The International Monetary Fund's most recent World Economic Outlook forecasts that global growth will slow to 3.7% in 2008 versus 4.9% in 2007. Record-setting energy and commodity prices, coupled with a looming recession in the United States , have created a headwind for the global economy. Yet, the highest rates of growth are now found in developing countries and emerging markets despite the fact that over 50% of global GDP is generated by the G7 industrialized economies. Growth is also shifting across industries as technology driven and energy related sectors expand in contrast to the current malaise in financial services.

Faced with regional and industry cross-currents, companies looking to grow internationally remain focused on their navigation through a volatile global economy. Risk management is clearly one major focus of their attention. However, the mindset of a new champion is to see the opportunities beyond the turbulence. For this reason, the World Economic Forum will focus on “The Next Wave of Growth” as the principal theme of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2008. The Meeting will provide a unique platform for those seeking new opportunities to come together to shape and define an agenda of growth with fresh ideas, innovative business models and new technologies so that a shifting power equation does not result in a zero-sum, but rather a win-win approach towards future global growth.

The programme will be based on the following main pillars: Going Global; Managing Risks; Drivers of Future Growth; Technology and Innovation: The Next Wave; and China as a Global Player.

Going Global
For many global growth companies, the main internal challenge of their overseas expansion is the development of corporate managers who can navigate different cultural contexts and think globally. In contrast, external challenges related to global growth are increasingly connected to the ability, or willingness, to collaborate with different actors to establish public-private partnerships, galvanize multiple stakeholders and work with fast-growing local competitors.

A series of boardroom-style discussions with eminent business leaders and policy-makers will examine “going global” from different regional and industry perspectives. A select group of CEOs from the most respected corporations have also been invited as “Mentors” to engage future global industry leaders and deepen their understanding and commitment to “corporate global citizenship”.

Managing Risks
Economic interdependence means that downturns and shocks no longer occur in isolation but are more likely than ever to cut across regions, markets and industries. Global growth is threatened by curbs and constraints that are political, social or environmental in origin. Most are triggered or linked to reactions to a sudden downturn or shock, thus a backlash to globalization can take many forms and emerge at anytime. A series of expert-led workshops will examine how to create a framework and the capacity to assess, prioritize and mitigate such risks at the company level, as well as how to capitalize on those global risks that can be transformed into business opportunities.

Drivers of Future Growth
Emerging and developing economies, if combined together, account for two-thirds of the world's growth when measured on a basis of purchasing price parity (PPP). As a result of this growth, the IMF forecasts that these countries will manage a current account surplus totalling over US$ 700 billion in 2008. Yet, this growth now faces headwinds linked to rising commodity prices, a weakened US dollar and the need to be environmentally and socially sustainable. Given the overwhelming global trend toward urbanization, cities will be at the vanguard of opportunities and challenges related to future growth. Over 100 mayors and governors from many of the fastest-growing regions in the world along with ministers of science and technology, commerce and transport will engage in a series of multistakeholder discussions to explore the drivers of future growth and the various scenarios that may emerge.

Technology and Innovation: The Next Wave
Advances in nanotechnology, genetics and computer science combined with progress in related disciplines such as engineering, medicine and finance make science and technology an inescapable presence in our daily lives. Faced with a growing roster of technological innovations that may rapidly reshape their industries, companies are on alert for disruptive technologies and innovative new models that may emerge from around the globe. A series of briefings by globally recognized pioneers in science and technology will explore their discoveries and innovations as well as their future impact in a wide range of contexts.

China as a Global Player
2008 marks the 30th anniversary of China's now historic “Opening and Reform Policy” and its first interaction with the World Economic Forum. Membership in the WTO, over one trillion US dollars in foreign currency reserves and the creation of the world's largest markets for mobile telephone and Internet use are some of the country's impressive economic milestones since 1978. As China's integration into the world economy enters a new phase as a result of its increasing political influence, technological advancement and changing societal needs, a series of sessions will explore how the country is poised to emerge as a global player and how that journey will reshape its foreign, trade and investment policies in the future.

