Technology is evolving at a pace that most organisations struggle to keep up with. The advent of artificial intelligence, immersive media, and wearable devices is reshaping how we work, communicate, and compete as individuals, a society and businesses.

For business leaders, the opportunity of change has always been balanced with risk - in this age of technological advancement the risks can be choosing the wrong technology, investing too early, and moving too slowly. They all lead to losing competitiveness.

This moment though undoubtedly is a time to act. The technological tools do and will increasingly matter, so as researchers and businesses leaders we share a need to ask how, why, and when to adopt them.

Falmouth University's new creative technology research hub Centre for Blended Realities is placing Cornwall at the forefront of the development and adoption of this new field, exploring how new technology can help individuals and businesses be more creative and do more, and what it means for our culture and society.

We'll be making this research and insights accessible through our Launchpad Futures incubation programme and business support facility, and Academy of Continuing Education's (ACE) CPD and training offers. This is because businesses exploring the adoption of new technologies in dialogue with research stand a better chance of embedding technology in ways that deliver long-term value.

These opportunities will present ethical considerations. Because our research will bring critical and creative thinking about innovation and creative technology, rather than being driven by product cycles and specific applications, our value will also lie in helping others to develop ethical frameworks. This helps ensure that technologies enhance our human capabilities and experiences rather than compromise them.