News
18.01.2024
Victor Pinchuk Foundation hosts “Future of War” discussion on the occasion of WEF 2024
On 18 Jan 2024, Victor Pinchuk Foundation hosted the “Future of War” discussion on the occasion of the WEF in Davos (Switzerland). The event was held as a part of the Deciding Your Tomorrow project, organized by Victor Pinchuk Foundation and PinchukArtCentre in cooperation with the Office of the President of Ukraine. The panel explored scenarios for the future of Ukraine and its allies in the fight against Russian aggression. Global political leaders, thinkers and activists discuss key aspects of Ukrainians’ defense of life and freedom and it offers a chance to revisit what is at stake in Ukraine.
Among the participants of the discussion were Oleksandr Kamyshin, the Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine; Dr. Will Marshall, Co-Founder & CEO, Planet Labs PBC; Dr. Gundbert Scherf, Co-Founder & CEO, Helsing GmbH; Mariia Nazarova, Combat medic, National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) tactical medicine instructor. Zanny Minton Beddoes, the editor-in-chief of the Economist, moderated the discussion.
Oleksandr Kamyshin stressed the importance of innovation on the battlefield: “Innovation is the key to move forward in this war. These days, we don’t imagine waging a war without drones, AI and intelligence. It’s definitely a part of combat operations, intelligence and medical evacuation from the front line. It is a new page in the book.”
Oleksandr Kamyshin revealed that the Ukrainian defence industry has been successfully producing UAVs with a flight range of up to 1250 km: “We are capable of producing something that costs $350 and ability to fly to St. Petersburg and hit a target. It was produced in Ukraine.”
“All these innovations have evolved in Ukraine over the past year and there will be more. Ukrainian defense tech would be at the destination,” he added.
“We will be able to share learnings with other nations. Unfortunately lives have been lost but we are becoming leaders in defence,” Oleksandr Kamyshin warned.
Dr. Gundbert Scherf compared the development of the war in Ukraine to COVID-19 pandemic. Ukrainian military tech companies will evolve in a way similar to how pharmaceutical companies began offering vaccines against the virus - sharing solutions, intelligence and saving lives along the way.
“We need to ask Ukrainians what they need, and then give them what they want. Military tech companies need to be seen as investable technology companies. This is what we do, we invest our own money into the things that we believe in, and then we work with Ukraine and try these things,” Gundbert Scherf said.
“We want to see Ukraine driving innovation in the future. It already is today,” Gundbert Scherf stressed.
Dr. Will Marshall explained how satellite images helped monitor the situation on the battlefield and could become evidence to hold Russia accountable for war crimes. He said: “There are two types of war happening simultaneously. One of them is a classic type of war with tanks and bullets, and this is where Russia has the upper hand with more tanks and more bullets. There is also an information war, which is aided by AI, but it’s really about drones and data. This is where Ukraine has a massive advantage. Firstly, because it is more inventive with that technology and secondly, because companies like ours want to lend our hand as best as we can to help.”
“Pictures can speak a thousand words. They can show the atrocities that Russians are carrying out daily. I think that massively helps open societies and democracies,” he added.
“Satellite and drone data doesn’t lie. They can help us to figure out the truth of the situation, and combat the misinformation,” he noted.
Mariia Nazarova said: “A sergeant of the Ukrainian army can reach out to higher command with a proposal so there is a chance to change the medical doctrine. That is a very important thing that Russians will never have. This is why innovation is on our side.“
Photos from the discussion are available here
Video is available here
