Abu Dhabi, 20 November 2024: Day one of XPANSE 2024, the world's first global forum and visioning of exponential technology futures, has ended after the world’s foremost minds in new technology and advanced science drew a substantial audience to ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.

Hosted by ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, in partnership with the international think tank MATTER and ADNEC Group, and with the Abu Dhabi Government’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) as Headline Partner, XPANSE 2024 is a unique new ecosystem that is set to accelerate discoveries that will open a range of futuristic vistas.

Running from 20-22 November, XPANSE 2024 offers new multimedia models of communication and sensory experience in the presence of leading minds to leave a lasting impression on visitors. The opening day featured radically unique immersive sessions and sensory experiences covering a vast spectrum of accelerating scientific and tech revolution underway globally.

In a setting combining multimedia and sensory experiences, highlights of the IMAGINARIUM Stage included the XPANSE 2024 Inauguration Trailer, Formal Welcome Speech and Opening Speech from Dr Zina Jarrahi Cinker, Director General of MATTER, Inc. and Chief Creator of XPANSE, which outlined the vast potential of exponential tech. Dr Najwa Aaraj, Chief Executive Officer of the Technology Innovation Institute – a part of ATRC – followed this with a compelling opening keynote address on “AI and Robotics for a Safer Cyber Future Imaginarium”.  

The first morning also featured an insightful Ministerial Interview delivered by His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General of the Advanced Technology Research Council, and Adviser to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs.

The IMAGINARIUM Stage also saw a presentation entitled “Mystery Genes” from Dr Habiba Al Safar, Dean of College of Medicine and Health Sciences at Khalifa University, who is an Emirati scholar exploring the genomic structures of individuals of Arab descent. Dr Habiba’s innovative research seeks to identify genomic segments that carry genes that predispose to disease, with an emphasis on diseases increasing in prevalence amongst the local communities of the UAE.

The Keynote Stage provided the prime arena for innovators and industry leaders showcasing their most current strategic developments, discoveries, products, and solutions driven by exponential technologies. Welcomed by Dr Zina Jarrahi Cinker, a rich range of sessions covered topics including “The Flying Car is Here”, “Let’s End Cancer”, “Towards Mars with Genetically Modified Bacteria”, “A Day in the Life of an AI city”, and panel sessions on “The story of TII's Falcon: From LLM to AI71”, “Let's Talk Time, Space and AI”, “The Next Industrial Wave With Exponential Tech” and “Quantum Communication and Cryptography” among others.

Offering a prime space for discussions and audience interaction to spark new connections and inspiration across disciplines and different fields of knowledge, the Fireside Stage featured incisive interactions on topics ranging from “Quantum for Everyone”, “A Day in the Life of an Artist” and “What About Aliens?” to “What is on the Edge of Computing?”, “The Matterverse” and “A Day in the Life of a Scientist” along with a panel on “Finding the Deep-Tech Heroes”.

As a forum for startup founders, early-career scientists, researchers, and young innovators, the Lightning Pitch Stage showcased 5-minute pitches with 3 prizes at stake covering a vast range of new ventures including Document Search Software Enabled by GDPR Compliant Local AI, Helping Clients Making Data Driven Decisions, AI Powered Nutrition, AI in Pharma, Machine Learning in Sports, ML and Industrial Manufacturing, Single Tech 3D Sequencing, and many more.

Other features included XPANSE Experiences, with “ART Proxima” serving as a unique space where artistic inspiration and scientific exploration merge in co-creation sessions, the “Innovation Alley” for 40 startups and research labs to showcase their innovation and products, an invitation-only forum for 10 Exponential Tech Showcases, a closed-door “Investor Startup Pitch Session”, the “ħbar” as a unique concept offering drinks and bites, and the “Neon Observatory” providing an interactive room for deep science and exponential tech discussions.