We are beset by a technological acceleration that is penetrating all spheres of society. Even despite some reluctance, this fact will continue to explode if we stick to the three laws (Moore, Butter and Kryder) that support the digital revolution.

The benefits of emerging technologies, including those of Industry 4.0 in the daily lives of individuals, institutions, and governments are undeniable. For example, the Internet of Things makes it possible to monitor seasonal agricultural production; the exploitation of augmented reality today is used to motivate and engage learners through interactive experiences; 4D printing facilitates the product design process during the supply chain. Artificial intelligence can be exploited to optimize the allocation of resources in public administration; distributed ledger technologies are used to dematerialize and secure financial transactions. Big Data and analytics are used to reduce treatment costs and increase treatment efficiency after assembling and analyzing patient data to identify explanations that are not humanly visible to practitioners. The world is therefore in a mad race during which we must constantly adapt in order to properly exploit these increasingly accessible technologies for our adapted solutions. Consequently, it disrupts our habits and therefore those of the surrounding ecosystem in terms of governance, legal, social, informational, educational, to name a few. In addition, this evolution is accompanied by ethical, irresponsible drifts exposing people to cybercriminals.

Indeed, this technological movement tends to rule the inefficient human from any mastery or control of the applications that result from it. The resumption of this control requires questions to which adequate answers, provided by SAFER-TEA, will make it possible to contain the disturbance and to channel this technological movement to social and societal realities for better governance. The direct consequence is the cleaning up of the landscape of the digital economy.

The University of Dubai in the UAE organizes EAI SAFER-TEA 2024, a conference aimed at bringing together multi-disciplinary scientists and practitioners as well as societal actors to explore and converge on sustainable, adapted solutions guaranteeing safe, secure, responsible, and ethical use of emerging cybertechnologies and related applications.  This annual conference highlights multidisciplinary by bringing together scientists, academics, government actors, civil society actors, digital industry practitioners, entrepreneurs, independent academics, technology communities, innovators, policy makers and private sector leaders who find their interest. During this event, they will explore, exchange and discuss opportunities and advances related to digital transformation and the exploitation of emerging technologies and their applications, but also and above all the risks associated with this revolution as well as the preservation of safe, secure, ethical and responsible use and ecosystem.

Discussions around a SAFER-TEA aim to answer fundamental questions. What scientific and practical approaches have been developed to support the sound exploitation of these technologies? Are the applications of government strategies sufficient and robust to technological disruption? Are the innovations sufficiently boosted, ethical and responsible? What are the immediate shortcomings encountered by the community consuming these technologies? Are the training offers, the pedagogical mechanisms and the educational environment adequate with the digital transformation? To achieve this controlled, responsible and ethical technological governance, what practical methods should be applied in order to reduce the gap between the least developed countries and those most advanced in terms of appropriation? How to ensure that the efforts proposed in all sectors are sustainable? EAI SAFER-TEA is the place where government actors present the existing strategies in their respective sector in relation to these challenges that come with technological disruption. It is also the place for professionals to share their experience and the gaps to be filled in the field. We also wish to have the actors of international civil society, the beneficiary socio-economic actors in relation to this movement to participate in these discussions. Having noticed that many communities act in this common vision, SAFER-TEA wishes to facilitate federating to pool efforts and possible collaborations over the long term.

The second International Conference on Safe, Secure, Ethical, Responsible Technologies and Emerging Applications
(SAFER-TEA 2023) will be held in Dubai, UAE from December 9 to 10, 2024.