Skip to content

Aspen Seminars for Leaders

  • Venice
    • 9 May 2014
     
     

    Media and politics in the digital age: participation, transparency, and responsibility

      Participants at this Aspen Seminar for Leaders session were unanimous in their agreement that social networks are neither good nor bad per se, but that what is open for debate is the way in which social media interact with democracy, and the way in which governments are responding to the growing power of new communications tools. While those in attendance were left in no doubt that the popular protests of today – such as those that erupted in North Africa – take off and gain momentum online, the internet does not always suffice to ensure that any resulting change is permanent.

    • Venice
      • 9 May 2014
       
       

      The Aspen Italia City of Venice Forum. Venice: a model for smart cities?

        Proceedings at this Aspen Italia City of Venice Forum got underway with recognition by those present of the difficulty in unambiguously defining what constitutes a “smart city”. On the one hand, it can be associated with the integrated application of innovative technologies to the management of a city, and on the other, it evokes the adoption of methodologies to optimize and coordinate low-cost solutions and best practices already in use, or at least already known of.

      • Venice
        • 12 July 2013
         
         

        Smart cities in a multipolar world: infrastructure, services, sustainable transport

          Driving discussion at this ASL session on smart cities was the recognition that, in the midst of the polycentric globalization process unfolding, cities are becoming hubs of increasingly smarter networks capable of galvanizing and generating new momentum for innovation and growth. Any satellite photo will suffice to reveal a web of interconnected urban expanses, serving as crossroads and convergence points for tangible and intangible infrastructure.

        • Venice
          • 12 July 2013
           
           

          (R)evolutions in the digital ecosystem: rethinking business, consumers and government

            The aphorism “The fast will eat the slow” was held up at this ASL seminar as the harsh law governing the digital ecosystem of today and tomorrow. To be “fast”, however, implies being able to rely on technologically-advanced infrastructure capable of sustaining competition at an international level. Indeed, major firms are continuing to invest in technology, even in the midst of the current crisis, precisely because of their acceptance that competitiveness drives economic growth, and that improving education and speeding up bureaucracy are not sufficient alone.

          • Venice
            • 12 July 2013
             
             

            Challenges and opportunities for a changing society: older, wiser, healthier

              The point of departure for discussions at this ASL session was an acknowledgement that the gradual but inexorable process of population aging is having profound effects on the demographic and economic structure of societies. In this regard, the participants pointed to forecast trends that speak volumes: in all developed countries, and especially in Italy, Japan and Germany, the proportion of elderly people relative to the total population will continue to rise substantially.

            • Venice
              • 12 July 2013
               
               

              Global energy outlook and the big transitions

                Given the unique role played by the energy sector in the global economy, the current recession makes it imperative to take stock of the major trends unfolding in the industry. Before the crisis, the sector seemed on the verge of a major restructuring, due to the combined impact of new sources of natural gas and mounting environmental concerns. The effects of the intervening global downturn, though yet to be fully gauged, are in any event set to be asymmetrical.

              • Venice
                • 12 July 2013
                 
                 

                Governing complexity in the country system: challenges, priorities and Italy’s choices

                  Debate at this ASL session focused on framing the complexities of Italy’s economic system within an international context widely held to be in a state of crisis. It was submitted that a closer look at the real economy reveals a need to bolster the international competitive ranking of Italian firms and sectors with reforms capable of shaping the future evolution of the country’s education and research sector, the functioning of the labor market, and the banking and financial system.

                • Venice
                  • 12 July 2013
                   
                   

                  Building a responsible citizenship: values, ideas, participation

                    The opening premise of this ASL session was that any examination of the concept of responsible citizenship must first focus on the value system that underpins the relationship between citizens and their leaders. At the heart of this relationship (often perceived as dichotomous in nature) is a paradigm now challenged by growing grassroots demand for proof of legitimacy. Rising to such demands is a clear priority for leaders capable of steering and shaping the course of events.

                  • Venice
                    • 26 October 2012
                     
                     

                    The engines of growth for Italy’s future

                      Discussions at this ASL session got underway with the observation that the current economic woes are indicative not of a simple downturn but of a profound crisis, which calls for a radical alteration in lifestyles and development models. It was felt that without such far-reaching changes, levels of growth throughout Europe will continue to be very low in the coming years, in part because it will be impossible to kick-start development and employment without incurring some cost.

