Yoriko Kawaguchi

A record 2,600 business, government and civil society leaders – including nearly 40 heads of state or government – participated in the 42nd World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, which took place under the theme The Great Transformation: Shaping New Models. The record participation indicated the international community’s level of concern for the world today, as one crisis after another emerges. It also underscored the commitment of the Forum’s Members, Partners and communities to improving the state of the world.

At the Annual Meeting of the New Champions, the World Economic Forum brings together emerging global leaders and Mentors willing to share the knowledge and perception that only come with experience. It is this powerful mix of questioning, insight and resilience that makes the Summer Davos unique. This year’s Meeting focused on “Driving Growth through Sustainability”, an opportunity that confronts every business, government, civil society organization and individual. From the start of the three-day event, it was clear that participants understood the key factors needed to achieve this goal, especially in the post-crisis context. Throughout the Meeting, the nature of innovation and creativity in institutions, policies, systems and technologies was explored. To drive the innovation necessary to achieve balanced growth and sustainability requires many inputs, including a high degree of collaboration among all players, even rivals.

At the Annual Meeting of the New Champions, the World Economic Forum brings together emerging global leaders and Mentors willing to share the knowledge and perception that only come with experience. It is this powerful mix of questioning, insight and resilience that makes the Summer Davos unique. This year’s Meeting focused on “Driving Growth through Sustainability”, an opportunity that confronts every business, government, civil society organization and individual. From the start of the three-day event, it was clear that participants understood the key factors needed to achieve this goal, especially in the post-crisis context. Throughout the Meeting, the nature of innovation and creativity in institutions, policies, systems and technologies was explored. To drive the innovation necessary to achieve balanced growth and sustainability requires many inputs, including a high degree of collaboration among all players, even rivals.