Siemens announces Beyond 1% Summit in Sydney

Siemens has announced its Beyond 1% Summit as a national event with global and local thought leaders to be held in Sydney on 3–4 July 2024. The company said the two-day summit will unite industry, government and academia to discuss and map out how Australia can capitalise on opportunities with technology and digitalisation to grow business, strengthen the economy and contribute in a greater way to decarbonising the world.

“Australia is responsible for about 1% of the global emissions. Our Net Zero 2050 commitment means that by 2050 the nation will have addressed those emissions,” said Peter Halliday, CEO of Siemens Australia and New Zealand. “Embracing key technologies including digitalisation gives us the opportunity to really punch above our weight when it comes to the clean energy transition and the broader topic of decarbonising the world. We can do much more than just 1% but that requires big picture thinking and an ‘all-in’ attitude. Most of all, we need to accelerate the way we embrace technology and digitalisation.”

Expecting over 400 participants, the summit will explore how we can accelerate sustainability outcomes while growing Australian business and strengthening the economy.

The two-day event follows the success of other recent state-based Siemens Beyond 1% themed events and will feature one of Siemens’ global voices on energy transition, Stephan May, CEO of Siemens’ global Electrification & Automation division. It will explore technologies critical to sustainability including industrial AI, digital twins, additive manufacturing, digital decarbonisation platforms, smart grids and the industrial metaverse.

A line-up of global and local industry and government experts will be involved through thought-provoking keynotes, panel discussions, technology streams and workshops to showcase real examples of success from Australia and overseas. The summit will also be a practical place for businesses by demystifying the targets and legislation, and highlighting avenues to access funding while providing opportunities for collaboration and networking.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Stephan May, Global CEO of Siemens’ Electrification and Automation business, who will reflect on how sustainability and grid stability go hand in hand and discuss the challenges and opportunities to delivering energy transition.
• Bronwyn Fox, Chief Scientist, CSIRO, who will highlight the organisation’s work in leading innovation in Australia and also discuss the role of AI in Australian industry.
• David Chuter, Executive Director, Industry Growth AusIndustry, Department of Industry Science and Resources, will highlight investment and partnership opportunities from the government for businesses supporting energy transition.
• Jon Dee, Founder of Planet Ark, will provide practical steps and tools for businesses to reinvent and take advantage of this global imperative.
• Rajat Kulshrestha, CEO & Co-Founder, Space Machines Company, will discuss how his company’s recently launched, largest Australian commercial satellite will help sustainability in space.
• Luke Menzel, CEO, Energy Efficiency Council, will explore the key role of managing energy demand to drive out costs, increase profitability and ease the burden of energy targets.
   

Bronwyn Fox highlighted the importance of digitalisation in achieving sustainability stating: “In so many ways, climate change and the critical race to net zero will be the defining challenge of our generation. As Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO is right in the middle of meeting this challenge and that includes environmental, technical, social and economic research and innovation to help Australian industry and communities prosper in a low-emissions world.

“Of all the levers we have to pull in what is an increasingly urgent setting, digitalisation is among the most powerful and effective — bringing new capabilities, insights, options as well as helping us address the age-old adage that you can’t improve what you can’t measure.”

The two-day summit also includes a gala event to recognise some of the prime examples of Australian companies that already represent the ideals and opportunities of ‘Beyond 1%’.

“In the race to net zero, Australia needs to do more with less,” Halliday said. “Digitalisation and technology allow us to reduce waste, increase our efficiency in the use of scarce resources and optimise our supply chains. Together, and with the right technologies, we can do much more than address 1% of the world’s emissions. I look forward to discussing how we can collectively achieve this at the summit.”

For registration and more details, go to: https://www.siemens.com/au/en/company/fairs-events/beyond-summit.html.

Event details

Date: Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th July 2024
Location: Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park

Image credit: iStock.com/ai_yoshi