The Wall Street Journal recently reported that start-ups will have a prominent role at this year's Paris Air Show. Around 100 companies will have the opportunity to pitch to receive funding from the big boys of aerospace at an event where young companies were once shunted to the side. It's further evidence of a trend that is playing out across the science and technology sector and being picked up by the media: established industry players in science and technology are increasingly looking to start-ups and entrepreneurs for innovations, be they new designs, materials or just different ideas about operations. The industry has definitely caught on to the fact that we are in the midst of a fourth industrial revolution, encompassing the advancement of 3D printing, artificial intelligence (AI) and energy storage, to name just a few elements. Scientific and tech leaders also know that two heads are better than one when it comes to addressing the challenges this new revolution will throw our way.