Research Forum 2020

The annual Research Forum is the flagship research-outreach event of EU Business School. Held annually in Geneva in the month of October, the Research Forum seeks to establish EU Business School as a platform for high level discussions and agenda-setting with a diverse range of actors from academia, business and industry, international and governmental organizations, NGOs, and States. The foci of the Forum are to discuss global issues, generate new ideas, and explore the potential for holistic solutions by connecting different players. The Forum helps us to discover new directions for research and collaboration and showcase our existing commitments and progress. The theme for the Forum is renewed every year which allows us to stay dynamic and cutting-edge.

Research Forum 2020
A MODERN DAY CATALYST FOR CHANGE:
Navigating business, trade and interaction post-pandemic
 
Wednesday, October 21st 2020
Online event
11:00 – 14:00 CET
 

Program PDF

ABOUT THE RESEARCH FORUM 2020

 

The 2020 edition of the Research Forum reflects on the Covid-19 pandemic as a catalyst for change and allows the opportunity for discussions that drill into what really matters for the future: Collaboration, Innovation, Continuity and Humanity. This discussion will offer unique insights into the challenges that business leaders have faced through the pandemic, as well as the tools that have initiated, driven and supported success and continuity. As the world plans for life after the pandemic, we have an opportunity to collectively define what the new normal should look like and how this new normal can work for every stakeholder.

The Covid-19 pandemic has distorted global value chains and exposed the fragility of humanity. Businesses have been forced to re-evaluate operating procedures while international trade has bounced between nationalist rhetoric and structural reform. The year 2020 has seen increased trade protectionism in various industrialized economies. Reeling from the impact of the pandemic on economies around the world, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has slowed as investors have taken a step back to strengthen core bases and really understand what the future holds. In the middle of all of this, global business has reacted differently. At the peak of social distancing/lockdown measures many companies, from SMEs to Multinationals struggled for continuity, while the same circumstances opened new opportunities for others.

From all of this, a few things are clear: the importance of technology in business operations and human interaction cannot be overstated; the current atmosphere will erase certain opportunities and create new ones, and resource constraints will require both the public and private sectors to design new trade and project financing models.

SPEAKERS

Raghavan R. Seetharaman

Raghavan R. Seetharaman

CEO, Doha Bank

Philippe G. Nell

Philippe G. Nell

Honorary Ambassador, Swiss-Latin American Chamber of Commerce; Author; Lecturer

Preeti Sinha

Preeti Sinha

CEO, FFD Financing for Development LLP

Kattia Moreno

Kattia Moreno

Academic Quality Coordinator at the EU Business School

Mohamed Ba

Mohamed Ba

Senior Coordinator, Digital Innovation Ecosystem, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Velislava Petrova

Velislava Petrova

UNAIDS Global Health/ Innovation – Consultant World Bank – Research Associate, Kings College, Cambridge University

Alain Schneuwly

Alain Schneuwly

Managing Director, Boston Consulting Group Plantinion, Asia

Taissa Thierry Chaves

Taissa Thierry Chaves

Managing Director & Chief Catalyst Officer, Y Coaching & Consulting

Martijn van der Ven

Martijn van der Ven

Founder and CEO, Athalos

Geoffrey See

Geoffrey See

Founder – Choson Exchange; Council Member, Global Future Council & Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum

Paul Müller

Paul Müller

Head of HSSE (Health – Safety – Security – Environment), RUAG Space

Peter Vanham

Peter Vanham

Head of International Media Council and Chairman’s Communications, World Economic Forum

Judit Kozenkow

Judit Kozenkow

Professor of Economics, EU Business School

Ugo Ikpeazu

Ugo Ikpeazu

Partnership Coordinator/Research Associate, ONResearch

Suddha Chakravartti

Suddha Chakravartti

Head of Research, EU Business School

Luc Craen

Luc Craen

Managing Director & Vice-President, EU Business School

AGENDA

11:00 – 11:05

Welcome Note

Suddha Chakravartti, Head of Research, EU Business School

 