                    • Venice
                      • 26 October 2012
                       
                       

                      Smart cities: innovation, sustainability, and quality of life

                        Discussions at this ASL seminar got underway with the observation that the idea of smart cities has come to prominence worldwide as a driver of development in urban areas. Indeed, in the currently unfolding process of polycentric globalization, the smart city has become a linchpin in the innovation ecosystem, a network node capable of galvanizing new energies for growth, with obvious benefits for national economies.

                      • Venice
                        • 26 October 2012
                         
                         

                        Arts, culture and tourism in Italy: local opportunities to meet global challenges

                          The opening premise of this ASL session was that Italy’s cultural heritage and tourism resources are capable of offering great development potential if certain strategic issues are resolved. In particular, it was stressed that heritage assets must be harnessed as a lever for wealth creation, tourist offerings need to be upgraded, and most importantly, there needs to be a renewed focus on the pivotal relationship between development and infrastructure.

                        • Venice
                          • 26 October 2012
                           
                           

                          Self-interest vs. the common interest: ethics and leadership today

                            At this Aspen Seminar for Leaders session exploring the question of what makes a modern leader, the picture painted was of someone who is not merely a conveyor of values, a consensus and team builder, and an inspirer of trust, but also of someone who respects the rules and other people, who has a strategic vision that is not untempered, who knows how to acknowledge mistakes and can make an honest assessment of defeat, and who is able to embody an idea of the future and can rally the hearts and minds of followers around this.

                          • Venice
                            • 26 October 2012
                             
                             

                            Reshaping Europe: political, economic and social challenges

                              Europe is at a crossroads. The Old World today is facing crucial challenges for its very survival as a political and economic unit. The task is not simple. It is a matter of defining a new economic, political and institutional architecture capable of ensuring its ability to compete with other economic and political systems at the global level.

                            • Florence
                              • 18 November 2011
                               
                               

                              The digital challenge: infrastructure, content and business models

                                This session in the latest round of Aspen Seminars for Leaders opened with the observation that the digital revolution is still underway, and that whilst the transformations so far have been radical, there are many changes – if not actual reversals – of direction yet to come. Even American authorities were aware of this when, not more than twenty years ago, they chose to expand the internet: today, there are 2 billion 500 thousand internet users worldwide.

                              • Florence
                                • 18 November 2011
                                 
                                 

                                Italy in 10 years’ time: from crisis to growth

                                  This seminar in the latest ASL series got underway with the observation that the way the current crisis has evolved confirms the necessity of moving beyond ex-post and localized solutions that deal with emergencies country-by-country and as and when they arise. The participants pointed instead to the need for a comprehensive strategy, based on three pillars. The first of these is the adoption of deficit-reduction programs at the national level. The second is the creation of common funds and institutions with more resources and more effective governance.

                                • Florence
                                  • 18 November 2011
                                   
                                   

                                  Cities, metropolises and regions: mobility, infrastructure and financial sustainability

                                    Opening the discussion at this ASL seminar dedicated to urban mobility and infrastructure sustainability was the observation that Europe’s cultural, social and economic model hinges, first and foremost, on cities. While urbanization is a comparatively recent phenomenon for many countries around the world, the history and structure of industry in Italy and Europe were among the first to develop to a more significant degree around cities and metropolises.

                                  • Florence
                                    • 18 November 2011
                                     
                                     

                                    Italians at home and abroad: shared heritage, success stories and internationalization

                                      In this Aspen Seminar for Leaders, dedicated to Italian talent at home and abroad, it was noted that perhaps as in no other Western country, culture has been a unifying factor in Italy: the sheer force of Italians having ancient roots in common and an extraordinary shared history has sustained an unbroken national identity over the centuries, despite the country being for a long time fragmented into several smaller states.

                                    • Florence
                                      • 18 November 2011
                                       
                                       

                                      The post growth West? The debt crisis and the shift to new drivers

                                        Three major issues stand out in the list of challenges currently facing the Western world: (1) medium-term trends in the global economy, with special focus on new sources of growth, rebalancing and decoupling; (2) the European debt crisis, its outlook and possible solutions; and (3) green energy as a growth driver.