World Expo 2020 Dubai: engaging and inspiring

Expo 2020 Dubai, with Sustainability, Mobility and Opportunity as themes being at the heart of some of our largest challenges from a business, people and planet perspective, is a key opportunity to learn, get inspired and network.

On my way to Dubai I was reading Paul Polman’s and Andrew Winston’s book Net Positive. A book that helps to give key insights and experiences from companies who have made big steps in addressing climate, sustainability and inequality challenges. They look at cases where organisations are making these topics and ambitions part of the DNA of the company in everything they do, and in doing so, still delivering strong financial results and outperforming most peers from a?long term value creation perspective. For all stakeholders. Not to the perfection, but making the right steps.

Reading this book was probably my best preparation for going to the Expo 2020 Dubai. Exploring the overall Expo and the 190+ country pavilions would give me insights on what is going on around the globe. Admitted, I didn’t manage to nearly see all the pavilions as it is overwhelming what is out there to discover. Even within each pavilion there are so many things to savour and to feel the heartbeat of what is going on that making a selection is the only way to go.?

Some of my conclusions:?

1. Optimistic about the future

I come out of the Expo with a real optimistic view: it is impressive to see what efforts are being done by many organisations in many fields, the progress that is being made and the examples that are being showcased or explained. In all areas there are key innovations shown or existing projects highlighted in mobility, food and sustainability, all driven by a diverse set of individuals, research centres, universities and many other organisations. If these examples can accelerate, multiply and scale, we'll be up for a good ride - but it needs to?happen really fast. Pavilions from Singapore, The Netherlands, Peru and Japan are strong examples of this.?

2. Passion is driving progress

What is often common in the showcased examples is the passion and the real belief that one can change the world. Breakthroughs that are the fruit of great minds, brains and the passion to pursue the idea. But also breakthroughs in execution because of ideas from the past that are now finally put into reality by teams that understand the importance or are given the opportunity to execute. Kazakhstan, Thailand, Peru, Japan, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia and Morocco were standing out with bridging passion,?cultural heritage and imminent progress.

3. Perfect innovation storm

Realisations that are also reaching momentum because of the perfect storm situation where we are in right now: a massive combination of research, breakthroughs in engineering, artificial intelligence, overall computing power, money to invest and probably the most important of all, the clear sense of urgency understood by probably the most diverse and massive community ever around on some of the key pressing topics for our world today. The global problems are now more and more being solved by a global community of problem solvers with the tools, money and support that was never there before at such a scale. The Alif pavilion showcasing some great examples again. But also interesting examples in many other country pavilions and DP World's pavilion.

4. Engaging and inspiring all people

When you visit the pavilions from Japan, China, The Netherlands, New Zealand and many others, you are not only seeing what they bring but also in how they engage and inspire the?broader stakeholders. They bring you along the journey, at the Expo, but also how they do that in the national storyline and ambitious country plans they support.??

5. Creating even more opportunities

Some countries will benefit largely from the sustainability, mobility and equal opportunity efforts they make. The agricultural or climate related innovations in The Netherlands result already now in their researchers and companies being approached by other countries for help to tackle important topics. In the Belgian pavilion you'll find mobility tools scientists have developed to design smarter cities - which is much needed in this very dense?networked?country. Singapore also very impressive in this area. Luxembourg is also showcasing key capabilities from earth to space that matter. And the Expo allows many countries to put some of their less known capabilities in the spotlight, certainly propelling?future?business and change opportunities ahead.

6. Not all pavilions are as engaging and inspiring though.?

The UK pavilion (picture above) - being one of the most impressive buildings visually and architecturally especially around sunset - then had a more disappointing content to bring on the inside. I didn’t feel how the story was coherent and how we would change the world for the future generations when you compare this with the vast potential and current activity there is in the UK today's world. It was missing the right engaging vibe. The Italian pavilion showed what natural ventilation, 3D printing and recycling could be, but also there I didn’t feel that they were out there for the future, rather proud of what has been.

And this is bringing it back to the book Net Positive: the least inspiring and engaging pavilions were those who forgot to craft and convey the story. Those?who forgot to?make sure that the topics of Sustainability, Mobility and Opportunity were really at the heart of their plans for the future and their moment at the Expo. Those who were not able to transmit the enthusiasm. This is not a mathematical summing up of inventions or telling about your heritage of years ago. This is?about creating an ambition and engaging all stakeholders with a positive story and actions so that all believe and support the transformational change journey and opportunity lying ahead.?