Feb. 5-7 2014 – CICG, Geneva, Switzerland

Managing Innovation Cycles - Let Live And Let Die

Wednesday, February 5, 2014 - 14:15

Innovation happens in the art of the start, when entrepreneurs launch new ventures. But Innovation also often happens somewhere along the road of the hype cycle, when suddenly market changes require reinvention of existing products and services. How do companies stay agile and on top of these cycles for decades and when do they decide it's best to let offers die in peace?

Bio Hacking Or Tinkering With Life

Wednesday, February 5, 2014 - 16:45

Recent progress in biotechnologies in the last twenty years led to interesting changes. For instance, new actors such as bio-hackerspace/fablab appeared, and new technologies made it possible to design lab-grown meat. What does it mean more generally? What can we expect from this? What are the opportunities and the risks of "tinkering" with life?

The Futures of Work

Thursday, February 6, 2014 - 09:00

They say: immigrants are taking our jobs! And the Chinese. And soon: the robots! But do we still want what we call work these days, with all the burnouts and heart attacks? What will change as our workforce gets both smaller and older? How is work going to look like in the years and decades to come, and where, how and why will we do it?

  • Political activist planning to unleash entrepreneurial spirit by ensuring unconditional income for all
  • World-class architect using robots to re-connect architects to how buildings get built
  • Serial social entrepreneur from Tel Aviv, Co-Founder of Elevation.
  • Managing Director of AP-Swiss, a joint undertaking by the European Space Agency, and the Swiss Space Office

Markets Becoming Conversations, finally!

Thursday, February 6, 2014 - 11:30

E-commerce will continue to change our purchasing habits over the next few years. Today, usage is becoming more important than property and shops are being turned into showrooms where customers order customised products to be delivered at home. We transitioned from a consumer economy into a relationship economy where reputation is paramount.

The Sharing Economy Backlash

Thursday, February 6, 2014 - 14:30

Houses, cars, wifi or music: we share, rent and borrow it all: the new status symbol isn’t what you own - it’s what you’re smart enough not to own. During a financial crisis, cheap and easy access trumps burdensome ownership for sure.

Patterns of collaborative consumption made simple and scalable by technology can now be spotted everywhere, and the companies that enable this fast, efficient allocation of resources previously underutilized are doing well indeed. Increasingly though, there’s a backlash: incumbents are awaking and regulators take a closer look while we all try to get used to new modes of ownership and control.

  • Founder & CEO of HouseTrip, one of the world's leading holiday rental websites
  • Eatwith.com Country Manager Spain, changing the way people travel and eat
  • Critical futurist, founder of Changeist
  • Science communicator, exploring the dark universe

Algorithmic culture: new forms of expression

Friday, February 7, 2014 - 11:30

What does it mean when algorithms play an increasing role in cultural production? How does the discreet role of computer code change the way music, texts or videos are created? Does it lead to new cultural forms beyond video-games? Can Twitterbots be actually funny?

This session will focus on how algorithms shape, frame and remediate culture.

This session is presented by

  • Leading scholar of videogames and award-winning game designer
  • Writer exploring how technology is shaping art, literature, and society.
  • "Hacker" making things to playfully explore technology
  • Professor in Digital Humanities at EPFL Lausanne

Translating Traditional Family Business

Friday, February 7, 2014 - 14:15

Family businesses are at the intersection of technology-induced megatrends in very special ways: living longer, having fewer children, globalization, individualization, pressure for faster and faster innovations cycles all have a direct impact on family businesses both new and old.

With a unique set of global perspectives this session will tackle a range of crucial questions of broad relevance: What does it mean to run a family business today? What changes when you don’t plan for the next quarter, but for the next generation? What’s the impact of new technologies? How to raise a next generation of leaders ready for a world full of change? And how do you radically innovate - with your dad looking over your shoulder?

 

  • Editor-in-Chief of Tharawat Magazine, a global publication for family businesses
  • Member of the board of directors of Audemars Piguet, leading a global family business
  • First-generation family business founder, agitator of Berlin's start-up scene

Counter Culture Inspiring Industries

Friday, February 7, 2014 - 16:00

How did the 60ies counterculturalists in California end-up fueling silicon valley turbo capitalism in the 90ies? What's the link between LSD and hightech companies, between autonomous communities and investment funds? Counterculture inspiring Industries, let's explore the magic of this highly productive love-hate relationship.

This session is presented by

  • Co-author of The Misfit Economy, exploring underground, black market and informal innovation
  • Chief Emotional Officer of Berlin's most exciting urban project, co-founder Bar 25
  • Chairman of the Holzmarkt cooperative, making sustainable urban development happen in Berlin
  • Co-Editor and Managing Partner at Boing Boing, research director at Institute for the Future