Global Grand Challenges Summit

The Global Grand Challenges Summit series is a trilateral partnership between the UK, US and Chinese national academies of engineering that brings together inspirational global engineering leaders with the next generation of engineers and changemakers, to explore how to address grand challenges. Since its launch in 2013 summits have taken place every two years.

The event convenes inspirational world leaders with the next generation of engineers and changemakers to build creative collaborations and solve the grand challenges facing our future world of 10 billion people.

Global Grand Challenges Summit 2023

We are pleased to share that the 2023 summit took place virtually on 18-20^th September 2023, hosted by the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE). The programme included sessions on the topics of: Sustainable Infrastructure, Carbon Neutrality and Digital Economy. 

GGCS 2023 closed with presentation of a statement signed by presidents of the three academies, highlighting the success of the Summit series to date and the academies’ commitment to collaboration. 

Global Grand Challenges Summit 2021

International collaboration has never been more important than during the COVID-19 pandemic. The three Academies published a joint statement on COVID-19, committing to work together to promote international exchange and contribute to global economic recovery and a more robust public health system. 

Webinar series: Engineering’s role in catalysing Covid-19 response, recovery and resilience

Together with the CAE and NAE, we delivered a webinar series in 2021 to explore the work of researchers and innovators across the globe pursuing the most impactful engineering advances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Global Grand Challenges Summit 2019

Global Grand Challenges Summit 2019

​Engineering in an unpredictable world

The Global Grand Challenges Summit 2019 launched the second series of summits jointly hosted by the UK, US and Chinese academies of engineering, inspired by the 14 Grand Challenges for Engineering.

The Summit took place on 16-18 September 2019 in London, at the Southbank Centre’s wonderful Queen Elizabeth Hall, with over 700 of the next generation’s engineers, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and policymakers in attendance. The Summit was broadcast worldwide via livestream, with satellite events on every continent, creating a truly global effort in addressing these Global Grand Challenges.

Humanity is facing unprecedented challenges from a population growing to 10 billion by 2050, and accelerating degradation of the planet and its resources. At the same time, exponential technological changes are making the world smarter, faster and more connected, but with unanticipated consequences.

Engineers are crucial to the international effort to address these rapidly evolving, unpredictable challenges. We need to embed collaboration, diversity, and global responsibility into the solutions we create, transforming the way engineers work, think, and are taught.

Engineers have the power to help make a better world for the citizens of 2050, but only if we transform engineering and embrace that responsibility today.

Under this, the Summit had two sub-themes, that related both to the US National Academy of Engineering’s 14 grand challenges, and recognised and captured the Sustainable Development Goals:

• ‘Will AI and other transformational technologies change humanity for the better?’
  • Example topics: equitable access, ethics, healthcare, neuroscience, extending life, engineering education, automation, employment, genetics, robotics, mental health, unintended consequences, AI bias, secure cyberspace
• ‘Can we sustain 10 billion people?’
  • Example topics: food, water, energy, waste, circular economy, urbanisation, China’s mega-cities, transport, resources, economic development, VR, health provision, digital enablement for rural dwellers