Time	Name	Theme	Content	Note
Friday 26 September Community Activities
08.00 - 09.00	Networking Breakfast
09.00 - 11.30	Workshop	Managing Science for a Better World	It takes world-class management to create world-class science. But the elements of good management in science may be different than the elements of good management in business. Join some of the world’s most eminent scientistsand science administrators to explore thefundamental elements.	Designed for Technology Pioneers and Young Scientists, but open to all participants.
09.00 - 11.30	WorkSpace	Managing Global Risks: The View from China	The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks 2008 highlighted four major areas of concern: food security, systematic financial risk, supply chain vulnerability and energy risk. How exposed is China to these risks, and what can be done to mitigate them?	Designed for Global Growth Companies and Foundation Members, but open to all participants.(in Mandarin Chinese)
12.00 - 13.30	Debate	CNBC Debate	In partnership with the World Economic Forum, the CNBC Debate will focus on leadership and collaboration in the context of growing economic insecurity.
12.45 –14.00	Networking Lunch
14.00 - 15.00	Boardroom Discussion	Turning Strategy into Reality	On average, strategic plans achieve only 60% success, largely due to poor implementation. What are the design, management and leadership steps needed to execute a successful strategic plan?	Designed for Global Growth Companies, but open to all participants
14.00 - 16.30	WorkSpaces	SlimCity: The Future of Urban Mobility	Enabling people and goods to move about in cities has become a complex challenge, which requires the combined resources and innovative thinking of multiple industries working in close partnership with forward-thinking city leaders. What infrastructure and investment is required to deliver working, sustainable systems, and what policies are required to support them?	Designed for Mayoral Delegations, Global Growth Companies and Foundation Members, but open to all participants
14.00 - 16.30	WorkSpaces	Navigating through the Global Skills Crisis	In a world of many cultures, languages and values, growing a business requires more diverse human capital then ever before. What are the successful strategies for building and sustaining an inclusive workforce?	Designed for Global Growth Companies, but open to all participants
19.30 - 21.30	Dalian Dinner：Join a welcome dinner hosted by Dalian to meet the city’s New Champions.
19.30 - 21.30	Greater Paris Dinner：Join a welcome dinner hosted by Greater Paris to meet the region's New Champions.
19.30 - 21.30	India Dinner：Join a welcome dinner hosted by India to meet the country's New Champions.
19.30 - 21.30	Japan Dinner：Join a welcome dinner hosted by Japan to meet the country's New Champions.
Saturday 27 September
08.00 - 09.00	Networking Breakfast
09.00 - 10.00	Boardroom Discussions	The World’s Leading Economic Power?	A recent survey showed that more Americans perceive China as the world’s leading economic power than those who believe it is the United States. How do the Chinese regard being considered as the world’s leading economic power, and what are the expectations that come with such a role? This session is conducted in conjunction with Time magazine.
09.00 - 10.00	Boardroom Discussions	Market Insight: North America	Regardless of who wins the US presidential elections in November, America’s real economy will continue to struggle with the effects of its prolonged financial crisis. What will be the signals of a US economic recovery, and which industries will drive it?
09.00 - 10.00	Boardroom Discussions	Globalization in the Urban Century	With half of the world’s population living in urban areas, cities are on the front line of many global challenges such as climate change, food security, energy efficiency and migration. What are the most pressing global challenges in the 21st century that will require even greater leadership from cities?
09.00 - 10.00	Mentor Session	The Next Wave in Nanotechnology	Recent estimates predict that in less than a decade more than 15% of goods worldwide will feature some form of nanotechnology. Explore the latest developments in molecular engineering with the new champions of this exciting field.
09.00 - 10.00	Plenary Session in Parallel	Global Growth at Risk	The power shift to fast-growing economies requires understanding of how global risks affect businesses. What risks are most likely to influence the path of global growth companies?
09.00 - 11.30	Workshop	Alliance or Merger?	Whether to enter into a strategic alliance or a merger is a key decision that growth companies often face in the course of their global development. Which growth objectives are better suited for a particular approach, and what are the common pitfalls to avoid with either option?
09.00 - 11.30	WorkSpaces	New Financial Architecture	The future evolution of the global financial architecture will profoundly impact the source and direction of capital flows, industry dynamics, investor behaviour and aggregate demand. How might national and international regulations, new sources of funding and financial innovation change where, how and why capital flows around the world?
