In the hopes of discovering the next big idea in mobility, BMW i and TED laid down a challenge. What would the future of mobility look like? There were no constraints on time frame or existing technology. The Next Visionaries project was conceived as a free form exercise in innovation and ideation with the goal to surface some truly breakthrough concepts.
Ideas poured in from around the world. Nearly 200 visionaries from 42 countries offered their own perspectives for how we will be moving in the near and distant futures. Presented exclusively by BMW i, the TED Salon curated talks around the theme Speed of Change. The session considered the rapid evolution and transformation taking place in cities worldwide and posed such questions as: How can we keep them humane places in which to live and work? What smart technologies can make transportation of people, goods and ideas flow efficiently? And how can architects and designers use materials and style to preserve and distinguish local cultures?
The jury went on to crown Sandra Phillips as the competition winner thanks to her vision of car sharing, which pays particular attention to social and extra-urban factors. “Like all the other finalists, Sandra Phillips has thought outside the box. Her concept is already quite advanced and also considers the aspect of social change,” says Hildegard Wortmann, Senior Vice President Brand BMW and member of the Next Visionaries jury, providing some background on the decision.
Nikolas Peter, Member of the Board of Management of the BMW Group, likewise emphasized the relevance of social aspects when it comes to shaping the future: “For more than 100 years, the BMW Group stands for visionary thinking and technological advancement. We always put people in the center when considering future development. For us, it is crucial that innovation first and foremost delivers added value for our customers, employees and society.”
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