The global pandemic has triggered social and economic crises that we are only beginning to understand, especially in terms of the long-term implications for our local, national and multilateral institutions. We have been forced to take a hard look at new and newly exacerbated problems, ranging from vaccine nationalism to disinformation spread through the internet.
Given the interconnections of our societies and economies worldwide, governance innovation and multilateral cooperation are key to finding solutions and mitigating future crises, something echoed in my conversations with The Lancet and Financial Times Commission on Governing Health Futures 2030.
Consider the current debate around the development and rollout of vaccines. The same issues would play out in the future if a breakthrough technology emerged to address climate change. Innovation is not neutral in its growth or distribution impacts. Our work on innovation and IP is suitably broad-based, and confronting these issues is exactly what CIGI was built to do.
CIGI’s work focuses heavily on the impacts of technology on our society because it is so pervasive. From analyzing the impacts of dis- and misinformation on democracy and trust in institutions, to countering online gender-based violence and addressing new challenges facing security and intelligence, there is a clear need for modernizing the governance of technology.
This year, we have witnessed rapidly changing dynamics between great powers. Our work considers the role of China in a post-pandemic world. COVID-19 has disrupted supply chains, and, despite the rhetoric, there is no discernible China-free shape emerging yet. China’s rise in technological development is real but also contested and fragile.
It is important to consider issues close to home as well, which we’re doing by participating in Ontario’s Workforce Recovery Advisory Committee looking into the future of work.
On our twentieth anniversary, CIGI continues to look ahead to meet new challenges with innovative research and constructive dialogues with governments and partners around the world. With continued support from the Government of Canada and many others, CIGI has a clear path forward.
Rohinton P. Medhora
President, CIGI