Dr Kate Darling

Research Specialist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab

Named one of the “Women in Robotics You Need to Know About” by Robohub, Dr Darling currently serves as intellectual property policy advisor to the director of the MIT Media Lab. Her passion for technology and robots has led her to interdisciplinary fields. After co teaching a robot ethics course at Harvard Law School with Professor Lawrence Lessig, she increasingly works at the intersection of law and robotics, with a focus on legal and social issues. Kate is a former fellow and current affiliate at the Harvard Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society and a former fellow at the Yale Information Society Project and is also an affiliate at the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies. Kate’s work has been featured in Vogue, The New Yorker, The Guardian, BBC, NPR, PBS, The Boston Globe, Forbes, CBC, WIRED magazine, Boston Magazine, The Atlantic, Slate, Die Zeit, The Japan Times, and many more major publications and outlets.

She is a contributing writer to Robohub and IEEE Spectrum and speaks and holds workshops covering some of the more interesting developments in the world of robotics, and where we might find ourselves in the future. Kate graduated from law school with honors and holds a doctorate of sciences from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) and an honorary doctorate of sciences from Middlebury College. In 2017, the American Bar Association honored her legal work with the Mark T. Banner award in Intellectual Property. Thinkers50 also recognized her in 2017 as a “Radar Thinker”. She is the caretaker for several domestic robots, including her Pleos Yochai, Peter, and Mr. Spaghetti.

Lee Joon Seong

Managing Director, Accenture Applied Intelligence ASEAN

Joon Seong leads Accenture Applied Intelligence (which Includes Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Analytics), part of Accenture Digital for the ASEAN region. He has more than 20 years of in-depth experience in consulting with both local and regional clients across industries, including Banking, Insurance, Governments, Telecommunications, Retail and consumer goods in the space of big data and analytics & AI. As the leader for Accenture Applied Intelligence in ASEAN, Joon Seong leads a team of data scientists, data engineers as well as AI/data & analytics strategists in helping clients achieve better performance using AI, data & analytics.

Tim Kobe

Founder and CEO, Eight Inc

Tim Kobe is a design leader, author and founder of the globally recognized strategic and experience design firm Eight Inc.

For over 30 years in design and a leader in Innovation and Branded Experience, Eight Inc. has worked with companies such as Apple, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Nike, Coke, Knoll and Citibank. The firm takes on an interdisciplinary and holistic approach, working across traditional disciplines including strategy, architecture, exhibition, interior design, product, communications and branding. Many projects have received international design awards and have been published across Asia, Europe, and the United States. Eight Inc. has studios in San Francisco, New York, Honolulu, Tokyo, London, Singapore, Dubai, Istanbul and across China.

Graduating with honors in Environmental Design from Art Center College of Design, Pasadena in 1982, Kobe is now a trustee at his alma matter and serves as Chairman of the Academic Affairs Committee. Prior to founding Eight Inc. in 1989, Kobe became a founding partner in West Office Design Associates, focusing on museum and exhibition design and responsible for the master planning of museums and for several science museum exhibitions globally.

He has also worked with Herb Rosenthal and Associates, the American Broadcasting Company, Murray Gelberg and at The Burdick.

Kobe serves on the Board of Directors for the Grabhorn Institute in San Francisco and is part of the The Design Masterplan Committee chaired by Economic Development Board in Singapore. He frequently lectures and works with students at universities including Art Center College of Design, California College of Arts and Crafts, the San Francisco Academy of Art, Insead, National University of Singapore and Temasek Polytechnic School of Design.

Kobe is a keynote speaker and speaks on topics surrounding design, innovation, technology and business valuation for many internationally known forums. He has been featured and recognized for his work in prominent publications like Harvard Business Review, Bloomberg, The Economist, Dezeen and Fast Company. His upcoming book, Return on Experience, published by ORO Editions will be released May 2019.

Cyberdyne was created in 2004 by Dr. Yoshiyuki Sankai to materialise his idea to utilise the Robot Suit Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) for the benefits of humankind. The Japanese robotics and technology firm engages in the research and development of medical and non-medical welfare equipment and systems. Making full use of “Cybernics”, an integrated technology of human, robot and information systems, the company develops technology for rehabilitation support, body function support in elderly and disabled people, rescue support in disaster sites, and heavy labor support in factories. The visit to Cyberdyne aims to help delegates understand the operating concepts of the HAL® technology and to share the company’s vision of looking beyond Industry 4.0 to prepare for Society 5.0. Delegates can also learn more about the role of robotics and the challenges in implementing robotics technology in Japan through an in-depth presentation and get the chance to try out some of the Hybrid Assistive Limb suits.

Billed as the world’s first digital art museum, the massive 10,000 sqm space in Tokyo’s Odaiba uses 520 computers and 470 projectors to create an experience that will stimulate all five senses. Many of the artworks are rendered in real time by computer programming, and are constantly changing – so visitors never see the same version of the artwork. This all-new museum concept is a collaborative initiative between Mori Building, a noted supporter of culture and art, and teamLab, an interdisciplinary creative group that utilises digital technologies to express art. Through their collaboration, Mori Building and teamLab aim to create a unique destination that enhances the magnetic power of Tokyo toward 2020 and beyond. An exclusive guided tour has been arranged for CIO workshop delegates to explain the concept behind the installations and how best to interact with the artworks to maximise the experience.

With the country growing older, Japanese companies strive to innovate and apply technology to better care for the elderly. Logistical integration, sharing and communication play a major role in terms of smart home and community developments. The Panasonic Wonder Life-BOX presents a concrete vision of future lifestyles from a daily life perspective, exploring what the next generation of homes and communities will look like. Delegates will be inspired by the latest technologies and applications into our lives that showcase Intelligent and Smart Home; and a Business Solutions Area demonstrating Panasonic’s integrated solutions for greater efficiency and more streamlined management of businesses.

By 2030, Singapore will have the same demographic profile as Japan has today. In other words, about one in four people will be over the age of 65. Japan’s innovative ways to provide for an extensive ageing population makes it a worthy model to study. Through a visit to social welfare corporation Zenkoukai, a project initiated by the Santa Fe Research Institute, delegates can find out more about the background and challenges of nursing care, learn how artificial intelligence is applied and how it helps in pre-emptive care with the patient data that is collected. The floor walk at Zenkoukai will showcase real-world applications of robotics and new technologies in nursing care e.g. patient health monitoring with analytics, rehabilitation and mobility support with hybrid assisted limbs and communication robots to aid social engagement.

Organised in partnership with EDB and held at the Accenture Innovation Hub in Tokyo, the Singapore-Japan CIO Networking Session aims to provide insights and learning into Japanese technology trends through peer sharing with Japanese CIOs. Singapore Ambassador to Japan, Mr Lui Tuck Yew, will be gracing the event as Guest-of-Honour. Together with a panel of CIOs, he will discuss common challenges between Singapore and Japan and opportunities for both countries to complement each other in addressing these issues.

Delegates will have the opportunity to network with peers and to visit specific demonstrations/showcases of applied innovation in their interest area.