The World Economic Forum’s is using a combination of augmented reality and AI to encourage virtual engagement year-round by both current and up-and-coming leaders. Think of it as a kind of virtual Davos.

Its Next-Gen Global Collaboration Village platform is being billed as one of the only augmented reality (AR) platforms that enable real-time collaboration across device brands and diverse geographics, including China. It debuted at the Forum’s annual meeting in Davos last month.

“The Village is as a digital extension of the Forum,” says Chieh Huang, the Forum’s President, Global Collaboration Village. “Davos should not be about just one week. Why not continue these conversations on a weekly and monthly basis?"

It is the future of global collaboration, he says. “The Village helps leaders create real-world change with Next-Gen technology,” says Huang. “Inside, decision-makers visualize data, simulate outcomes and interactively problem solve."

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Pressure from consumers and regulators is increasing demand for greener products that use biological processes and genetically modified microorganisms in place of traditional production methods. As a result, the market for biomanufacturing ingredients in just three industries—specialty chemicals, food, and chemical precursors—could reach $200 billion by 2040, according to Boston Consulting Group.

But first corporate customers—which need to meet sustainability and Net Zero pledges—must commit to offtake agreements for future delivery of new ingredients and adapt their supply chains and product formulations. That is where Synonym comes in. It is helping develop the biomanufacturing infrastructure needed to kickstart the bioeconomy.

“Some of the largest companies in the world in industries like packaged foods and apparel are using our platform to do techno economic analysis of products they may want to include in their supply chain,” says co-founder and CEO Edward Shenderovich. “We help them with questions like ‘Does the tech scale? What are the limiting factors? Can this product be economically manufactured?’ We do the number crunching and then tap into our network to help test and scale production.” 

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