52nd St.Gallen Symposium: “A new intergenerational contract”

Once again this year, the guest list is filled with prominent figures. Among those expected on 4 and 5 May 2023 are “Black Lives Matter” co-founder Ayọ Tometi, climate activist Vanessa Nakate, Germany’s Green Party leader Ricarda Lang, former President of the International Red Cross Peter Maurer, and philosopher Richard David Precht. With regard to content, the 52nd St.Gallen Symposium is dedicated to the search for a new generational contract. After all, the balance between the generations has been disrupted due to an unprecedented level of debt, environmental problems and challenging geopolitical developments. The important dialogue with the next generation therefore requires new ideas, innovations, techniques and fresh thinking to foster a better mutual understanding. 

Important programme items and new features that we would like to highlight include: 

“NextGen Value Creation Barometer 2023”: Economic models in 151 countries 

As in previous years, the St.Gallen Symposium and the University of St.Gallen will jointly release a global ranking for intergenerational equity and long-term value creation. On 25 April, the “NextGen Value Creation Barometer 2023” was released, which is a sub-index of HSG’s prestigious “Elite Quality Index (EQx)”. The ranking measures the extent to which the economic models of 151 countries, and particularly the elite in these countries, create or destroy value for young and future generations. The Barometer 2023 is based on 33 indicators and focuses on five categories of long-term value creation: ecology, justice, health, education and innovation. On 4 May 2023, Özge Aydogan (Director SDG LAB of the United Nations) will discuss the results of the Barometer and its relevance for the UN’s global “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” with the guests of the St.Gallen Symposium. 

Study “Voices of the Leaders of Tomorrow” surveys young talent

What do talented young individuals think about the intergenerational contract? Young talent from numerous countries is interviewed every year for the study “Voices of the Leaders of Tomorrow” (formerly: “Global Perspectives Barometer:Voices of the Leaders of Tomorrow”). The survey participants are personally invited to take part in the survey from the global network of the St.Gallen Symposium. The study is the result of collaboration between the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (NIM) and the St.Gallen Symposium. 
“The level of solidarity between the generations is much lower than is believed,” says co-author of the study Felix Rüdiger. Executives from different generations are particularly divided on current issues regarding sustainability. For example, young executives are calling for a profound and rapid change in economic and political systems, while long-standing executives are more likely to cling to the status quo.  

Ideas competition for the “Leaders of Tomorrow”: 25 Best Essays 

The talented young individuals qualify for participation in the Symposium through a global essay competition. The essay question for participation in this year’s St.Gallen Symposium was: “The best or worst legacy of previous generations: How can it be preserved or replaced?” Our lives are influenced to a large extent by when we were born. We have inherited the world built by previous generations. While we owe them a lot, they also leave problems in their wake.  

The 25 best entries in the “Global Essay Competition (GEC)” can be viewed under the following link: Top 25 Essays 
The jury members included Heike Bruch, leadership expert at the University of St.Gallen; Riz Khan, a British journalist and former presenter at the BBC, CNN and Al Jazeera; as well as Aditya Ghosh, former President and Director of “IndiGo” and co-founder of the airlines “Akasa Air” and “Vinay Dube”. 

1,000 participants from 100 nations and 100 speakers

The young participants of the conference were selected in cooperation with over 300 universities worldwide. Guests and managers from around 300 partner companies and institutions will also be visiting the University of St.Gallen campus. Events in Mexico, Johannesburg and Beijing will take place at the same time. This major event is organized by students of the University of St.Gallen. A recent video report offers a glance behind the scenes.  

“St.Gallen Symposium in Town” to take place for the first time in selected venues in St.Gallen city centre  

In keeping with the motto “local – international”, the St.Gallen Symposium is offering a series of public events outside of the campus for the first time this year. This provides interested individuals with easy access to international figures who will also be speaking at the St.Gallen Symposium itself. In addition, the selected venues in the city centre offer a platform for regional acts.  
All public events under: “St.Gallen Symposium in Town” 

Image: St.Gallen Symposium