About The Summit

Within America and across the globe, critical and emerging technologies are shaping every sector of industry and every corner of society. With the rapid pace at which new critical and emerging technologies are arising, it is more important than ever to holistically study and understand such technologies as a category. When is a technology either critical or emerging? How do such technologies arise, and can we do a better job predicting them? What are the ethics of not just one particular technology like AI, but all critical and emerging technologies as a whole? How do policy decisions impact American leadership in these technologies, from the lab to the board room?

Goals of the Summit

The Critical and Emerging Technology Summit at Vanderbilt University will convene leaders and experts in critical and emerging technology from academia, industry, and government. The two days of the summit will inform attendees on the issues surrounding current critical and emerging technologies, and what's coming next; bring together participants with unique networking opportunities among like-minded peers; and inspire future research collaborations, policy opportunities, and business considerations related to these technologies.



  • Hear from top-tier business leaders, researchers, public servants, and investors
  • Network with attendees working with critical and emerging technologies
  • Participate in social events, a student pitch showcase, and other planned activities

Speakers & Panelists

More speakers will be announced soon. Invited speakers include senior leaders from the public sector; leading professors from academia; C-suite executives at startups and technology companies; and world experts on critical and emerging technologies.

David Hyde

Organizer

Vanderbilt University

Stephen Welby

Government Panel

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (Alumnus)

James Evans

Keynote Speaker

University of Chicago; Santa Fe Institute; Google

Truman Pierson

Student Pitch Showcase

Theta Neurotech

Padma Raghavan

Speaker

Vanderbilt University

Ole Molvig

Keynote Speaker

Vanderbilt University

Jonny Price

Venture Capital Panel

Wefunder

Charles Yang

Government Panel

U.S. Department of Energy (Alumnus), Center for Industrial Strategy

Tim Ellis

Industry Panel

Stealth AI Startup

James Massaquoi

Venture Capital Panel

Glasswing Ventures

Ed Powell

Industry Panel

Waddey Acheson

Bill RUch

Government Panel

Lewis-Burke Associates

Krish Wadhwani

Student Pitch Showcase

Adviser Labs

Sudiksha Singhal

Student Pitch Showcase

Brace Cap

Day One Schedule (3/28/25)

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Opening remarks


David Hyde, Vanderbilt University

Padma Raghavan, Vanderbilt University

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Government Perspectives on Critical and Emerging Technologies

Stephen Welby, White House OSTP (Alumnus)

Charles Yang, DoE CET Office (Alumnus),
Center for Industrial Strategy

Bill Ruch, Lewis-Burke Associates

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Perspectives on CET and The National Network for Critical Technology Assessment

James Evans, University of Chicago


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Fireside Chat: Investing in Critical and Emerging Technologies

Jonny Price, Wefunder

James Massaquoi, Glasswing Ventures

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Dinner Provided

Dining Hall, Scarritt Bennett Center

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Social Activities

Several Options in Downtown Nashville


Day Two Schedule (3/29/25)

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Breakfast Buffet Available

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Interactive Brainstorming Workshop

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Critical and Emerging Technologies x Humanities


Professor Ole Molvig, Vanderbilt University


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Lunch Provided

Dining Hall, Scarritt Bennett Center

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Industry Panel: Critical and Emerging Technologies in the Real World

Tim Ellis, CTO of Stealth AI company, ex-Principal Engineer at Stability AI

Ed Powell, Senior Associate and Head of AI, Waddey Acheson

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Reception: Critical and Emerging Technologies at Vanderbilt and in Tennessee

The Wond'ry Innovation Center

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Vanderbilt Emerging Technology Student Pitch Showcase

Krish Wadhwani, University of Oxford

Sudiksha Singhal, Vanderbilt University

Truman Pierson, University of Chicago

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Closing Remarks

David Hyde, Vanderbilt University

Event Sponsors

Please email the event organizer at david.hyde.1@vanderbilt.edu for sponsorship information. The summit welcomes support at all levels and provides flexible sponsor recognition opportunities.

Event FAQs

Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, there is no cost to attend the summit. Dinner on the first day and lunch on the second day will be provided, in addition to light refreshments during breaks on both days. That being said, attendees will be responsible for their own airfare, ground travel, and lodging.

There are many fine hotels within walking distance of the summit. We are currently negotiating room blocks with a few nearby hotels; we expect to have details on any group rates by the end of February. We will update attendees as soon as further information is available.
The summit has support and space to host approximately 75 attendees, including speakers. Therefore, we will use a brief application system to track interested attendees. We expect to deliver notices to all applicants by the first week of March.
The event will be held in-person, and remote participation will not be possible. Attendees must commit to joining the summit in person for both days of the event.
The summit will follow Chatham House Rules. Only authorized personnel and media may conduct photography and videography during the event. Attendees are free to take photos and videos outside the event venue. Attendees may use or share any information they gain during the summit, but must not name sources or use direct quotes without prior consent.
Business attire should be worn by participants at the summit. The summit is indoors in a climate-controlled building. However, the social event on the first evening of the summit may be outdoors; there is no dress code for the social event, though comfortable shoes are recommended.

Photos

Photos of the summit will be shared here after the event. Stay tuned!

Event Location

Scarritt Bennett Center
1027 18th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212