BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

ENGINEERS gathered at a symposium to discuss ways of using and adapting to emerging technologies in their line of work.

Lt Col (Rtd) Hj Amir Hamzah Hj Hanafi, chairman of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Brunei Darussalam, said technology has helped to connect people, engineer social change, and provide access to resources and opportunities that were unavailable in the past.

New innovative technologies have also helped to overcome limits and challenges by providing means of meeting the future needs in energy, health, communications, transportation and education, he said.

“We have a unique opportunity to chart a path to a more sustainable system that supports economic prosperity, and reflects the new reality in which we live in,” he said during the launch of the IET Brunei Symposium.

He added that throughout the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century, there have been innovative technological achievements including the Internet, social media, personal computers and the rise of mobile phones.

The symposium saw a keynote address from the Chief Executive and Secretary of IET in the United Kingdom Nigel Fine, who shared how UK is working to progress its innovation agenda.

Fine said the IET recognised that the traditional lines between engineering and technology were becoming blurred and they expect the trend to continue in the future.

“This is also why the IET is allocating an increasing amount of resources and time to developing this exciting new area by offering a wide range of different platforms, from large-scale events to online forums, to enable effective sharing of knowledge and best practices,” he said.

The Minister of Communications Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdullah Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar launched the IET Brunei Symposium 2014.

Themed ‘Evolution of Innovative Technologies’, the symposium lined up eight experts to share their innovative products and practices.

The one-day symposium, which took place at The Rizqun International Hotel, drew about 180 delegates, including researchers, engineers, academics, industrial professionals, technology experts, and policymakers.

It aimed to facilitate collaboration and information sharing in innovative technology and provide opportunities for delegates to interact with one another.

The Brunei Times