WORKING GROUP I – STIMULATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Entrepreneurship has been democratised. Through digital technologies, crowdfunding, 3D printing and other innovations, turning a good idea into an economic success is possible for a greater number of people than ever before. Still, old barriers to entrepreneurship linger, whilst the changing economic and regulatory enviroment creates new hurdles for the next generation of entrepreneurs to overcome.
What role should our education and vocational training systems play in encouraging innovation? How do we ensure that new companies – their approach to markets, products and services – maintain a wider social benefit beyond profit? With increased automation, how do we avoid creating the type of “jobless society” in which an ever-growing percentage of the population finds itself not just without an income, but without a “stake in society”?
Guest Expert
Kaidi Ruusalepp
Founder and CEO of Funderbeam
Chair
Malcolm Byrne
Irish senator at Seanad Eireann, 2014 European Young Leader
WORKING GROUP II – EFFECTIVELY MANAGE HUMAN MIGRATION
With 65 million refugees and displaced people worldwide, existing migration systems and processes have been tested almost to breaking point. The challenge: how to feed and house large numbers of people arriving, to integrate them and find them work and a purpose? One possibility is to develop a centralised database for highly-skilled refugees to facilitate matching host countries with particular skills deficits with qualified migrant candidates, thus freeing up positions for less-skilled migrants to be integrated into the economy.
Would this help to ease the strain on competition for blue-collar positions amongst domestic and migrant populations? What level of screening should be applied, especially in times of acute need? And how do regions such as the Middle East and North Africa – the source of many refugees arriving in Europe – ensure that a ‘brain drain’ does not irreparably impact its economy and security?
Testimonial
Maadh Alsammarraien
Market Analyst at Fortum Charge & Drive
Chair
Dharmendra Kanani
Director, Asia, Peace, Security & Defense, Digital & Chief spokesperson
WORKING GROUP III – SECURITY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
Security challenges are evolving, encompassing not only long-standing threats (such as conventional warfare and nuclear proliferation) but new threats like cyber-security, asymmetric warfare, climate change and space. The evolving global landscape is further complicated by challenges to the existing world order: the changing purpose of military alliances such as NATO, the uncertain role of global bodies such as the United Nations, the rise of new powers, especially in Asia, and the wide-ranging impact of security challenges in the Middle East and North Africa.
If the world continues to turn towards bilateralism and away from multilateralism, how do we rethink security in the 21st century and address the serious and cross-border threats we face? As the U.S.A. repositions itself to put “America First”, what are the implications for its transatlantic defence and security relations with Europe? What key lessons can be learned about multilateral cooperation on security from NATO’s history and how should NATO’s role evolve in light of recent displays of military ambition from Russia? Could the creation of an Arab equivalent to NATO be effective in managing security in the Middle East and North Africa?
Guest Expert
Leo Michel
Visiting Fellow, Finnish Institute of International Affairs (Helsinki), and Non-resident Fellow, Atlantic Council (Washington)
Chair
Derek Johnson
Executive Director Global Zero, 2017 North American Young Leader
Rapporteur
Paul Ames
Journalist and Lead Rapporteur
WORKING GROUP IV – EDUCATION: REDESIGNING EDUCATION IN AN EVER-FASTER CHANGING WORLD
Increased participation, collaboration, and delegation is required to improve our democracies, necessitating a shift in the kind of education which is essential to developing the citizens of the future. Yet in many regions, including the European Union, there is little-to-no in-depth reconsideration of our education systems, nor does a redesign, driven by our future societal and economic needs, seem to be an urgent item on the agenda at any level of governance.
Future education models need to pay increasing attention to: the role and training of teachers; teaching methods; the relationship between technology and education; diversity and inclusive education policies; fostering widespread entrepreneurial spirit.
How should these dimensions be accounted for and prioritised? Should cross-border coordination aim to define educational standards? Where is innovation and investment most needed in education? Which countries are leading the way on education, and why? To what extent can those lagging behind be motivated to invest in replicating successful education models?
Guest Expert
Raffaella Carro
Researcher at INDIRE
Chair
Alessandro Fusacchia
Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, 2013 European Young Leader