09.00 - 11.30	WorkSpaces	The Next Wave for the Web	Web 2.0 was defined by the empowerment of individuals, social networking and the surging use of mobile devices to access the Internet; there is an ongoing debate about what Web 3.0 will feature. Explore the latest developments on the Web and project the future beyond Web 3.0 in this highly interactive session with the new champions of the Internet and mobile technologies.
10.30 - 11.30	Boardroom Discussions	New Entrepreneurship, Chinese-style	Chinese state-owned enterprises capture headlines internationally; yet, it is China’s private entrepreneurs that stand out for their innovative R&D, creative business models and corporate responsibility locally. Who are these entrepreneurs, and what is their vision for the future business landscape of China?
10.30 - 11.30	Boardroom Discussions	Commodities: Will the Price Be Right for Global Growth	Despite slower growth rates in key commodityconsuming economies, the IMF’s commodity price index has risen by a cumulative 10% so far in 2008. Which markets are the most volatile, and how should businesses manage this volatility?
10.30 - 11.30	Boardroom Discussions	Market Insight: Europe	Europe has yet to slow down, but executive and consumer confidence on the continent have declined to their lowest levels in more than two years. Which countries and industries are most immune to a slowdown, and which are most vulnerable?
10.30 - 11.30	Brief Session	The Next Wave in Life Sciences	Genetics and regenerative medicine are set to dramatically change approaches and attitudes towards disease and ageing. Explore the latest developments in life sciences with those at the forefront of research innovation and real world applications in this field.
10.30 - 11.30	Plenary Session in Parallel	Mega-Regions: Driving Growth and Innovation Globally	Recent research shows that 40 mega-regions, each including several cities, create “two-thirds of global economic output and more than 85% of all global innovation”. How does this notion of mega-regions change business and policy decisions with respect to global competitiveness?	Open to media
11.45 - 12.45	Plenary Session	The Global Economic Outlook	Looking towards the second half of 2008, many G7 economies will still be grappling with the impact of a US slowdown and rising inflation, but the expectation is that emerging and developing economies will continue to drive growth as they have done over the last five years. What economic shifts are taking place in the global economy, and where do the best opportunities lie in the months ahead?	Open to media
12.45 - 14.00	Networking Lunch
14.00 - 15.00	Boardroom Discussions	Financing the Next Wave of Growth	Dynamic companies can choose a number of options to finance the next rounds of growth; much depends on their short- and long-term interests as well as the prevailing economic climate. What are the best options to consider when financing a company’s growth in the current financial environment?
14.00 - 15.00	Boardroom Discussions	Market Insight: Russia	With average annual GDP growth of over 7% since 2000, Russia has established itself as one of the global economic and business powerhouses. What are businesses and investors contributing to the growth and diversification of the Russian economy?
14.00 - 15.00	Boardroom Discussions	Cyber Security: Why Should I Care?	Botnets, phishing, pharming, viruses, worms and even spam present serious threats to cyber infrastructure in terms of business continuity. What are the major cyber security issues with which businesses should be prepared to deal? Are there best practices that can be shared across industries and governments to reduce such threats?
14.00 - 15.00	Briefing Session	Science Capsule: How Modern Physics and Elementary Particles Affect Your Life	Meet one of the leading minds in particle physics and learn all about time, space, matter and parallel universes.
14.00 - 15.00	Plenary Session in Parallel	The Next 30 Years of Reform	The real GDP of China is now roughly 12 times more than when Deng Xiaoping led the country’s economic reform in 1978. Entrepreneurs, economists and policy-makers will explore the key success factors of the last 30 years as well as steps that need to be taken to ensure China’s success well into the future.	Open to media
14.00 - 15.00	Workshop	Unsustainable Trends	energy consumption patterns all point to unsustainable future trends. How will these trends evolve, and what will be their positive or negative impact on global growth companies?
14.00 - 16.30	WorkSpaces	Turning Silver to Gold: Business Opportunities in an Ageing World	While ageing populations put strains on retirement and healthcare systems, they also represent an untapped market. How can the needs and interests of an ageing population drive emerging business opportunities?
14.00 - 16.30	WorkSpaces	Rethinking the Base of the Pyramid	Widespread inflation, with rising food and fuel prices, has hit the world’s poorest consumers the hardest. How can base of the pyramid models ensure that entrepreneurial opportunities and consumer choices are not diminished in this new inflationary environment?
