INESC TEC will co-organise an International Conference dedicated to the management of human-centred technology and sustainability

Between July 8 and 11, 2024, the city of Porto will host the 33^rd edition of the IAMOT (International Association for Management of Technology) Conference. Organised by INESC TEC and the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), this major event in technology and innovation management will explore the challenges and opportunities related to the organisations’ social, environmental, and technological aspects that have emerged in recent years. The period for submitting papers is underway.

Portugal will host the IAMOT International Conference for the first time, with INESC TEC and FEUP in charge of organising the event. The 2024 edition will focus on the role played by technological development and innovation in terms of employees’ well-being and the adoption of solutions that promote the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of different businesses.

“Following the principles of Industry 5.0, we believe that the impact of new technologies can go far beyond productivity and economic benefits. By adopting a human-centred approach to technological development – rather than adapting the workers’ skills and needs to new technologies a posteriori -, technologies can contribute more decisively to the well-being of societies”, said João Claro, Vice-Chairman of the Board and CEO of INESC TEC, Professor at FEUP and Co-Chair of IAMOT 2024.

According to Ana Simões, researcher at INESC TEC and Co-Chair of IAMOT 2024, a human-centred approach allows the use of technology to adapt business processes to the needs of workers, thus ensuring that new technologies do not conflict with fundamental rights, e.g., privacy, autonomy, and dignity. “We aim to promote an in-depth debate placing people at the centre of the process”, she claimed.

Moreover, the technological development can contribute to the environmental, social and economic sustainability of businesses – by allowing, for instance, the creation of circular business models or the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. “Technologies can also help to increase the visibility of supply chains and, consequently, to improve the management of social and environmental impact”.

The IAMOT 2024 Conference will take place between July 8 and 11, 2024, in the city of Porto. “We hope to bring together members of the academia and professional innovation enthusiasts from around the world, while promoting a debate and fostering ideas/solutions with global impact to address today’s social, environmental and economic challenges”, they concluded.

The period for submitting papers started this month. For more information about the Conference, please check the event’s website.

IAMOT – International Association for the Management of Technology is an international organisation dedicated to advancing the state of the art in technology management education and research, established more than 30 years ago in the United States of America.