Swiss-Korean Science Day

Trust4Digital Empowerment: Bridging the gap between Science and Communities

This event is co-organized with the Korean National Research Foundation (NRF).

Session 1: Science4Trust

This session aims to explore science based digital solutions promoting trust and applicable to current societal challenges and needs.

Session 2: Gov4Tech: Are current policy frameworks encouraging implementation of scientific developments in real application? What is to be done yet?

This session has the scope to discuss current frameworks provided or under preparation by governments enabling the implementation of S&T developments to answer societal needs and challenges.

In the last decades, we witnessed a revolution concerning the way in which humans interact, services are provided and accessed, corporates do business and industrial processes are developed. The advancement in digital technologies has been transforming most spheres of human life with clear improvement of convenience and efficiency, which have been constantly pushing for new innovations.

However, such data-driven applications revealed risks concerning leaks of sensitive information and personal data. In addition, algorithmic processes showed the potential to shift control away from humans to machine.

Despite the undeniable advantages of digitalization and technological advancements, associated risks make our societies vulnerable and could undermine trust between citizens, companies, and governments.

For this reason, building trust must be considered as a fundamental step in the foundation of future innovation bridging digital infrastructure and responsibility of individuals and organizations, and a main goal for science diplomacy.

By bringing concrete examples of research outcomes answering to societal challenges, this event aims at reducing the distance between science and communities, building trust in the on-going digital transformation.

From basic research – developing new algorithms to solve more complex problems mimicking real world interactions – to ‘big science’ projects and humanitarian action – relying on blockchain for secure communication systems, and development of data-driven public services – science couldn’t be closer to societal needs.

However, clear policy frameworks for the implementation of the latest scientific advancements must be set by governments in a collaborative approach to foster trust.

Current status and future visions about this process are going also to be discussed.