With the Youth International Summer School in Shanghai just a few months away, Youth Time International Movement begins to interview the experts who will be sharing their expertise throughout the event. One of these experts is Mr. Rob van Kranenburg, Founder of Council – the largest independent IoT thinktank.

Mr. van Kranenburg also works as Ecosystem Manager for the EU projects Tagitsmart and Next Generation Internet. He wrote The Internet of Things - a critique of ambient technology and the all-seeing network of RFID, Network Notebooks 02, Institute of Network Cultures. Together with Christian Nold, Rob van Kranenburg published Situated Technologies Pamphlets 8: The Internet of People for a Post-Oil World. He is co-editor of Enabling Things to Talk Designing IoT solutions with the IoT Architectural Reference Model, Springer Open Access. Further, Rob is in the SmartCitiesWorld Advisory Board and chairs AC04 - IoT Hyper-connected Society of the IERC, The European Research Cluster on the Internet of Things. Rob is also a member of The IoT Asia 2017 International Advisory Panel (IAP) and involved in building the ecosystem for the Next Generation Internet.

Mr. Rob van Kranenburg will be hosting a workshop on the topic, “The Role of Big Data and IoT in Smart Cities”. This interview aims to provide the Youth International Summer School participants with insight into what they can expect from the workshop, in addition to learning how to best prepare for it.

Mr. van Kranenburg, what is it about the Youth International Summer School in Shanghai that interests you most?

The people attending. Especially now I would like to know more how Millennials and the generations after them come to terms with their digitally hybrid world. Me, I am from the eighties. I still see a door and a key in the lock. I realize that for anyone after me there are just a thousand doors. Which one to open? Which one leads to a good room?

Are there any particular areas you will be focussing on with regard to the workshop on Big Data and IoT?

I will focus on the ‘thickness’ of data, the granularity of data that makes up real time analytics that makes sense for everyday life and living. I will talk about the growing centralization, crypto, and fintech. I will argue that as a society you need a system approach in order to build the best balance between centralization and decentralization.

What lessons can participants expect to gain from your workshop and how will they best apply them to their future endeavours?

I hope that in the years to come they realize they have agency and they should act when they feel the need.

Are there any additional topics or elements you wish to bring to our attention or add to the discussion?

Agency is the most important thing. Responsibility is second. Being true to yourself is the key.

Photo: From the archive of Rob van Kranenburg

As the Youth International Summer School in Shanghai is now less than two months away, Youth Time International Movement are gearing up to welcome the experts and participants that will be travelling from all over the globe to share their knowledge, ideas, and experiences with one another. To get participants in the mood for the event we begin to interview the speakers and trainers who will pass on their expertise and advice to participants at the event. One of these experts is Dr. Oualid Ali.

Dr. Oualid Ali is considered as one of the international well-recognized experts in the field of Future cities (Smart, Sustainable and innovative Cities) and has participated in several future cities projects as a researcher or as a consultant. He has been involved in the planning and implementation of future cities in many domains such as smart mobility and transportation, smart tourism and destination, smart energy, smart healthcare, smart logistics, smart waste management, smart parking, smart water management, smart education, smart security, smart policing and law enforcement, etc. Moreover, Dr. Ali is a member of several organizations related to the area of Smart Cities or Urban technologies. He has been invited on many occasions to local, regional and international events as a guest or keynote speaker to deliver talks and presentations about future cities and its domains. Dr. Oualid Ali is the founder and president of the Future Cities Council which has more than 70,000 members from government (cities), industry, academia and civic society. He is also the founder of Inno-Gate, a firm that is specialized in emerging & innovative technologies, innovation management, entrepreneurship and digital transformation.

Dr. Oualid Ali will be delivering his presentation on the topic, “Innovation Labs, Startup Accelerators and Incubators for Entrepreneurial Success”. This interview aims to provide Youth International Summer School participants with added insight and understanding as to what they can expect from Dr. Oualid Ali’s talk, in addition to learning how to best prepare for the event.

Oualid Ali, share with us a short introduction about yourself, your career and areas of expertise.

I gained my PhD in computer science at Laval University in Canada and have since lived in the UK, UAE and Oman. My field of interest is Future, Tech trends, innovation, Industry x.0 and smart cities. Presently, I’m travelling the world as a futurist and global speaker.

What is it about the Youth International Summer School in Shanghai that excites you most and how does it resonate with your personal interests and professional experience?

I have been delivering training sessions and speeches about smart cities at several summer school events across the world including Aachen (German), Trento (Italy) and Oman. The most exciting thing about the Youth International Summer School for me are the location of the event (I have visited Shanghai and it is an amazing city), the topics of the school (comprehensive topics about smart cities, society, etc.) as well as the network I’m going to meet during the event.

Innovation labs and startup acceleratorshave an important role to play in the future of our young entrepreneurs? Without giving too much away, could you explain how your presentation will go into this?

In my presentation I will talk about the innovation and the entrepreneur ecosystem in general and how this will prepare the youth for the challenges of the future. I will go deeper into how the spaces like innovation labs, accelerators and incubators have boosted the careers of creative young entrepreneurs and helped them to become successful. These case studies will help likeminded participants to enjoy the same success.

What lessons can participants expect to gain from your presentation and how will they best apply them both personally and professionally?

The attendees will learn a lot about innovation and entrepreneurship. As outcomes of my lecture, I’m sure that many people will discover their own great ideas and become motivated to grow their own startups in incubators and accelerator spaces (there are a lot in Shanghai and China).

Is there any advice you can offer in advance to Youth International Summer School participants before attending your talk?

