MIT ClimateTech Conference
The MIT ClimateTech Conference is an annual 2-day event hosted by MIT Technology Review as a platform for discussing the latest advances in technology, social justice, and policy related to climate change. As is the case with most conferences post-COVID, the event was held both on-site, at the MIT Media Lab in this case, and live streamed for the many virtual attendees.
At PI, we believe that design has an important role to play in solving today’s toughest challenges, and there isn’t a challenge any bigger than climate change. Fortunately for us, the Boston area is a nexus of innovation in this emerging sector, and attending was a great way to rub elbows and connect with industry luminaries, visionary entrepreneurs, and motivated academics who share our passion for a better tomorrow.
If there was an unspoken theme to the event, it might have been “Things are different this time”. In light of the failings of an earlier boom-and-bust investment cycle, known as “climate tech 1.0”, the ingredients are clearly in place now to enable new technology to thrive. EV’s are now “a thing” in the US, a sea-change that impacts everything from consumer perceptions of what’s normal to the economics of battery manufacturing. Installations of clean energy like solar and wind have skyrocketed, creating a growing market for energy storage and delivery solutions. Recent advances in artificial intelligence are enabling researchers to iterate material combinations and sift through mountains of data in a way that was impossible just a couple years ago. And mentioned at nearly every turn was the massive impact of the Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, passed just last year, which could end up being the defining piece of legislation of our time.
Truly an inspiring couple of days in the heart of Kendall Square – I can’t wait to come back next year!
Keep up with expos and conferences that PI attends by checking out our Journal.
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