IIIT-B Successfully Hosts UK Royal Academy of Engineering Workshop on Digital Futures

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IIIT-B Successfully Hosts UK Royal Academy of Engineering Workshop on Digital Futures

BANGALORE, INDIA - July 7, 2023 - The International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B) announces the successful completion of its collaboration with the UK Royal Academy of Engineering for the esteemed workshop, "Digital Futures: Infrastructure for Equity, Inclusivity, Sustainability." The event took place between July 5-7, 2023, and brought together global experts to explore the transformative potential of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in promoting social equity, economic growth, and sustainability, while ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for all citizens.

The workshop served as a crucial platform for participants to engage in insightful discussions, exchange ideas, and collaborate on cross-cutting issues within three key themes: Designing DPI for Sustainability, Social Impacts of DPI and Security, Privacy, and Availability of DPI.

Prof. Debabrata Das, Director of IIIT-Bangalore, said “With the establishment of multiple Digital Public Good (DPG) like Modular Open Source Identity Platform (MOSIP) and Centre for Technology Innovation in Digital Governance (CTRI-DG) and Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure (CDPI) at IIIT-Bangalore, it becomes an ideal venue for a workshop such as the Frontiers Symposium. DPG has emerged as a crucial subject of discussion in both present and future times, as digitization plays a pivotal role in ensuring the inclusivity of all citizens and facilitating the implementation of government policies in India. Within IIIT-B, the CDPI encompasses a fundamental digital infrastructure component that provides individuals a universal digital identity worldwide. Over the past four years, we have successfully introduced MOSIP to 11 countries as national identity and we are receiving numerous inquiries from other nations as well. The advent of digital identities like MOSIP holds the potential to revolutionize the global economy and social landscapes. IIIT-B has been deeply engaged in extensive research, development and product innovation in this domain of DPG.”

Prof. Srinath Srinivasa, Dean (R&D), IIIT-Bangalore who chaired the workshop, said, “Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs) are heralding a silent revolution worldwide-- with India playing a leading role. Be it authentication or e-commerce or mobile payments, DPIs are fundamentally altering the way societies are organized.  Given the fundamental impacts of DPIs in the foreseeable future, a comprehensive approach toward the design and management of DPIs has become imperative. Against this backdrop, the Frontiers workshop on DPIs is an important event that brings together participants from across the world to collectively envision our new digital future.

Ms. Alice Marks, Senior Manager of Frontiers Programmes, expressed her thoughts on the significance of the event, stating, "An important objective for the Academy is to facilitate international engineering and science partnerships. We are especially interested in India because of the emphasis on innovation and technology, for example in digital public infrastructure. Our plan with this activity is to gather passionate and proactive researchers, innovators and practitioners from the UK and worldwide, fostering collaboration to tackle complex global challenges in the field of digital infrastructure."

The Symposium spanned for three days and was an engaging and carefully curated event that served as a platform for bringing together academics, industry professionals, NGO personnel, and policymakers. By convening participants from diverse backgrounds, we aim to discuss and address various challenges faced globally. Through collaborative efforts, we can harness the collective intelligence and expertise of the participants to find effective solutions. Following the Symposium, successful collaboration proposals will be awarded grants of up to £20,000. This financial support will enable the proposed collaborative projects to implement, further promoting innovation and advancement in the digital infrastructure domain.

The Digital Futures workshop at IIITB marked a significant milestone in advancing the understanding and implementation of digital public infrastructure for a better future. As witnessed in recent times, IIITB remains committed to fostering innovation, research, and collaboration to address real-world challenges and drive societal transformation through technology.

About IIIT-Bangalore

IIIT-Bangalore is a premier institute focused on Post-Graduate IT education and research, located in the heart of Electronic City, Bangalore. IIIT-Bangalore is graded A+ by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). In the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) for 2022, IIIT-B has secured 74th ranking. The institute was ranked number 1 among India's Best Technical Universities (Private) by India Today. IIIT-Bangalore contains state-of-the-art infrastructure, eminently qualified faculty, a vibrant alumni community, cutting-edge research facilities, and close industry collaborations. 

 The institute’s specially designed courses make the students cognitive of the current technologies. Experiential learning and practices followed in the institute equip them with the tools and knowledge to solve contemporary real problems. IIIT-Bangalore has consistently achieved excellent placement records every year since its establishment in 1998, thanks to the unwavering support of the industry and the expanding pool of highly skilled alumni.

For more details, log onto https://www.iiitb.ac.in

About Royal Academy of Engineering

The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone.

In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public. Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.

About Frontiers Programme

The Frontiers Programme works in partnership to connect and empower early-mid career researchers, innovators and practitioners from the UK and around the world to work together on new ways to solve complex global challenges. By putting collaboration and interdisciplinary thinking at the forefront of symposia and funding opportunities, we catalyse creative solutions that deliver impact and build a global community equipped to achieve a sustainable and inclusive society.