2045 Initiative Aims to Set Ambitious Goals For Human Civilization

The 2045 Initiative, founded in February 2011 by Russian internet mogul Dmitry Itskov, said it plans to establish the world's first research center for immortality. The project describes its mission as advancing mankind's evolution, and also highlights its intention to initiate dialogue including religious institutions

So far, over 20,000 people have signed up in support of the 2045 Initiative that intends to use android bodies to obtain immortality. Partnering for the project are many Russian specialists in various fields including robotics, artificial organs and neural interfaces.

Together they worked out a general road-map with 4 major steps so far. The multi-decade research and development push will try to understand human consciousness and ultimately how to transfer it from human bodies into robotic avatars.

There will soon be more information how the project will go ahead and how it will be financed since Itskov indicated that he will announce news regarding this at the Global Future 2045 congress that will take place in New York City from June 15-16, 2013 (update: tickets with special discount available now). The congress and it's panel of some world-class scientists, inventors and thinkers will discuss, according to their website, "global challenges and science mega-projects and insights on these matters from various spiritual traditions. The main focus will be the Avatar Project, which includes the development of anthropomorphic robots, telepresence systems, brain-computer interfaces (BCI), life-support systems for the brain, neuroprostheses, whole brain modeling, consciousness theory, and road-maps for non-biological mind substrates."

Itskov takes into account human transformation from all aspects and pointed to the Neolithic revolution, the first spiritual revolution and the industrial revolution. Itskov's idea of a "neo-humanity" evolution is based on five principles including high spirituality, high culture, high ethics, high science and high technologies.

He says that "this is a chance to change the world for the better, to bring new technologies to the world: android robots to replace people in factories; avatars who are controlled by thought, making bodily presence possible in any part of the world, and thus eliminating the need for travel; mobile means of communications controlled by thought, implanted in the body or grafted into the skin, and many other things."

"The main goals of the 2045 Initiative are the creation and realization of a new strategy for the development of humanity which meets global civilization challenges; the creation of optimal conditions promoting the spiritual enlightenment of humanity; and the realization of a new futuristic reality based on 5 principles: higher spirituality, higher culture, higher ethics, higher science and higher technologies."