DWIH focus topic 2023: The resilient society
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In 2023, the global network of German Centres for Research and Innovation (DWIH) will be focussing on the multidimensional aspects of a “resilient society”.
The notion of “resilience” has become a complex issue globally, and the question of what actually constitutes resilience is by no means easy to answer. In what context is resilience required, and what specific thematic aspects are involved? It concerns not just crises such as those facing the healthcare system and the ecosystem, for example, but also far-reaching upheavals such as the digital transformation, where a powerful momentum is disrupting the established order.
A “resilient society” has to do justice to this complexity: in order for it to keep abreast of the various challenges, innovation drivers are required in the most diverse areas. What is more, there is a need for platforms and places where people can engage with each other, discuss problems and pool resources.
Connections between the various locations
Aware of the outstanding networking potential of the DWIH locations worldwide, the Board of Trustees of the German Centres for Research and Innovation has chosen “The Resilient Society” as the focus topic for 2023. The Centres will look to explore the notion of resilience in different regions of the world, bringing together actors whose work has contributed to increasing the resilience of innovation systems, too. The spotlight will be on topics that are relevant across the various locations and those that are particularly vital in the respective region.
See the DWIH network website to find out more about the choice of the DWIH’s focus topic for 2023.
The Indian government is driving forward the country’s economic and social development with the aim of drawing on technology and innovation to make India an industrialised nation. The country’s strategy for achieving climate neutrality by 2070 shows it is clearly geared towards sustainability: as the world’s most populous country and on its way to becoming the third largest economy, it is seeking to strike this balance so as to contribute to stability on the subcontinent.
Solutions for resilient urban spaces
The urban share of India’s population is projected to reach 40 per cent by 2030, which means that more than 590 million people will be living in cities by that time. The development of sustainable and resilient urban spaces is one of the greatest challenges of the coming years.
In their Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development adopted in 2022, India and Germany agreed on measures to support India in achieving a socially just energy transition and sustainable, climate-smart and inclusive urban development – for example by expanding the use of renewable energies and promoting safe and climate-friendly mobility. “Smart city” solutions for both countries are a key element of Indo-German collaboration, with topics ranging from early warning systems for floods to citizen apps that offer incentives for climate-friendly behaviour.
DWIH New Delhi is dedicated to the multi-faceted issue of how a society can prepare to face the challenges of the future. The central theme of the 2023 Indo-German Forum is sustainable urban mobility, for example. But beyond individual events, too, the DWIH is seeking to establish a basis to help boost development opportunities in the long term, for example by focusing on the potential of research-based start-ups.