15.30 - 16.30	Boardroom Discussions	Market Insight: India	Despite high inflation and rumours of impending national elections, India’s economy remains on track for another year with 8% plus growth. Which sectors and states remain immune to a global economic slowdown, and why?
15.30 - 16.30	Boardroom Discussions	Market Insight: Latin America	Driven by rising domestic demand and commodity prices, Latin America’s growth is gradually decoupling from North America, with the region now enjoying a proportion of its trade with the rest of the world. What are the new economic opportunities in Latin America and the challenges to the region’s new path to growth?
15.30 - 16.30	Boardroom Discussions	Climate Change and Your Business	emissions are now familiar terms, but their future impact on business strategy and regulatory frameworks is less understood. What are the key changes taking place in various industries and regulatory regimes around the world?
15.30 - 16.30	Briefing Sessions	Science Capsule: Space Exploration	Today a space trip for one person costs up to US$ 20 million; the launch of one space shuttle costs US$ 450 million per mission. However, space tourism and exploration is about to turn a page as space travel becomes more affordable and new countries enter the space race. What will the future of space travel and exploration look like?
15.30 - 16.30	Briefing Sessions	Visualizing Globalization	Data from telephone and Internet use can be transformed into digital maps of knowledge and communication flows around the world. What does the visual rendition of these data patterns tell us about the future of globalization?
15.30 - 16.30	Plenary Session in Parallel	The Globalization of Science and Technology	With the IT and telecommunication revolutions, advanced development in science and technology can take place around the globe. What are the implications for foreign assistance, FDI and education as barriers to invention and production are reduced?	Open to media
17.00 - 17.20		Welcome Remarks
17.20 - 18.00	Plenary Session	Opening Plenary
18.00 - 19.00		Reception
19.00 - 21.00		Gala Soirée
Sunday 28 September
08.00 - 09.00	Networking Breakfast
09.00 - 10.00	Boardroom Discussions	The Outlook for China’s Capital Markets	China’s market capitalization is now well over US$ 4 trillion, which puts it behind only the US, Japan and the United Kingdom. How will China’s capital markets evolve in response to the country’s goal of quadrupling GDP by 2020?
09.00 - 10.00	Boardroom Discussions	Investing in Infrastructure	As of June 2008, infrastructure projects attracted nearly US$ 90 billion from private equity institutions alone. With the financial sector increasingly focusing on infrastructure, what will be the long-term impact of this investment flow into public services?
09.00 - 10.00	Boardroom Discussions	Market Insight: Japan	Japan’s growth in the first quarter of 2008 was at an annualized rate of 4%, which was the third straight positive quarter for the world’s number two economy. Which industries and markets are driving its current growth and, going forward, what will be the impact of a US slowdown and higher energy costs?
09.00 - 10.00	Workshop	Negotiating across Cultures	Executives in global growth companies face the critical challenge of negotiating with people from unfamiliar lands, cultures and historical backgrounds; failure to deal well with these cultural differences can come at substantial cost. Join this highly interactive workshop to learn about key strategic negotiation techniques, while sharpening your skills as a cross-cultural negotiator.
09.00 - 10.00	Briefing Session	The Origins of the Universe: Why It Matters	The universe has a 15 billion year history; however, new missions and projects are shedding more light on, and raising new questions about, its origins. How will the latest findings on the origins of the universe impact scientific, social and religious views?
09.00 - 10.00	Plenary Session in Parallel	Market Insight: Frontier Markets	Frontier markets in the developing world continue to outperform the BRIC economies, but their shares remain thinly traded. Are frontier markets simply taking the place of the emerging markets of two decades ago, or do their investment and risk profiles significantly differ today?	Open to media
09.00 - 11.30	Workshop	Great Companies, Great Leaders: The Chinese Perspective (in Mandarin Chinese)	MNCs in China often pursue a leadership model that blends their corporate culture with Chinese values. What is the optimal leadership model for Chinese companies aiming for success abroad?	(in Mandarin Chinese)
09.00 - 11.30	Workshop	Business Models for Global Success – By Design	In today’s fast-changing business environment, companies are forced to adapt operational strategies accordingly, particularly when going global. What can be learned from the design principles behind successful products, processes and services, and how can design be applied to adapt and strengthen the operations of a globally expanding organization to turn challenges into opportunities?
