10 things to know about our meeting in China

Next week, China’s premier, Li Keqiang, will open the eighth Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin, China, from 10-12 September. Find out everything you need to know about the meeting in our quick guide below.

1. Innovation on the agenda. The meeting is a leading global gathering on innovation, entrepreneurship, science and technology. It’s held in close collaboration with the People’s Republic of China, with the support of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

2. AMNC by numbers. More than 1,600 participants from 90 countries will converge on Tianjin. This includes over 600 participants from Greater China, over 1,100 business leaders, over 140 public figures, over 100 academics and over 850 “new champions”.

3. What is a new champion? It’s an umbrella term for Forum communities who are changing the future, namely Global Growth Companies, Young Global Leaders, Young Scientists, Technology Pioneers, Social Entrepreneurs and the World Economic Forum’s youngest community, the Global Shapers.

4. Why do they matter? Google in 2001, Twitter in 2010 and Kickstarter in 2012 are just three of the more than 400 companies that the Forum has recognized as game-changing start-ups through its Technology Pioneers programme.  New Champion companies are changing the future of business, Social Entrepreneurs show how the dynamics of the market can improve lives, while in a world where half of the population is under the age of 27, Global Shapers and Young Global Leaders ensure younger voices are heard in the global debate.

5. Meet the mentors. A select group of business and academic leaders will act as “mentors” at the meeting. They are: Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, President, European Research Council, Belgium; Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Tata Consultancy Services, India; Dong Mingzhu, Chairperson and President, Gree Electric Appliances of Zhuhai, People’s Republic of China; Paul E. Jacobs, Executive Chairman, Qualcomm, USA; Max Levchin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, HVF, USA; Young Global Leader; Kevin P. Ryan, Founder and Chairman, Gilt Groupe, USA; and Subra Suresh, President, Carnegie Mellon University, USA.

6. Heads of state and representatives from government include: Edi Rama,Prime Minister of Albania; Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Prime Minister of Denmark; Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, President of the Republic of Mali; Aleksandar Vucic, Prime Minister of Serbia; George Kvirikashvili, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Georgia; and Arkady Dvorkovich, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.

7. Representatives from international organizations include: Min Zhu, Deputy Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF); Luis Alberto Moreno, President, the Inter-American Development Bank; Kaushik Basu, Chief Economist and Senior Vice-President, the World Bank; Francis Gurry, Director-General, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO); and Aldo Flores-Quiroga, Secretary-General International Energy Forum (IEF), Riyadh.

8. Leading cultural leaders and artists who will also be participating are: Lynette Wallworth, Artist, Australia; Daan Roosegaarde, Artist, Netherlands; Susan Fisher Sterling, Director, National Museum of Women in the Arts, USA; Dana Leong, Composer and Musician, Tateo Sound, USA; Richard (DJ Qbert) Quitevis, Musician, USA; Aparna Rao, Artist, Pors & Rao, India; Daniel Orson Ybarra, Switzerland; René Redzepi, Founder and Chef, Noma, Denmark; Faye Yip, Tai Chi Master, Deyin Taijiquan Institute, United Kingdom; Nansun Shi, Founder, Film Workshop, Hong Kong SAR; and, from the People’s Republic of China, Ole Scheeren, Principal Architect, Büro Ole Scheeren; Yao Chen, Actress, HuaYi Brothers Media Co; Yao Ming, Basketball Player; and Zhou Xun, Actress, Zhou Xun Studio.

9. What’s on the programme? Under the theme Creating Value through Innovation,there will be a total of 140 sessions over the course of three days, covering everything from robotics to China’s role in the world economy. The programme is structured around five key themes: China and Emerging Markets, Sustainability and Society, Innovation and Industry, Science and Technology, and Creativity and Culture. It will also take an in-depth look at five profound technological shifts that will ripple out through industries and societies. These are the Data Revolution, the Nano Revolution, the Robot Revolution, the Energy Revolution and the Neuro Revolution.

10. Not coming to Tianjin? Not to worry. From 10 September, you will be able to view live highlights here. You can also follow us on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn), watch live streamed sessions and have your say online, using the hashtag #AMNC14. You can even embed the webcast and the social media conversation widget on your own blog or website.

Author: Fon Mathuros is a senior director and head of media at the World Economic Forum.

Image: Cranes rise above towers in Tianjin’s Binhai new area. REUTERS/Michael Martina