostering
innovation, collaboration, and
ethical practices, while proactively
addressing risks such as misuse
and unintended consequences. Our
ultimate goal is to shape a future that
is equitable, sustainable, and resilient
for generations to come.
To achieve this, Allied4Future
focuses on two flagship activities
designed to bridge the gap between
technological innovation and
sustainable development:
Sustainable Finance Goals (SFGs)
A framework of ten actionable goals that
guide investments toward impactful
sustainable technologies and solutions,
aligning financial benefits with societal
and environmental well-being.
Technology Collaboration Labs
Collaboration labs that function as
dynamic hubs where interdisciplinary
teamwork thrives, ensuring that
technological innovations are not
only cutting-edge but also ethically
sound and beneficial to both
humanity and the planet.
WORLD FUTURE FORUM
WORLD FUTURE FORUM
8 | INNOVATORS MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2024
WORLD FUTURE FORUM
A conversation
that will define
tomorrow’s
world
t was my great pleasure to
welcome the first-ever World
Future Forum to Lisbon and to do
so in the beautuful building which
houses the Portuguese Minister
for Environment and Energy.
I want to give a special thanks
to Roland Strauss for organising
this internationally important event
in Lisbon. I have a long history of
cooperation with Roland, co-founder
of the Knowledge4Innovation Forum
(K4I) in the European Parliament. I was
the head of the MEPs group of K4I until
April, when I left the parliament, and I
am delighted to see the momentum
contiunuing to build with these events
that bring together top level European
executives, European Commissioners,
Director Generals, MEPs from different
political groups, academics, business
people, and civil society.
The impact of the K4I ecosystem is felt
across Europe. It was our discussions,
dare I say, that laid the seeds for what
would become the European Institution
of Innovation and Technology (the
EIT), a game-changing institution for
the continent, which we will always
support and help to grow.
In my ministerial position in Portugal,
working on a portfolio covering areas
like water, air quality, climate change,
energy, biodiversity, and the restoration
of nature; and in my support for the
significance of this Forum, it is always
about making sure that everything
we do has a positive impact, not just
in helping to meet our climate goals,
but also in terms of creating economic
growth, attracting investments and
improving the lives of people.
The World Future Forum choosing
Lisbon as its home is going to be make
the city an international capital at the
heart of the global transition to a better
and more sustainable world for all - and
I look forward to supporting the Forum
in its mission to transform our future.
Maria da Graça Carvalho – Minister for Environment & Energy
Maria da Graça Carvalho
INNOVATORS MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2024 | 9
SECTION HEADER
INNOVATORS MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2024 | 9
MINISTRY RECEPTION
SPEAKERS
MARCELINE DU PRIE
Director or European Affairs, TU DELFT
Lisbon is a city that
embodies connection
and innovation. In
2023, it was named
European Capital
of Innovation by
the European
Commission – fitting
recognition for a capital delivering on our
shared mission to create a future where
knowledge, technology and cooperation
is driving sustainable progress for all.
The new World Future Forum is an
opportunity for the city to go even
further: to forge new partnerships and
ideas that will shape our shared future
for generations to come.
SOFIA MOREIRA
Head of EU Representation in Portugal
Together, we can
build a world that
thrives on both
technological
progress and
ecological
responsibility, a
world that honours
the needs of the present and future
generations alike. The World Future Forum
is going to be important in this story
because we need to harness the power of
technology and finance to pave the way
for a more sustainable world.
Organiser, World Future Forum
The Forum’s
Sustainable Finance
Goals (SFGs) and
Global Technology
Collaboration Labs
offer investors
and technology
leaders unique opportunities to
drive the transition to a sustainable
future. The Allied4Future Foundation
serves as a collaborative hub where
investors, technology providers,
strategic partners, and transformative
pioneers come together to implement
the Forum’s objectives. It aims to
establish effective mechanisms for
directing capital investment toward the
development of technologies for good
and impactful sustainable solutions.
ROLAND STRAUSS
10 | INNOVATORS MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2024
SECTION HEADER
YOU CAN’T
COME TO
LISBON AND
NOT SEE THE
UNICORN
FACTORY