Leadership
Commentary and analysis shaping our Global, Regional and Industry agendas
Read our reports on the broad range of global issues we’re seeking to address
Learn about our activities tackling the most significant global challenges through public-private collaboration
Shaping the Future of
- Consumption
- Digital Economy and Society
- Economic Growth and Social Inclusion
- Education, Gender and Work
- Energy
- Environment and Natural Resource Security
- Financial and Monetary Systems
- Food Security and Agriculture
- Health and Healthcare
- Information and Entertainment
- International Trade and Investment
- Long-Term Investing, Infrastructure and Development
- Mobility
- Production
Learn more about our events which work to shape the Global, Regional and Industry agendas
Upcoming Event
Committed to improving the state of the world
About Us
How to get involved
Agenda
The stories shaping the Global, Regional and Industry agendas
Global Agenda
Fragility, Violence and Conflict
‘Art saved me from jihad’ – tackling Tunisia’s extremism problem
The story of one poetry and black-metal-loving Tunisian high-schooler shows how the power of art and critical thinking can stop violence in its tracks.
Blended Finance
It’s not just NGOs tackling humanitarian crises. Banks have a role too
The world’s first humanitarian impact bond raised money to build three physical rehabilitation centres and help thousands of people with disabilities.
Europe
Macron’s election may be a turning point for the EU – but Euroscepticism is not dead and buried yet
Macron's victory has boosted EU confidence, but the rifts dividing Europe remain.
Cyber Security
Ransomware's evolution, defeating internet misinformation, and other top stories of the week
Also in this week's round-up of top global stories: how Islamic finance works and why Macron succeeded and Hillary failed.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
A Glimpse Into the Future: Quantum Computing, Energy and Health
What is quantum computing and how does it work? How will it affect the digital world in the near future? What type of problems will it help us solve?
Environment
A new $2 million prize to stop plastic waste taking over the oceans
Innovation in materials, product design, and circular business models will help build a new plastics economy.
Gender Parity
Mother's Day, women in combat and other top gender stories of the week
Also in this week's round-up of gender news: one of Descartes' most famous ideas was first articulated by a woman.
Leadership
3 questions to improve the way you focus at work
We need to take steps to manage our attention and concentration, to avoid distraction.
Cybercrime
9 ways to stay safe from cyberattacks
WannaCry is only a small taste of what could happen in the future. It is yet another wake-up call to become smarter than criminals, increase our cyber resilience and architect our systems and our teams to prevent attacks.
Regional Agenda
Climate Change
To meet carbon targets we must invest in natural gas – here's why
The only way to stay within 2°C is by rebalancing the current energy mixture towards natural gas.
Middle East and North Africa
Crown Prince Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II speaks to the World Economic Forum
The full speech of the heir apparent to Jordan's throne, delivered at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa 2017.
Middle East and North Africa
The King of Spain's speech at the World Economic Forum in Jordan 2017
The full text of an address by King Felipe VI of Spain, which was delivered to participants at this year's World Economic Forum summit in Jordan
Employment and Skills
6 things to know about jobs and skills in the Middle East and North Africa
Young, university-educated and out of work. Here's what you need to know about employment in the Arab world.
Entrepreneurship
These start-ups are changing the Arab world
From Syrian voice recognition software to mobile games being produced in Gaza, the Arab tech scene is thriving.
Decarbonizing Energy
How Saudi Arabia can become a post-oil economy
As the world shifts away from crude oil, Saudi Arabia must make use of solar resources and improve energy efficiency – its young generation can lead the way.
Entrepreneurship
From the rubble of Syria's economy, an inspiring small-business story emerges
Meet the young woman who, in the face of untold adversity, is bravely transforming her community from within, one business plan at a time.
Fragility, Violence and Conflict
Syria has changed the way we respond to refugees. Here's how
Increased connectivity, biometric registration and a smart use of data have increased what we can do for the displaced.
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
The sunny side of the roboconomy in the Middle East
The Middle East and North Africa's youthful, fast-urbanizing population are perfectly placed to embrace technology and reap the rewards of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Industry Agenda
Blockchain
Why blockchain should be global trade’s next port of call
Blockchain-based distributed ledger technology could smooth out port operations across the world, from tracking shipping containers to allowing cargo vessels to restock their own supplies.
Economic Growth and Social Inclusion
How a Financial Transaction Tax would benefit us all
Designed well, a tax on transactions will play an important role in stopping the kind of financial activity that has zero benefit to society and exposes us all to significant risks.
Arts & Culture
Waste is so last year: how the fashion industry is cleaning up its carbon footprint
The fashion industry is second only to oil as the top industrial polluter, and as a result is taking broad steps to make it more environmentally conscious.
Emerging Technologies
Five ways technology will change the mining, oil and gas industries
Technological breakthroughs are producing sweeping changes throughout the economy, from manufacturing to your check-out lane at Wal-Mart, and from legal research to laser surgery.
Fourth Industrial Revolution
How should we regulate genome editing?
A new set of governance principles for human genome editing could apply globally across different political and cultural contexts.
Brain Research
Five reasons the future of brain enhancement is digital, pervasive and (hopefully) bright
From wearable technologies to artificial intelligence, these five trends are defining the future of brain enhancement.
Values
Why the most successful businesses have strong values
How can business leaders do a better job of creating the conditions that enable organizations not only to stay on the right side of the law but to do the right thing, consistently and at ...
Education
Busting the myth of the start-up
Instead of idolizing the solitary genius, we need to focus more on scaling up existing businesses.
Environment
The previous industrial revolutions broke the environment. Can the current one fix it?
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is a unique opportunity to fix environmental issues and redesign how we manage the environment.
Agenda in Focus: Fixing Inequality
View all 
Economic Growth and Social Inclusion
Meet the doughnut: the new economic model that could help end inequality
Emerging Technology
A growing number of people think their job is useless. Time to rethink the meaning of work
Economic Growth and Social Inclusion
