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Disability Innovation Summit Tokyo 2020

24/8/2020

Exploring global breakthroughs in disability technology, innovation and culture on the eve of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. The summit will bring together global experts and emerging talent to accelerate disability innovation through collaboration.

The summit will be co-hosted by the British Council Japan and Keio University Graduate School of Media Design (KMD), in partnership with the WHO Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE) Initiative.

Visit the Disability Innovation Summit website for more information.

The Summit

The Paralympic Games represents the forefront of assistive technology in the sporting world, the pinnacle of design, technology and research. It drives forward innovation, engages communities globally and generates a platform for change.

Beyond sport, disability innovation is expanding on an international scale. Businesses, governments and organisations are recognising the power of disabled audiences, the impact of accessibility, the benefit of inclusive design and the opportunities created by technological advancements.

The GDI Hub’s second Disability Innovation Summit will look at the global potential of this movement; the latest products and services, thinking and research, approaches and outputs. An opportunity to bring together global experts and emerging talent to explore the future of disability innovation and its potential to change lives around the world.

The 2020 Disability Innovation Summit is co-hosted by the British Council Japan and Keio University Graduate School of Media Design (KMD), in partnership with the WHO Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE) Initiative.

Topics

The summit will focus on three key areas;

  • Technology; Assistive Technology, Global Products & Solutions, Transformative Technologies
  • Innovation; Inclusive Design, Accessibility, Design Thinking, Social Development
  • Culture; Media, Arts, Sports, Attitudes, Approaches, Major Event Legacy

Call for papers

Call for papers and products will open in autumn 2019. There will be an opportunity to submit ideas for talks, breakout sessions and the showcase exhibition space of the summit. A full criteria will be available. Further information to follow.

Date and Location

The summit will take place on the eve of the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics on 24th August 2020 in a central Tokyo location.

Further details will be confirmed shortly.

Tickets

Tickets will be available to purchase in the autumn.

The 2017 Summit

In 2017 the GDI Hub hosted the inaugural Disability Innovation Summit, alongside the Para-athletic Championships on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The event showcased leading products, initiatives, research and ideas - bringing together the disability innovation community across the academic, governmental, business, NGO’s, sports and media sectors.

Introducing a new collaborative and multi-disciplinary approach to disability innovation, the event created a platform for new ideas, a forum to share successes and the opportunity to learn from others. Following the success of the 2017 event, the GDI Hub will host its next Disability Innovation Summit on the eve of the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

Get Involved

Opportunities to partner, sponsor, attend and volunteer at the event. Further information to follow. If you have ideas to contribute or any questions please email info@disabilityinnovationsummit.com

Visit the Disability Innovation Summit website for further details.

Speaker and audience at the Disability Innovation Summit
2017 Summit
An old man in a wheelchair is taking a photo of an art sculpture of a man wearing shorts and braces on a space hopper.
2017 Art Commission
Man speaking at the Disability Innovation Summit, HereEast building.
2017 Summit
adam, 14:17 Man speaking to the mix of disabled and non-disabled people at the Loughborough University building.
2017 Breakout Session
At user speaks at the Disability Innovation Summit
Speaker 2017 event