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Natarajan Chandrasekara
Thorkil Sonne
Rory Simpson
Ole Johansson
Sanjit Bunker Roy
Julie O'Neill
Jürgen R. Thumann
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Registration
Register online NOW!
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Venue
The European Business Summit 2012 will take place at Square, Brussels.
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New concept
1-day sessions
Possibility to fly in and out on the same day, Increased networking opportunity, amongst peers, Condense programme
European Business Summit 2012
Skills for Growth
Human capital is playing an increasingly central role in the global market. Thanks to the high level of skills and knowledge of the European workforce, Europe has remained competitive in the last decade. However, Europe faces several challenges at the same time.
‘Skills for Growth’ will be the theme of the 10th edition of the European Business Summit (EBS) 2012. During various sessions, relevant decision makers and politicians will discuss the necessity to find solutions for an ageing workforce, the mismatch between the current educational system and youth unemployment and ways to improve education in STEM. Moreover, EBS introduces a new feature: the “open forum”. This enables participants to share their views and enlarge their network in a kind of speakers’ corner at the new EBS premises.
The first challenge is demography. The combination of a low birthrate, a workforce that tends to shrink and rising life expectancy threatens the continuation of economic growth and the sustainability of most pension systems. European education is known for its level and broad curriculum. However, it does not give attention to entrepreneurship, while this educational system suffers from many drop-outs. From an international perspective, Europe tends to under-perform in STEM and lacks behind in e-skills.
Young people, women and minorities are often excluded from the labour market. We need creative ways to include untapped talent. Finally, Europe is faced with a lack of mobility. What could we do to hasten the introduction of a blue card? How to cut red tape that hampers cross-border labour inside the EU? How to convince a shrinking population to move to the areas where work is? In which ways new technologies could be faster adapted? Bridging these gaps would contribute to more growth and jobs in Europe.
During the 2012 edition of EBS we want to debate and find urgent solutions for these urgent problems. We have to plug the skills gap, because the growth agenda of Europe is at stake – the clock is ticking!
We look forward to welcome you on the 26th of April at the 10th EBS.