Digital and emerging technologies continue to transform the lives of individuals, the economic prospects of companies and countries, and social and political dynamics at local and global scales. But digital and emerging technologies are marked by unequal access and ownership, illegal or irresponsible exploitation and manipulation, and weaponization for economic competition and military conflict. As the role of digital and emerging technologies in the lives of people across the world grows – with the opportunity for greater prosperity, happiness, and individual fulfilment – so does the urgency of addressing their potential negative impacts. Virtual Routes’ first step in tackling such issues is to better understand their causes and consequences through independent, objective, and thorough research, carried out to the highest academic standards. However, research must be connected to action – at the technological, policy, and social level – to generate meaningful change. Virtual Routes therefore also convenes key stakeholders for dialogue and knowledge exchange, and educates future leaders in practical technology and policy skills. In this way, we combine immediate action with creating the conditions for a more inclusive technology community in the future.