Opening remarks from the Oxford Summit 2021 online event, by Prof Chas Bountra CBE, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation, University of Oxford
The past year has seen unprecedented disruption to our economies and communities. Through the difficult and dark days, it has been encouraging to see the many examples of universities, companies, government agencies, NGOs and others finding ways of working together at pace to develop solutions at scale to the many challenges the COVID pandemic has thrown up.
While we have yet to emerge from the health crisis, many governments, universities and companies, are starting to plan for the economic recovery and a brighter future, with some taking bold steps to shape new ways of working. To support these efforts, the Oxford Summit 2021 brought together senior leaders from universities, industry and government and others to reflect and co-create ideas. In particular they looked at how we can continue to mobilise new and existing partnerships; to develop solutions at pace and scale; to drive an innovation-led economic recovery; and tackle other critical global societal challenges such as climate change.