Summit for the Future Report Released

The Summit for the Future Report covers issues related to: Trade / Service Industry, Energy, Healthcare, Media & Entertainment and Science & Technology Testimonials about the Summit:E.P. Cassee, Managing Director, HES Amsterdam School of Business: We are very glad to host you this year, but also in the years to come: Davos is the World Economic Forum and Amsterdam is the Summit for the Future!" Stefan Schneider, Chief International Economist, Head of Macro Trends, Deutsche Bank Research" The conference is very thought provoking especially since we have people here from so many diverse backgrounds - bringing their experience together - that really makes a very inspiring atmosphere." Prof. Vasco Garcia, University of the Azores, former Member of the EU Parliament: I think that the years to come will show us a tremendous progress and change in technology, in science, in the way the organizations are to relate themselves with the surrounding world. This is of extreme importance. Im really very pleased with the way the works [at the Summit] are going on." Katie Begg, Principal Lecturer, Institute of Energy & Sustainable Development, De Montfort University: This conference is absolutely perfect, because what its doing is implementing trans-disciplinarity and thats exactly what we need." Manfred Kern, Bayer CropScience: From the viewpoint of a person working for Bayer CropScience, it is satisfying and challenging that the Club of Amsterdam with its agenda and visions and the platform Summit for the Future" is closing a long lasting gap. There is now a center in the world for unconventional thinkers with courage and self-confidence, for interdisciplinary working groups pursuing common objectives, sharing common values, following the same rules, and enjoying a certain freedom of scope and even protected areas". A platform which needs people who possess the ability to communicate, who have a questioning culture, who are big enough to allow mistakes, who are willing to take risks, and who ultimately have confidence in a positive future." Our first Summit for the Future was visited by more than 100 delegates from Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Latvia, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, UK and the USA. The Opening Event was attended by 230 persons and in January we had more than 40.000 visitors on our website. 22 Partners: Bayer CropScience, Infolution, HES Amsterdam School of Business, cole Polytechnique, Paris, the Medical Faculty, University Basel, Media Academie, Hilversum and the Corvinus University of Budapest, musik.woche with musik.lounge, KnowledgeBoard, The Association for International Broadcasting, Fuel Cell Markets, H2World, Promedia, Medical Knowledge Institute, The World Future Society, Health Management Forum, Shaping Tomorrow, European Health Telematics Association, World Summit Award, World Futures Studies Federation, Gemeente Amsterdam Economische Zaken and the Embassy of Switzerland in The Hague. The general feedback was very positive - the participants es- pecially appreciated the inter- disciplinary aspect as well as the global presence at the Summit. The outstanding quality of the 40 speakers and stream leaders ensured inspiring lectures and workshops. Some key speakers were: Glen Hiem- stra, leading futurist from USA, Simon Jones, director of the former M.I.T. Lab Europe, Frank-Jrgen Richter, former director of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Tom Lambert, lead- ing consultant, Gerd Eisenbeiss, leading energy advisor to the German government as well as to the EU - to name just a few.

Information about the Summit for the Future Report is available at:http://www.clubofamsterdam.com/press.asp?contentid=473&catid=61 See also a short video about the Summit:http://www.clubofamsterdam.com/press.asp?contentid=460&catid=61 About the Club of AmsterdamThe Club of Amsterdam is an independent, international think-tank that organises regular high-level discussions on preferred futures. It involves those who are not just talking about the future - but those who are active participants in shaping the outcome.

So far weve organised more than 25 specialised events, each tackling a different sector within industry and society.

(Author Information Felix Bopp CLUB OF AMSTERDAM)