More than 580 attendees from 31 countries are taking part at this week’s CoreNet Global EMEA Summit, making this year’s event the organisation’s most attended European Summit to date.
The annual event for corporate real estate professionals has returned to London for the fourth time, this year under the topical theme of Disruptive Innovation: the Business of Change. On Thursday morning, Beau Lotto, Ph.D., a neuroscientist from University College London and Founder of Lottolab, opened the conference with a thought-provoking session on the concept of perception.
Lotto's energetic and interactive session examined the relationship between creativity and efficiency, highlighting the importance of context in bringing meaning to perception. When questioned on the role of collaboration in the creative space – a topic explored later in the Summit during a session on the Francis Crick Institute – Lotto demonstrated the importance of a playful rather than competitive environment to enable collaborating individuals to identify and challenge one another's assumptions, strengthening each other's creativity.
During the afternoon, speakers from the Francis Crick Institute, Pfizer, and Google hosted a session to further this discussion. During his presentation, Nick Carter, Director of Services at the Francis Crick Institute explained that the strategy behind the Institute is 'discovery without boundaries', an approach reflected in the architectural and interior design by HOK and PLP Architecture. Due to house over 1,200 scientists when it opens next year, the Institute has been devised to accelerate discoveries and engage and inspire the biomedical research industry, widening the concept of collaboration beyond the walls of the building.
Meanwhile at the Young Leaders Debate the panel discussed in an Oxford-style debate whether CRE teams are destined to be support functions rather than catalysts of disruption. The light-hearted discussion also touched upon topics such as a redefinition of the business towards consultancy, the ability to attract young talent and the problem of underselling one's services. At the culmination of the session the panel remained divided, with several panellists keen to actively foster change within the industry, whilst others preferred to retain the role of service providers.
The wider conference examined a variety of issues, from the threats and opportunities of the Internet of Things, to the ways in which companies can protect themselves from cyber-attacks and how the key principles in professional sport can be used to improve worker engagement and performance in a commercial environment.
The high attendee numbers at this week's event are reflective of the organisation's continued growth. CoreNet Global has experienced record membership growth over the past year, with 9,500 registered members in 50 countries now part of the international organisation.
In order to support continued development of its members and the wider talent pipeline, CoreNet Global has engaged in multiple initiatives this year with the launch of an Essential Guide to Corporate Real Estate and an academic challenge for students which has been very well received.
Day One of the conference culminated in a lively evening of dinner and networking at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden.
Source: CoreNet Global
