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Innovations change history. In the 1700s, Benjamin Franklin disagreed with the way smallpox was being handled by the government and, in response, created one of the first newspapers to describe his viewpoints. This, in turn, became a communication platform improving links between people, groups and communities. How we innovate and mobilize resources will define how we evaluate the success of beating the COVID-19 pandemic in years to come.

Two workstreams are integral to beating this virus. We have scientists who are working every day to find a cure and diagnose COVID-19, and we have other scientists working around the clock to sustain civil society. These people are looking at innovations to improve working conditions, education, community and health during this crisis.

As the world comes to terms with the effects of the coronavirus, we are seeing social devastation and economic collapse — and we have yet to find a cure for this deadly illness. The world faces immense challenges, ones that we have encountered only a handful of times previously, such as the Spanish flu in 1918, the SARS outbreak in 2002 and the Ebola outbreak. But in terms of exponential growth and mortalities, none has been so striking as COVID–19.

When we consider the reality of the pandemic, we have no large-scale means of testing for antibodies or distributing vaccines, two things that are integral in the fight against the virus. I want to see progress stepped up in the fight against this disease.

We need scientific and medical advances now more than ever, and I see real promise in these fields in combating the virus efficiently and effectively. In the past few weeks we have seen advances in sequencing the genetic code of the virus, so it can be tracked with time and used to form potential vaccines. There has also been progress on the deployment of drones to decontaminate affected areas.

Even a recent innovation that uses new antibody missiles to target critical structures and disable the COVID-19 virus in 20 minutes shows the progress the scientific community is making in the fight against the pandemic.

In the midst of the crisis, we have seen great strides in innovation in diagnostics, cures and attempts to halt the spread of the coronavirus. We have also seen the importance of harnessing science, technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in not only combating the virus but also adapting to the social and economic conditions we now face. These are two challenges that we are working against the clock to solve. I find it fascinating that while these medical innovations are taking place, social innovation is also making great strides.

Effectively, social innovation asks us to identify a human need and provide an alternative and more effective solution to existing options. While the developed world seeks to make itself more comfortable, in developing countries, COVID-19 is about survival. We are looking to AI to sustain the developing world via startups that emerge in developing countries.

In India, there are 4,200 startups — the third largest startup ecosystem in the world. These disruptive investments, which will shape the economy of the future and improve the lives of those who need it in India and beyond, are what we are looking to amid the pandemic.

AI will be a game changer in improving the lives of the world’s poor. If we apply this technology to solving the world’s problems, we can lower the cost of treatment, diagnostics and the availability to basic health utilities.

We have seen the power of AI in transforming the way we live, including the use of drones in administrating pesticides, which has improved crop yields for many farming communities in India. The possibilities are endless, and it is these things that will revolutionize the battle against pandemics.

In the fight against the coronavirus, we are looking beyond medical innovation to rapid polymer and metal 3D printed open source ventilators and masks, online mesh technologies for supporting noncontact, socially distanced meetings, and big data identifying and engaging suitable retired doctors and nurses to rejoin the health service.

While half the science and technology industry searches for a cure for the virus, the other half is finding solutions that can overcome and adapt to the prevailing conditions, strengthening civil society and ensuring we can continue to thrive.