11:05 – 11:20

Keynote Address

Raghavan Seetharaman, CEO, Doha Bank

 

11:20 – 12:00

Panel 1: Trade and International Collaboration; Avoiding an economic downturn 

A common feature at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic was the confusion between a collaborative or antagonistic response to the pandemic. The atmosphere that this confusion created, combined with trade tensions, exacerbated an already turbulent landscape for global business, at a time when global value chains are more connected than ever. In this evolving landscape, businesses will need to identify the relationship models that will help them to enhance their competitive positioning on global value chains. Understanding that increased trade will be crucial to economic recovery around the world, the international community will need to redefine engagement models in a manner that fosters greater collaboration. This presents an opportunity for businesses.

Panelists:

Philippe G. Nell, Honorary Ambassador, Swiss – Latin American Chamber of Commerce, Author, Lecturer.

Preeti Sinha, CEO, FFD Financing for Development LLC.

Kattia Moreno, Academic Quality Coordinator at the EU Business School.

Moderator: Judit Kozenkow, Professor of Economics, EU Business School.

 

12:00 – 12:40

Panel 2: Big Tech! Small Tech! Safe Tech! Innovating to stakeholder value

Rounding up an extraordinary year for tech giants, we look at the opportunities created by the pandemic but also at the engagement models that businesses have designed to take advantage of the global digital shift. A shift that has been accelerated by social distancing measures worldwide. In parallel, we look at transformative and new innovations and the entrepreneurs taking these to scale. With more people engaging with each other and with businesses online, safety should be at the forefront of every user and service prover. Understanding the evolving cybersecurity space will allow businesses to truly maximise the value that they create whether as tech giants or innovative entrepreneurial start-ups.

Panelists:

Mohamed Ba, Senior Coordinator, Digital Innovation Ecosystem, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Velislava Petrova, UNAIDS Global Health/ Innovation – Consultant World Bank – Research Associate, Kings College, Cambridge University.

Alain Schneuwly, Managing Director, Boston Consulting Group Plantinion, Asia.

Taissa Thierry Chaves, Managing Director & Chief Catalyst Officer, Y Coaching & Consulting.

Martijn van der Ven, Founder and CEO, Athalos.

Moderator: Ugo Ikpeazu, Partnership Coordinator/Research Associate at ONResearch.

12:40 – 13:00

Q&A

 

13:00 – 13:40

Panel 3: Rethinking Continuity: From Project Financing to the Future of Work 

In a similar fashion, the need for continuity is crucial and applies on various levels. In one instance, continuity refers to operating procedures and the changes that have resulted from the pandemic. Countries around the world established strict social distancing measures that opened a universe of remote working possibilities, with many companies opting to continue these practices going forward. Redefining the future of work will allow businesses to enhance their work forces to unlock hidden value or increase distractions and decrease productivity.

At the same time, global investment rates have staggered as countries have repurposed Foreign Direct Investment and Overseas Development Assistance budgets towards national economic stimulus. While this has provided immediate support for businesses in parts of the world, it has exposed a significant financing gap in other parts. Coming out of the pandemic, there is a need to think about new opportunities/models for project and trade financing. Agile and proactive businesses must take steps today concerning the future of work and financing if they want to thrive in the dynamic landscape of tomorrow.

Panelists:

Geoffrey See, Founder – Choson Exchange; Council Member, Global Future Council & Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum.

Paul Müller, Head of HSSE (Health-Safety-Security-Environment), RUAG Space.

Peter Vanham, Head of International Media Council and Chairman’s Communications at World Economic Forum; Author.

Moderator: Suddha Chakravartti, Head of Research, EU Business School.

 

13:40 – 13:55

Q&A

 

13:55 – 14:00
Closing Statement

Luc Craen, Managing Director & Vice-President, EU Business School