Annual Meeting of the New Champions

Annual Meeting of the New Champions
World Economic Forum · Public domain · source
Name	Annual Meeting of the New Champions
Status	Active
Genre	Conference
Frequency	Annual
Venue	Dalian International Conference Center
Location	Dalian, China
Country	People's Republic of China
First	2007
Organiser	World Economic Forum

Annual Meeting of the New Champions The Annual Meeting of the New Champions is an annual global summit convened by the World Economic Forum that gathers political leaders, corporate executives, scientific researchers, cultural figures and civil society representatives for multistakeholder dialogue. Held primarily in Dalian and other international cities, the meeting emphasizes innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, and industrial transformation alongside flagship events such as the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos. The forum has attracted figures from institutions including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, United Nations, and major corporations like Alibaba Group, Microsoft, Siemens, and Goldman Sachs.

Overview

The meeting positions itself as a platform for leaders from the Fourth Industrial Revolution, startup ecosystems represented by Y Combinator, accelerators linked to Techstars, and research centers such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Tsinghua University, Peking University, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Delegates often include executives from Apple Inc., Google LLC, Amazon (company), Facebook, Tencent, Huawei Technologies, and investors from Sequoia Capital, SoftBank Group, BlackRock, and Bain Capital. Policymakers from countries including United States, China, Germany, India, Japan, United Kingdom, Brazil, Russia, and South Africa have participated alongside leaders from supranational entities like the European Commission, African Union, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Cultural participants have included artists linked to Tate Modern, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Beijing Opera troupes, while scientific panels feature researchers affiliated with CERN, NASA, European Space Agency, and Max Planck Society.

History and evolution

Launched in 2007 by the World Economic Forum as a complement to the Annual Meeting (Davos), the meeting sought to spotlight emerging champions in China and other fast-growing regions. Early editions featured entrepreneurs from Lenovo Group, Baidu, and Huawei Technologies, and investors from IDG Capital and Hillhouse Capital. Over time the agenda expanded to include representatives of the Internet of Things, blockchain proponents like Ethereum, biotech firms collaborating with Genentech and Roche, and climate-focused organizations such as Greenpeace and the World Resources Institute. The event has migrated between venues including Dalian, Hangzhou, and other host cities as it scaled to include partnerships with local governments such as the Liaoning Provincial Government and national ministries like the Ministry of Commerce (PRC).

Organisation and participants

Organised by the World Economic Forum's staff together with partner firms including McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, and PwC, the meeting assembles CEOs, founders, ministers, central bank governors, and heads of organizations such as the International Labour Organization, World Health Organization, G20, and OECD. Notable corporate participants have included delegations from General Electric, Toyota Motor Corporation, BP, Shell plc, and Siemens. Venture capital and private equity attendees represent firms such as Andreessen Horowitz, Kleiner Perkins, CVC Capital Partners, and sovereign wealth funds including Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund. Scientific contributors have hailed from institutions like Harvard University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, ETH Zurich, and California Institute of Technology.

Agenda and themes

Themes typically revolve around technology-driven transformation, industrial policy, sustainability, and inclusive growth. Session topics have included artificial intelligence with participants from OpenAI, robotics involving Boston Dynamics, renewable energy featuring Vestas Wind Systems and Tesla, Inc., and digital currencies discussed alongside Federal Reserve System, European Central Bank, and People's Bank of China representatives. Health and biotech dialogues have included panels with Pfizer, Moderna, World Health Organization, and researchers from Johns Hopkins University. Climate and resilience discussions engage actors such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, International Energy Agency, and NGOs like World Wildlife Fund. Sessions also address supply chains with stakeholders from Maersk, UPS, and DHL and urbanization with representatives from UN-Habitat and city governments like Shanghai and Singapore.

Key initiatives and outcomes

The meeting has spawned collaborations on public–private partnerships, startup accelerators, and research consortia. Initiatives linked to the summit include innovation hubs supported by Alibaba Group and Tencent, cleantech financing platforms involving Green Climate Fund and International Finance Corporation, and digital skills programs coordinated with UNESCO and ILO. Participants have announced investments by firms such as SoftBank Group and Temasek Holdings and joint research efforts between MIT and Tsinghua University. Policy recommendations emerging from panels have influenced trade dialogues among ASEAN members and informed regulatory discussions at institutions like the European Commission and national legislatures in India and Germany.

Criticism and controversies

Critics have raised concerns about access, transparency, and geopolitical alignment. Observers from media outlets such as The Guardian, New York Times, Financial Times, and Bloomberg have scrutinized the forum's ties to corporate sponsors including Goldman Sachs and BlackRock. Human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have questioned participant selections and venue choices in the context of People's Republic of China policy debates. Scholars from London School of Economics, Columbia University, and University of California, Berkeley have critiqued the influence of corporate lobbying on agenda-setting, while activists linked to Extinction Rebellion and labor unions such as International Trade Union Confederation have staged protests over issues ranging from climate commitments to labor rights. Allegations about closed-door meetings and elite networking echo debates surrounding other transnational forums such as the Bilderberg Meeting and Group of Twenty summits.

Category:Conferences