10.30 - 11.30	Boardroom Discussions	China: A Green Champion in the Making?	Although China’s rapid industrialization and urbanization have strained the environment, its leaders recognize that energy efficiency, environmental technology and renewable energy are critical for sustainable growth. What are the key industry trends to watch for, and which growth companies stand to benefit from China’s environmental strategy?
10.30 - 11.30	Boardroom Discussions	Picking the Perfect Board: Mission Impossible?	From executive compensation to financial risk management, board members are being scrutinized for their judgement and decisionmaking. What are the key elements in designing and building a board of directors for a global growth company?
10.30 - 11.30	Boardroom Discussions	Market Insight: The Gulf Region	With energy prices at historic highs, infrastructure spending in the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council is likely to top US$ 1.5 trillion over the next decade. Which economies and industries are riding the investment wave, and how long will it last?
10.30 - 11.30	Boardroom Discussions	The Next Wave in Energy	Estimates show that US$ 10 trillion will be invested in the coming two decades to develop and secure a future based on clean energy. Explore the latest developments in renewable energies with the new champions of this exciting field.
10.30 - 11.30	Plenary Session in Parallel	Looking beyond the Almighty Dollar	The sustained depreciation of the dollar against major currencies is triggering a massive reweighting of international assets and readjustment of trade flows. On which currencies are businesses increasingly banking their future?
11.45 - 12.45	Plenary Session	From Global Growth Company to Corporate Global Citizen	As the global agenda is increasingly shaped outside the traditional framework of nation states, corporations have licence not only to operate in the global system, but also a civic duty to contribute to its sustainable health; this duty is corporate global citizenship. What are the most relevant examples of corporate global citizenship for companies expanding globally, and how do they differ by geography and industry?	Open to media
12.45 - 14.00	Networking Lunch
12.45 - 14.00	Debate	BBC World Debate	In partnership with the World Economic Forum, the BBC World Debate explores a major topic of interest from the perspective of both developed and developing nations.
14.00 - 15.00	Boardroom Discussions	Investing in Innovation: The View from China	China now spends more than Japan on research and development and is second only to the US, as R&D spending is expected to surpass 1.5% of its GDP. How will China’s massive R&D investments impact its major industries and improve its national competitiveness?
14.00 - 15.00	Boardroom Discussions	Market Insight: Africa	The IMF expects sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP growth rate to be 6.5% for 2008, which is higher than the predicted 3.7% growth rate globally. Which countries and industries are driving Africa’s new growth?
14.00 - 15.00	Boardroom Discussions	Market Insight: South-East Asia	Record-setting energy and food prices are putting enormous economic and political pressure on Asia’s emerging markets, particularly within ASEAN. What will be the response to rising consumer and producer prices, and how will it impact the region’s trade flows and major currencies?
14.00 - 15.00	Boardroom Discussions	Ensuring Growth by Enabling Trade	Market access, border administration, transportation and communications infrastructure, along with the business environment, determine if a country will be a successful trading economy over the long run. Which trade enabling factors are most critical to the success of a country and to a global growth company?
14.00 - 15.00	Plenary Session in Parallel	The Future of the Global Economy: The View from China	China has accumulated foreign currency reserves in excess of US$ 1.5 trillion as it continues to export much more than its households consume domestically. How does the country see its role in the global economy as the US economy slows and inflation pressures increase internationally?
14.00 - 16.30	WorkSpace	From Millions to Billions: The Climb to Global Growth	The step needed to increase a company’s annual turnover or its market capitalization from multiple millions to multiple billions is often an enormous stride. Join the investors and executives that have made this step and discover what is required to become a mega market player of the future.
15.30 - 17.00	Brainstorming	World Economic Brainstorming: Next Steps for Sustaining Growth	The World Economic Brainstorming (WEB) brings together industry leaders, policy-makers and experts to focus their collective knowledge on the future state of the global economy through a series of boardroomstyle roundtable discussions and the use of an electronic voting system to identify future economic challenges and growth opportunities. The objective is to leverage the insights generated over two days of discussions to identify priorities for sustaining growth despite an uncertain future outlook.
17.00 - 17.15		Closing Remarks
17.15 - 18.30		Farewell Reception