IDRC at the 2023 Conference of Montreal

Presented annually by the International Economic Forum of the Americas (IEFA), the Conference of Montreal in 2023 brings together heads of state and government, members of the business community, civil society, trade union leaders and academics to discuss common objectives and global issues. 

This year, the theme is: Thriving in a world in transition. The IEFA and IDRC will co-host a panel about the role of artificial intelligence in reducing gender inequality, as well as a plenary session on catalyzing disruptive innovation.   

This 29th edition of the conference will take place in Montreal in a hybrid format from June 12–14 2023. 

Learn more about the Conference of Montreal and register   

Overview of IDRC sessions 

Catalyzing disruptive innovation 

Wednesday, June 14, 2023, 9 a.m. EDT
Plenary session

In collaboration with Fonds de Recherches du Québec (FRQ) 
Moderated by Naser Faruqui, Director of Education and Science, IDRC 

Some would say that over the past few decades, disruptive research has declined in all scientific fields, dragging disruptive innovation down the same downward slope. However, recent breakthroughs such as mRNA technology, which was critical in the fight against Covid-19, also share many intersections with other medical fields, harboring promising avenues in the fight against cancer, Alzheimer's, and genetic or infectious diseases. How can disruptive research be intensified and prioritized? What role must funding institutions, public or private, play in this regard? What are the ethical or societal issues raised by these breakthrough innovations?   

The role of artificial intelligence in reducing gender inequality 

Wednesday, June 14, 2023, 3:30 p.m. EDT
Panel
Moderated by Naser Faruqui, Director of Education and Science, IDRC

This panel brings together women leaders in the artificial intelligence sector from around the world to discuss their insights on both the risks and potential rewards of ever-increasingly powerful AI applications. The panel will explore questions such as: What are the gender biases in AI? How do we develop AI tools in a way that does not reinforce existing inequalities? What are the models currently being explored to ensure equitable AI-driven decision making? How do we ensure that women are involved in the design and implementation of this technology?