Alpbach Moments | EFA 2020

Alpbach Moments ANNUAL RE VIE W 2020

P R E A M B L E T O T H E S TAT U T E S O F THE EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

Guided by the desire,

• to serve the arts and sciences, • to play a role in the preservation and expansion of freedom, • to foster human self-reliance, • to strengthen a pluralistic and democratic society guided by the spirit of tolerance, • to contribute to a balance between the economy, ecology and social responsibility as a sustainable economic and social model, • to promote European integration and international cooperation,

the European Forum Alpbach strives to be a space for intellect and culture and a platform for encounter, exchange and debate; a place for the forward-looking development of Europe’s academic, cultural, humanitarian, political and economic heritage.

EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

Annual Review 2020 The ability to reinvent yourself, adapt to new circumstances and show flexibility in the face of ever-changing parameters is a great asset particularly in times of crisis. In defiance of its old age – after all, the European Forum Alpbach celebrated its 75th year of existence in 2020 – our organisation has shown that it is more than ever keeping up with the times; moreover, it helps pave the way to a better future.

The restrictions caused by the Corona pandemic have urged us to think beyond the very analogue product we used to have and turn the Forum into something that can be experienced anywhere around the globe. “Alpbach is wherever you are”, we promised in spring.

What followed was one of the most challenging times in the history of the Forum during which our team and the Forum Alpbach alumni clubs did

some of their best work. The result was a 12-day-long hybrid conference with more than 300 sessions, over 600 speakers and thousands of participants from all over the world.

The EFA has once again learned the lesson that “better together” is not just a phrase, it is a vital part of existence in the face of hardship. That is why this year particularly, we would hereby like to thank every single person who stood by us this year and helped make the Forum a success! Our transition is not yet finished, nor will it ever be.

While you are reading this text, we are already working on the next European Forum Alpbach, already, which will once again be new in many ways. We sincerely hope that you will be part of it and join our next adventure.

Your EFA Team

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ANNUAL RE VIE W 2020

Letter from Franz Fischler succcess of our organisation. Now it is time for me to move on and hand the Forum over to my successor Andreas Treichl and wish him the best of luck for the next chapter in the Forum’s history.

Let us all support him and his team in contributing to a more united Europe and a solidary world.

Success is reserved for those who manage to adapt quickly in an ever-changing environment.

Agility and flexibility in the way we think, act and react, while preserving fundamental principles of our life together are the best companions on the path to a better future for all. In 2020, the European Forum Alpbach once again proved that as a community we can do both, if we work together and believe in a common goal worthy of our time and effort.

EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

When we started planning for the EFA20, many of our relevant parameters had changed or become rather unpredictable. The pandemic forced us to completely reinvent what had up to that moment been a very analogue product, relying on face-toface meetings. Simultaneously, we had to rethink the way our whole organisation worked internally and with our partners, and transform ourselves into an organisation capable of delivering hybrid conference formats to participants located all over the world.

It would be bending the truth to claim that we as a team did not experience moments of frustration and confusion in this process. But I am proud to say that despite hardship the Forum Alpbach grew with the challenge and in the end managed to deliver something unprecedented in our 75year history. More than 5,000 people, located in 134 countries, participated in our programme and carried the “Spirit of Alpbach” out into the world.

With the help of the Forum Alpbach’s alumni clubs and our partners around the world we took Alpbach, wherever you were this year.

As 2020 was my last year as President of the European Forum Alpbach I would like to thank my colleagues on the EFA board as well as my team.

They have all achieved outstanding things for the

LET TER FROM FR ANZ FISCHLER

FRANZ FISCHLER, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN FORUM ALPBACH UNTIL 12 NOVEMBER, 2020

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President’s Note

My name is Andreas Treichl and I have the great honour to succeed Franz Fischler as the president of this organisation. The European Forum Alpbach has always been dedicated to building a strong, diverse and valuable Europe – valuable not only for Europeans but to the whole world.

And we will continue working on this goal.

I believe very strongly, that we at the European Forum Alpbach can make a big contribution to Europe regaining its strength. We can help build a Europe that is very competitive in economic terms, in scientific terms, in its educational system and at the same time remains the most socially balanced society on this planet.

After World War II, Europe did a marvelous job for almost 60 years at building, on the one hand, a very strong economy and on the other hand, a very strong educational and scientific environment, as well as the probably most socially balanced society in the world. However, the position of Europe has changed during the last years.

