Digital innovation, new technologies and sustainability are the paramount topics of our time. On one hand, the last decades cautioned humanity about the downsides of growth and development due to planetary boundaries. More and more people started realizing that our genius cannot sustain if we do not think sustainable. One sign of change is young people all around the world demonstrating for more climate action and a paradigm shift of governments towards more sustainable policies, means of production and behavior. Their reasons are incontestable: Oceans are filling up with plastic, rain forests and endangered species are disappearing in an unprecedented way and the frustration about political and economic elites reached a peak and historical turning point.

On the other hand, we have seen exponential technological advances in data sciences, robotics, artificial intelligence, mobile internet and 3D-printing technology, enabling new forms of doing business, changing value chains and social behavior. We have to go beyond technical questions of how to adopt. The really big question is how do we humanize the digital transformation and steer it in a direction, beneficial for the environment and ultimately humanity. In order to achieve sustainable digital innovation, we need to bring cautious attitudes and tech potential together.

The necessity of sustainable digital innovation is reflected in manifestos like the Davos Manifesto 2020, the Global Risks Report and even dates back 50 years to the “The Limits of Growth” report, compiled by the Club of Rome. Further research and analysis has stressed the need for fast change. Like so often, a new compromise has to be found reconciling diverse generations, traditional and modern values, diverging societal systems and the multiplicity of ideas. We have taken on a discussion of modern-day challenges for sustainable digitalization in this Digital Insights Issue. We want to thank our contributors for providing us with insightful academic studies as well as more straight-forward examinations of how digitalization can promote sustainable practices in business and empower the Cambodian People. More precisely, the articles compiled here revolve around the topics of job-loss due to automation, promising Cambodian Start-Ups, Cambodian Universities’ contributions to preparing the country for the industrial revolution 4.0 and interlinked topics, pointing out both light and shadow on Cambodia’s path to digitalized business and society. I hope that this book will serve its purpose of facilitating and forwarding discussion and academic debate, raising public awareness, and serve as a useful resource for interested stakeholders at all levels in Southeast Asia and beyond.

Content

Digital Cooperation – An Opportunity to Advance Sustainable Development
Fabrizio Hochschild

Fighting Automation through Education
Todd Hunkin and Dr. Daniel Schmücking

Let There be Light! Smart Grids and Cambodia’s Blackouts
Aliaksei Patonia and Sotheavin Doch

The Digital Climate Impact: How to Neutralize It?
Dr. Raimund Weiß

The Role of Cambodian Universities in Preparing Cambodia for a Digital Economy
Dr. Riccardo Corrado, Sereyvuth Khat and Panha Vattey Nhean

Re-Imagine Cambodia 2030
Melanie Mossard

On the Convergence of Diplomacy and Big Data: Preparing Cambodia for Data Diplomacy
Dechkunn Chhay

Enjoy the read!