My advice is the following: the future is fast and very challenging, and they have to be prepared for it. The only way to be prepared is to innovate and work very hard.

Ambassadors 2017

Naveen Chaudhary (India)

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Naveen is a youth mentor, a full-time mechanical engineer, and a young social leader. He has worked with many multinational companies in India and the UAE. He has published a technical paper on sustainable mass transit design, and has designed an original new mass transit system.  Apart from his full-time job, he volunteers for many international NGOs, working in the fields of education, energy, and sustainable development. He is a founder and director of the „Vijaydeep Foundation: NGO in Varanasi, working to provide quality education, sustainable energy, and preventive healthcare. He has participated as a speaker, presenter, and delegate at many international and national conferences including the United Nations, the Commonwealth, etc.

Hussaini Garba Mohammed (Nigeria)

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An author, speaker, International Peace Advocate, and International Election Observer, and a widely traveled Youth Empowerment professional. Hussaini graduated from the National Institute of Business Management in Chennai, India with an MBA in Production Management. Currently he works as a Head of Editorial Production at Media Trust Nigeria Limited - publisher of the Daily Trust, the Weekly Trust, the Sunday Trust, and the Kilimanjaro and Aminiya Newspapers. Hussaini has been named International Youth Advocate of the Year by the West African Students‘ Union in East Africa. He was also appointed Local Coordinator for African Students for Liberty in 2017 and has recently been appointed Kano State Ambassador for the Youth Development Centre at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria to campaign for Irregular Migration, #The Abroad Campaign.

Qëndrim Behluli (Kosovo)

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A university graduate, with a specialisation in international law, and since childhood interested in human rights and international relations. Wishes to be active in the social life of his community.  Has become involved in various organizations such as "Ligo Lex Legis" where he currently is a member of the organization’s parliament. Qëndrim's work is focused in youth rights, international relations, and popular awareness. His main ambition is that one day he will become an important actor in creating good international relations for his country.

Dr. Eric Osagie Iyayi (Nigeria)

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Eric has been a practicing medical doctor for 10 years now, working ath one of the leading health facilities in Africa. In addition to being a successful medical doctor, he has been passionately engaged with his responsibilities as a public speaker, persuasive writer, disruptive thinker, talent manager, and life coach. As an increasingly prominent, charismatic speaker, he has appeared in high schools, universities, youth forums, churches, corporate organisations, and training establishments to address highly inspirational and important topics including ‘Talentpreneurship’, ‘Thinkingcraft’ and ‘Blue Ocean Ethical Leadership’. He has positively influenced and mentored multiple young adults  who are showing great promise for pacesetting exploits. Eric has won laurels in his academic field, the medical profession, and has been a gifted contributor to various causes. He is a member of several prestigious organisations including the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children, Kentucky, USA; and has attended several national and international conferences/summits. He has written several inspiring articles and is currently working on two books, to be published soon. Eric is involved in several creative projects including app/software development.

Hayet Bourki (Algeria)

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Hayet is a 25-year-old teacher of English at Evocenter.us, a leading school in English instruction in Batna city in Algeria. Hayet is also active in two other fields, which are architecture and law. Despite these professional qualifications, Hayet has chosen to follow her passion: English. Hayet is interested in intercultural dialogue and innovative teaching. She is also a poet and is very active in the domain of social entrepreunership and youth empowerment. She is the founder and Leader of the EFE Club, which has been recognized as the most active Club at Setif University; she has represented Algeriaat the Global Youth Forum (Spain 2015); she has hosted a program devoted uniquely to English at the Batna Radio station; and has been named best delegate at ECOSOC AMUN 2016, in addition to many other endeavors.Hayet adheres to theYouthTime motto "Be the change that you wish to see in the world".

Zhe Liu (China)

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Liu Zhe, graduated from the University of the West of Scotland in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in human resources management. Also, he is chairman of Beijing HongShengJiaDe technology co., LTD. and founder and CEO of the PaoPao buddy brand. During his student years, he was the president of the Chinese students and scholars association at the University of the West of Scotland and was given special recognition by the education department of the British Embassy in the People's Republic of China. After returning to China, he founded the Chinese innovation brand called "PaoPao buddy". This is a modern technology enterprise which integrates production, sales, and service, advocating a green and efficient life philosophy. He has applied for more than 20 Chinese patents for his products.

Tafaol Alageb (Sudan)

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Tafaol is an environmental activist and peace advocate and is a founder of a civil society organization that focuses on water sanitation and poverty alleviation in an attempt to improve the quality of life in Sudan. She holds a BSc. in Business Administration and Management. She volunteers for numerous community activist organizations, in particular those related to the environment and vulnerable groups. She is currently a Volunteer at Cousteau UNESCO-Ecotechnie and aims to pursue an environmental consultancy career. She aspires to influence positively the status of development in Sudan and Africa. Moreover she is into fashion, beauty, travel, and art.

Mohammad S. Khan (Bahrain)

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Mohammad is a fintech enthusiast and advisor with over 17 years of achievement in the banking and finance sector. He is a serial entrepreneur, having launched businesses in multiple fields. Currently he spearheads the penetration of Islamic Banking services at a foreign bank in Bahrain. He is also the Vice Chairman of the Bahrain Association of Banks and the Islamic Banking Committee and is an advisor to the World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists. He advises a number of blockchain initiatives. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Fintech program and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School. He is the President (Bahrain) and Board member of the Harvard Business School Club of GCC. Mohammad has been ranked as one of the 500 most influential members of the global Islamic economy.