Europe’s voice in the world has become weaker and we have to recognise that.

I would be extremely happy if all of you would join me in this task and I am looking forward to working with you. We will also need luck, but I am sure we are going to have it.

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Vice Presidents

Andreas Treichl was elected President of the European Forum Alpbach on 12 November, 2020.

Together with a team of international experts, he is responsible for the orientation and strategy of the association.

MICHAELA FRITZ

KATJA GENTINETTA

VICE PRESIDENT

VICE PRESIDENT

Michaela Fritz is Vice Rector for Research and Innovation at the Medical University of Vienna.

Katja Gentinetta is a political philosopher, business columnist and university lecturer.

EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

FLORENCE GAUB

KATARZYNA PISARSKA

MARIE RINGLER

VICE PRESIDENT

VICE PRESIDENT

VICE PRESIDENT

Florence Gaub is a researcher in the field of military sociology and Deputy Director of the European Union Institute for Security Studies in Paris (EUISS).

Katarzyna Pisarska is the Director of the European Academy of Diplomacy in Warsaw and Programme Director of the Warsaw Security Forum.

Marie Ringler is the European head of the world’s largest network of social entrepreneurs, Ashoka.

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Letter from Werner Wutscher

The year behind us was undoubtedly a challenging one, in so many ways. The European Forum Alpbach, for example, evolved from being a purely analogue event into a hybrid one. Last year’s balancing act was a success, but more importantly, the Forum truly managed to capture the spirit of our time while responding correctly to a situation, which, back then, was new to us all.

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At a European level, the engine appears to be sputtering. The Union is drifting apart – economically, politically, and most of all, socio-politically.

The European success story of recent years seems to have lost some of its momentum.

And this is precisely where the European Forum Alpbach wants to get involved and act as a driving force behind the developments in Europe.

Our key pillars are an interdisciplinary platform, which fosters intellectual discourse across all disciplinary and political boundaries, and the ideas of tomorrow’s generations. The European Forum Alpbach is very fortunate to be able to build on the groundwork laid by our predecessors and to draw on a network of thousands of young people in 143 countries around the globe. They are passionate about the topics that will shape their future. We want to give them a voice which will be heard in Europe. Today this is more important than ever.

We would like to work on concrete solutions for Europe in new formats with the participation of all stakeholders.

The European Forum Alpbach is determined to do its part to make sure that the European story of success continues. Nothing more and nothing less.

After all, anything new, innovation, does not come from the mainstream and often not even from the experts, it comes from the fringes and from those unexpected knowledge bearers who develop new ideas. That is why it is critical to also keep an eye on the continent’s and society’s margins.

LET TER FROM WERNER WUTSCHER

Werner Wutscher, Secretary General of the European Forum Alpbach

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European Forum Alpbach 2020 Fundamentals 23 August – 3 September

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T O TA L N U M B E R O F S E S S I O N S HELD IN 2020

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63 160 58 HYBRID SESSIONS

S P E A K E R S AT THE FORUM 2020

ONLINE SESSIONS

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PRO BONO P R O G R A M M E C U R AT O R S

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ON-SITE SESSIONS

Alpbach Symposia

Alpbach Summer School on Entrepreneurship This year’s summer school was very successfully relocated to the digital area. The I.E.C.T. continues to cooperate with the AIT as part of the Alpbach Technology Talks. They received 30 tickets for the speakers and participants in the Summer School and they were also part of the “Ticket to Berlin” event on the first day of the talks.

Alpbach in Motion

Alm Talks

You cannot make the economy of tomorrow work with the tools of the past. Yet again, the Alpbach in Motion campus programme brought together 30 emerging leaders from all walks of life to reflect on the great transformations the world is undergoing and identify the key implications for organisational and individual leadership. The group was hosted by Armin Trost (Professor at Furtwangen University) who is deeply committed to a new and modern leadership.

In 2020, the European Forum Alpbach was again a platform for a variety of different organisations to discuss important issues of our time. The “Alm Talks” were professionally recorded sessions that took place in a traditional setting in Alpbach.

The videos were published after the conference in autumn.

EUROPE AN FO RUM ALPBACH 2020

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EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

Usually the main programme is comprised of twoto three-day conferences on forward-looking issues in the fields of financial markets, health, politics, law, technology and economy. An integral part of the proceedings were occasions such as the Tyrol Days and the Arts and Culture Programme, including Artists in Discourse. Due to the pandemic situation caused by Covid-19, the European Forum Alpbach was streamed as an online conference.

EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

Rights to Vaccines

2020 brought along challenges that made health care and health systems take center stage.

To reflect this reality, we allowed health-related panels, labs and workshops to run through the entire programme. The underlying premise was to understand the pandemic and formulate concrete lessons learned to enable us and our systems to be better prepared for the next crisis.

At the outset, Hans Henri P. Kluge (Regional Director for Europe at the World Health Organisation) painted a positive picture, arguing that a few month into the pandemic our systems are responding faster than at the outset. However, he also predicted that Covid-19 will become a permanent part of our lives.

Together with the European Alpbach Club Styria, we explored the road(blocks) to pharmaceutical product development where Christina Nicolodi (Lead Virologist) highlighted the many opportunities that technology and digitalisation create.

Discussions further explored existing intellectual property rights and regulations for vaccinations and emphasised that limited access and lack of cooperation will have a negative effect on vaccination development and distribution in Euorpe..

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C L E M E N S M A R T I N A U E R ( P R E S I D E N T, E U R O P E A N H E A LT H F O R U M G A S T E I N ) , M I C H A E L A F R I T Z ( V I C E R E C T O R F O R R E S E A R C H A N D I N N O VAT I O N , M E D I C A L U N I V E R S I T Y O F V I E N N A ) U N D E R I C H TA U B E R (C E O , THEMIS BIOSCIENCE)

EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

EUROPE AN FO RUM ALPBACH 2020

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H A N N A H L U X (C O - F O U N D E R A N D C H I E F E X E C U T I V E O F F I C E R , V O L L P E N S I O N , V I E N N A )

Stand up for the Future

Fitting with the general theme of 2020, “Fundamentals” politics and democracy not only generated enormous material for engaging debates featuring a diverse cohort of speakers discussing issues ranging from city diplomacy to the future of warfare. A limelight was on reporters, whistleblowing, the state of reporting facts (and fakes) but also more generally on having the courage to speak up when necessary, a great example of which is youth activism. A highlight was the discussion “How to Save the World – Youth Activism in the Spotlight” reuniting 3 generations and 3 continents on 1 digital stage. Former UNSG Ban Ki-moon and Vanessa Nakate, the first Fridays For Future climate activist in Uganda and founder of the Rise up Climate Movement joined a conversation on engaging youth in fighting the climate crisis and promoting sustainability, chaired by POLITICO Europe editor in chief Stephen G. Brown.

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Rethink the System

The global economy was already in turmoil prior to the 2020 pandemic. At the EFA we took the opportunity to fundamentally Re:think our economic system, aiming at building a stronger, more inclusive and green(er) post-Corona economy.

Highlights included Valdis Dombrovskis (Executive Vice President of the European Commission) sharing his vision on a European people’s economy, a high-level panel tackling the fight against corruption with Nobel Laureate Muhammed Yunus and Angel Gurria (Secretary General of the OECD), to name just two of the prominent speakers. Also, Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz and his former student and current Argentinian Minister of Economy, Martín Guzmán, held a more intimate conversation between on how to put state budgets (back) on track.

EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

VA L D I S D O M B R O V S K I S ( E X E C U T I V E V I C E P R E S I D E N T, E U R O P E A N C O M M I S S I O N )

EUROPE AN FO RUM ALPBACH 2020

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Future Perspectives

During the Alpbach Technology Symposium, the summit of Austria’s research, technology and innovation community, leading representatives discussed some of the most pressing technological issues of Europe’s future.

EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

This Symposium was set out in search of new answers: What do we need to pay attention to in the future and what does this mean for technology? What challenges must industry face in order to remain competitive? Among the topics discussed were new ways of looking at society, economy and new European perspectives for overcoming the current crisis phenomena. The arts can additionally make valuable contributions to dealing with the urgent questions of the future and they were given ample space. Some highlights include discussions on Artificial Intelligence, climate and environment as well as the development of innovations.

