Peter Koren – Vice–Director General, Federation of Austrian Industries

Alfred Harl – Chairman of the Austrian Professional Association of Management Consultancy, Accounting and IT (UBIT), Austrian Federal Economic Chamber

David Ungar-Klein – Initiator, Vienna Congress com·sult

The interest in the Balkan region has not only grown in connection with the management of refugee and migration flows. As other countries and regions move away from Europe, the European perspective continues to play an important role for the Balkan States. The EU will present its strategy for the Balkan states in 2018. What is the economic and political outlook for the Balkan states? What are the potential benefits for Austria in particular? Which economic and political future strategies are currently in place in the Balkan states? What further steps are necessary for the implementation of the EU-Strategy in the Balkan States?

Moderation: Karl Habsburg-Lothringen – President of the Paneuropean Movement Austria

Panelists: Dhurata Hoxha (Minister of European Integration, Republic of Kosovo), Lukas Mandl (Member of the European Parliament), Hedvig Morvai (Executive Director at European Fund for the Balkans), Bujar Osmani (Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, Republic of Macedonia), Ivan Vejvoda (Permanent Fellow, Institute for Human Sciences; former Senior Vice President/Programs, German Marshall Fund of the United States)

The success story of European integration is at a turning point. Deglobalization and renationalisation influence the political rhetoric. Europe needs a sustainable strategy in order to be able to develop in accordance with the interest of its member states. What are the areas Europe needs to focus on in the coming years? Where do we need “more” and where “less” Europe? How fit are European institutions in terms of communicating with its member states and their citizens? How should Europe position itself in a world that has become uncertain and unpredictable?

Moderation: Igor Sekardi – Department for International Relations, Federation of Austrian Industries

Panelists: Nigel Farage (Member of the European Parliament), Václav Klaus (former President of the Czech Republic), Tibor Szanyi (Member of the European Parliament), Dusan Vujovic (Minister of Finance of the Republic of Serbia)

Excellence in business, infrastructure and research, also makes a difference in a global business world. Against this background, states and institutions are increasingly focusing on strategies of excellence to score points in international competition and to write the success stories of the future. How do business locations and regions develop excellence in certain areas? Which institutional and mental prerequisites are needed for internationally visible excellence? How do locations attract excellent people and companies?

Moderation: Claus Zeppelzauer – Division Head Companies & Technology, Department Head Technopols, ecoplus. The business agency for Lower Austria

Panelists: Dragan Đuričin (Chairman of Deloitte Serbia; Professor at Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade), Bernhard Felderer (President of the Austrian Fiscal Advisory Council), Gerhard Gürtlich (Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, of the Republic of Austria), Marian-Jean Marinescu (Member of the European Parliament), Howard Moskowitz (Chief Scientist, Mind Genomics Advisors, LLC; Recipient of the Charles Coolidge Parlin Marketing Research Award), Dan Shechtman (Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry)

Innovation is the key strategy in the digital business world. The geography of innovation is fundamentally changing. Not only in Silicon Valley, but also in other regions of the world -from Israel to China- new innovation hotspots emerge. Which strategies do actually lead to innovation success? What roles do research funding and education play? How can technology awareness be increased among the population? How to increase innovation potential for research, innovation and the industry?

Moderation: Emmanuel Glenck – Head of Department, Thematic Programmes, Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)

Panelists: Sierd Cloetingh (President Academia Europaea; President COST Association), John M. Connor (Emeritus Professor Purdue University Indianapolis), Jerome Isaac Friedman (Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics), Tim Hunt (Nobel Prize Laureate in Physiology or Medicine), Eva Kondorosi (Vice-President European Research Council), Veljko Milutinovic (Fellow of the IEEE; Member of Academia Europaea)

With the Brexit the budget of the EU decreases noticeably. Will Germany close the gap? Or does the EU need to economize? Are speperate EU taxes the future? The financing of the EU and its further development go hand in Hand.

Workshop II | Absolutely digital

Digital transformation has become reality. However, many industries and companies still have an acute need for action in order to be ready for the transformation. To what extent does the economy need to think and act digitally in the future? Who supports the companies in their digital transformation process?

Workshop III | Strategies for the Balkans

The Balkan area has had a significant impact on the history of Europe. What does the future hold for this region? What strategy does Europe have for the Balkan states? What strategies do the Balkan states have for the European and their own future?