While recent crises amplify the complex global challenges that society will have to face in the coming decades, scientific knowledge has been an important decision-making tool to help mitigate some of our biggest problems.
A new survey by IBM's Institute for Business Value of more than 14,000 adults in 9 countries, including Brazil and Mexico in Latin America, shows that the majority of consumers believe that scientific and technological advances will bring positive change and will play an important role in how we will respond to future crises.
The main findings of the study include:
– 88% of global respondents indicated that they believe that scientific and technological advances are critical to helping make the world a better place. In Brazil, this number is even higher (95%). Approximately 4 out of 5 global respondents (79%) also indicated that the rapid development of vaccines against COVID-19 has increased their confidence in science.
– The majority of respondents are confident that emerging technologies can help solve the challenges facing society today – the greatest confidence is in robotics, AI and semiconductor technologies. Respondents from Mexico and Brazil indicate greater confidence, among all respondents, in the ability of technologies to help communities solve the most urgent challenges facing human beings and societies today.
– Almost all respondents around the world agreed that some actions are needed to advance science and technology in their countries. Improving STEM programs and collaboration and increased funding for research are at the top of the list. Support for these points was most evident in respondents from Brazil and Mexico.
The survey also points out how critical science and technology skills are for the perspective of employees' professional careers and future:
– Most employees say the pandemic has forced them to learn new ways of working and technologies. Most employers support building these skills.
– Global officials who responded to the survey say that 5G and AI are expected to become increasingly important in the next 3 years. More respondents from Brazil (49%) and Mexico (46%) than all other countries surveyed indicate they will use Cloud Computing within the next three years. 57% of Brazilian respondents believe that 5G will be needed in their work in the next three years.
– Brazil recognizes that its role has changed significantly and expects its role to continue to evolve in the future. Respondents from Brazil and Mexico are confident they have the necessary skills and will be able to keep pace with future advances. They also strongly recognize the need to keep their skills up to date.
