Preparing for the Future Crisis: Frontier Technologies Hold the Key

ABSTRACT

The hard lesson learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic is lack of understanding the risk and preparedness for response which resulted in millions of losses of lives and unprecedented cascading effects. This chapter analyzes how frontier technologies are supporting the key stakeholders to manage the COVID-19 crises—protect lives, livelihoods, and enhance the quality of risk governance in Asia and the Pacific. This chapter addresses five key lessons emerging from the COVID-19 response (1) making risk assessment more dynamics, (2) empowering at risk communities, (3) managing a global risk with local action, (4) managing uncertainties, and (5) bridging the gaps in knowledge and understanding in systemic risks. This chapter also outlines three key enablers—frontier technologies, data science, and national innovation systems that help to prepare for the future crises. The nature and scale of risk has changed. In our increasingly complex inter-connected world, managing risk forms the key to preparing for the future. Smart preparedness is the way forward. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Machine Learning, 5G technologies, drones, automated vehicles, robotics, etc., were used to track, monitor, warn, and support logistics as well as its rapid diagnostic and telemedicine. A wide-range of risk analytics such as impact forecasting and risk informed early warning, indexing and creating risk matrix to target at risk communities which have been developed and put to use in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its intersection with extreme climate events. Digital solutions can help enhanced preparedness to protect at risk communities but also strengthen their resilience. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer 2022.