Christopher Murray, Global Health Initiative, Harvard University; Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister of Norway, William H. Gates III, Microsoft Corporation; Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom; Olusegun Obasanjo, President of Nigeria; Fareed Zakaria, Editor, Newsweek International; Giulio Tremonti, Vice-President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Economy and Finance of Italy, captured during the session 'Not Gone, but Almost Forgotten' at the Annual Meeting 2006
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What is the Annual Meeting?
The Annual Meeting is the World Economic Forum's flagship for a larger set of activities that include regional meetings and initiatives. The central goal of the Meeting is to find solutions to global challenges. The Annual Meeting began in 1971, then called the Davos Symposium, and it takes place in Davos, Switzerland each year in January. Over 2000 people take part in an intensive five-day programme of workshops and interview-style panel discussions that focus on crucial global, regional and industry issues.
Who participates?
People from all over the world attend the event, including business leaders, members of civil society organizations and the media, academics, scientists and policy-makers. Use the charts below to learn more.
Why do people come?
The meeting often brings people together who ordinarily wouldn't have the chance to meet. The Annual Meeting offers an unparalleled platform for leaders to address the most pressing global challenges that can't be debated adequately in industry- or region-specific settings. Participants can interact with a diverse range of leaders from other fields.
What is the Open Forum?
It is a series of debates open to the public which takes place during the Annual Meeting. Speakers include policy-makers, NGO representatives and business leaders.
How is the Annual meeting programme developed and how are panellists chosen?
Ten members of a core programme team follow a portfolio of issues throughout the year (such as business, economics, science and technology). Every year, the team consults with a variety of experts to identify and elaborate on the most important issues.
The programme team then selects panellists on the basis of their expertise and the relevance of their work to the issues on the agenda. We try to bring a diverse range of opinions to each panel to ensure lively debate and interaction. We don't pay panellists for their participation. And we don't have formal presentations because we want to encourage spontaneous and dynamic exchanges that will stimulate new ideas and solutions.
Does the World Economic Forum limit media participation?
The Media represents 20% of all participants at the Annual Meeting. The Forum invites a substantial, but limited, number of journalists on the basis of origin (to ensure fair representation) and size of publication. Although journalists participate in all the activities of the Annual Meeting, we limit press coverage to plenary and selected sessions to ensure a conducive environment for open discourse. Journalists don't pay participation fees. The Annual Meeting is one of the only international meetings to integrate media participants as full stakeholders in its debates.
How was the Annual Meeting created?
In 1971, Klaus Schwab, professor of business management at the University of Geneva, organized a two-week symposium in Davos to introduce European executives to US management techniques. These conferences then took place annually and became known as the "Davos Symposium". It was renamed "Annual Meeting" in the mid-1980s.
How does the Annual Meeting help the World Economic Forum achieve its mission?
The Annual Meeting acts as a catalyst for action and facilitates collaboration among different stakeholders. For example, in response to the Gujarat earthquake in India in 2001, several participants created the Disaster Resource Network to provide resources and assistance to those in need. It subsequently became one of the Forum's initiatives.
Other Initiatives include:
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