Exploring Innovation: A Week of Technology and Inspiration in Tokyo
In early June 2024, I spent a week in Tokyo with a passionate group of tech enthusiasts on a tour organized by the amazing Dr. Catherine Ball and Sue Keay. We visited leading companies like Mitsui and Fujitsu, and showcased our expertise at the Japan Drone & Advanced Mobility Expo. Despite a few blisters, the experience was extraordinary, and the talent and energy of the young practitioners were inspiring, reaffirming my belief in GCA's direction and impact on the industry of drones and robotic.
Having had a few weeks in Europe just prior to this trip, I thought I wouldn’t bother with my toe socks. The This poor decision resulted in blisters! Mostly long strategic walking from Ginza to our appointments with a few public transport connections and the occasional taxi or Uber to get back to our accommodation.
The visit was chock full of strategic visits to organisations that were carefully chosen by Dr Cath and Sue. These included Mitsui, Kawasaki Robotics, Toyota Woven City, Fujitsu and the Tokyo Agriculture and Technology University.
Having flown in on a Sunday the group hit the ground running on Monday with a visit to the famous central market that was partly older style street-based sales and the adjoining modern market. On Wednesday a booth was organised at the Japan Drone & Advanced Mobility Expo for each group member to showcase their expertise.
That experience was extraordinary.
The GCA business had several very deep conversations and enquiry around our use of drones and the output and design from the data processing exercise. I went prepared with some outstanding project work completed by our office which received excellent feedback. At the end of the week I made a short but powerful presentation at the Tokyo.
Agricultural & Technology University to the University President and several learned scholars.
Apart from being slightly intimidated by the brain power in the room, I held my own!
I had the pleasure of spending a week with some of the most talented and enthusiastic ‘young practitioners’ in our country. Without a doubt I was likely the ‘group elder’. It’s horrible to think that it’s come to that. That I now see and judge myself as an elder! But I was so impressed by the enthusiasm and the energy of the assembled tour group. Each of the members have significant talent and knowledge to impart and I know that in the future we are in good hands.
As an individual and business ownerI know we are heading in the right direction, and I’m proud to be a thought leader and elder in the tech space. I am finding there is greater acceptance of the use of technology in the industry and GCA through its application is changing the approach to land use planning in leaps and bounds. As a famous hair product advertisement once claimed, “It Won’t Happen Overnight, But It Will Happen”!
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