Davos 2026: World Economic Forum to establish five new centres for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

The World Economic Forum has announced the signing of agreements to establish five new Centres for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR), expanding its global network focused on the responsible development and deployment of emerging technologies.

The new centres will be located in France, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and India, and will concentrate on strategic priorities including artificial intelligence, frontier technologies, the energy transition and cyber resilience. Each centre will work closely with governments, industry and other stakeholders to develop practical policy frameworks, launch pilot projects, address regional priorities and strengthen international cooperation.

The expansion is expected to reinforce the Forum’s Fourth Industrial Revolution Network, which brings together public and private sector actors to translate technological innovation into adaptable, real-world solutions that support responsible technology adoption.

Commenting on the development, World Economic Forum President and Chief Executive Officer Børge Brende said the launch of the new centres reflects the importance of multistakeholder collaboration in addressing shared technology challenges. He noted that local and regional insights provided by partners will strengthen global efforts to advance emerging technologies responsibly.

In France, the European Centre for AI Excellence will be launched in Paris in partnership with VivaTech. As part of the global 4IR Network, the centre will focus on accelerating responsible AI innovation and adoption to enhance Europe’s global competitiveness. It will mobilize projects and partnerships to strengthen the regional AI ecosystem and support the deployment of AI across multiple sectors. Maurice Lévy, Chairman of the European Centre for AI Excellence and Co-President of VivaTech, said the centre brings Europe’s perspective to the forefront of AI, advancing sovereign and trustworthy AI while strengthening competitiveness across technology and industry.

In the United Kingdom, the Centre for AI-Driven Innovation will be hosted by Imperial College London. The centre will focus on the development and adoption of advanced AI technologies across key UK sectors, while exploring the convergence of AI with frontier technologies such as quantum computing, biotechnology and generative AI. Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, said the centre builds on the institution’s track record of translating research into real-world impact through responsible and scalable AI adoption.

The United Arab Emirates will host two new centres in Abu Dhabi. The Centre for Frontier Technologies, hosted by the Technology Innovation Institute, will advance innovation in areas including quantum technologies, robotics and space, while promoting public-private collaboration to support responsible deployment. Dr. Najwa Aaraj, Chief Executive of the Technology Innovation Institute, said the centre will combine research excellence, policy leadership and global collaboration to move frontier research beyond the laboratory into real-world application.

Also in Abu Dhabi, the Centre for Intelligent Future will be hosted by Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence. The centre will focus on strengthening global AI capabilities across research, infrastructure, adoption and innovation, convening leaders from government, business, civil society and academia. MBZUAI President Eric Xing said the centre will connect frontier AI research to pressing economic, social and human challenges, reinforcing the university’s role in shaping technological and societal development.

In India, the Centre for Energy and Cyber Resilience will be established in partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. The centre will promote innovation-led approaches to the energy transition while strengthening cyber resilience across industries through pilots, consultations and knowledge exchange. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the partnership reflects a commitment to building capacity in areas such as energy security, cyber resilience, trusted digital systems and large-scale talent development.

Together, the new centres are expected to further strengthen the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network by bringing governments, industry and experts together around shared technology challenges. As the network continues to expand, it will support the responsible development and deployment of emerging technologies to address global priorities.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution Network, launched by the World Economic Forum in 2017, serves as a platform for multistakeholder collaboration aimed at ensuring emerging technologies deliver broad societal benefits while minimizing risks. The network includes national and thematic centres across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas, supporting responsible innovation across a wide range of sectors.

The announcement was made during the World Economic Forum’s 56th Annual Meeting, held from 19 to 23 January 2026 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue.”