S Y LV I A K N A P P ( P R O F E S S O R O F I N F E C T I O N B I O LO G Y, M E D I C A L U N I V E R S I T Y O F V I E N N A ) , M AT T H I A S B E C K ( P R O F E S S O R O F M O R A L T H E O LO G Y, U N I V E R S I T Y O F V I E N N A ) , E R I C H TA U B E R (C E O , T H E M I S B I O S C I E N C E G M B H ) , F L O R I A N F R A U S C H E R ( D I R E C T O R G E N E R A L F O R E C O N O M I C A F FA I R S , I N N O VAT I O N A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L P O L I C Y, A U S T R I A N F E D E R A L M I N I S T R Y F O R D I G I TA L A N D E C O N O M I C A F FA I R S ) A N D H E N R I E T TA E G E R T H ( M A N A G I N G DIREC TOR , FFG AUS TRIAN RESE ARCH PROMOTION AGENC Y)

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Alm Talks

EUROPE AN FO RUM ALPBACH 2020

In 2020, the European Forum Alpbach was again a platform for a variety of different organisations and institutions to discuss important issues of our time.

The “Alm Talks” were professionally recorded sessions that took place in a traditional setting in Alpbach. The videos were published after the conference in autumn and are still available on our website www.alpbach.org.

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EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

R E C O R D I N G O F A N A L M TA L K O N F U T U R E S T R AT E G I E S F O R T H E A U S T R I A N C A R E S E C T O R .

T H I S TA L K W A S S U P P O R T E D B Y S E N E C U R A .

EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

Symbol or Identity?

What happens when flags – representing nations – start to dissolve? When clear colours fade into pastel colours? Then it becomes obvious that the nation state is artificial and the opportunity for acts of solidarity arises. Societies can be redefined by a global sense of “togetherness”, beyond alienation and isolation.

In her work “No Border, No Nation”, the Austrian artist Andrea Salzmann challenges the idea that identity should be derived from artificial nation states. In her view, identity should come from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

To achieve this vision the flags our societies use to express their identities have to change, Salzmann argues.

Andrea Salzmann’s artistic works always deal with structures and political systems. She develops multimedia installations – always starting from a performative approach and intense engagement with the materials and objects used. Furthermore, she teaches at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Department of Performative Arts.

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De Profundis – Thoughts About the Origins

Thoughts about the Origins of thought, language, art and the primal fears have come to the surface of our societies as a result of the Corona crisis and of life in general. As dizzying as the view into the depths is, as great is the wealth of associations and questions that can be drawn from it and asked about it. There are no final answers to be expected, just the hope to get through surfaces.

The famous Austrian actor and director Karl Markovics was a perfect talk master and together with his excellent guests – stand-up comedian and political activist Eddie Izzard (actor, stand-up comedian), Lisa Kaltenegger (associated professor in astronomy), Cesy Leonard (artist), Inge Prader (photographer) and Christoph Türcke (author) - he descended into the depth, explored it from different perspectives and brought everybody back to the surface.

EUROPE AN FO RUM ALPBACH 2020

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EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

IN G E PR AD ER (PH OTO G R APHER , VIEN NA), K ARL M ARKOVIC S (AC TO R , D IREC TO R AND S C R E E N W R I T E R , V I E N N A ) A N D C E S Y L E O N A R D ( A R T I S T, D I R E C T O R , B E R L I N )

EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

75 Years European Forum Alpbach

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The European Forum Alpbach took place for the first time in August 1945 as one of the earliest international political and intellectual events in post-WWII Europe. Its founders were Otto Molden, who had been active in the resistance movement during the Second World War, and philosophy lecturer Simon Moser from Innsbruck, as well as several other influential personalities. Alpbach was created as an intellectual platform for discussion where Europe’s cultural, scientific and humanitarian heritage could be developed in a future-oriented way and where European integration could be promoted.

75 YE ARS EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

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The European Forum Alpbach was founded under the name “Internationale Hochschulwochen” (International Summer Seminars). After the calamity of the Second World War was over, it came as a streak of good fortune that the first “Hochschulwochen” in the Tyrolian village of Alpbach was met with a warm reception. Since this first meeting, the Austrian “Hochschulwochen” have taken place every year, and since 1949 these meetings became known as “European Forum Alpbach”.

The significant contribution Forum Alpbach has made to the intellectual life of post-war Europe is a real achievement. The interchange between knowledge and practice was a particularly important aim from the very beginning. The intellectual atmosphere of the event, which was far removed from the restrictions of university and political life, contributed to the open nature of the discussions in Alpbach and allowed partners from opposite sides of the discussion to be brought together at one table.

EFA Foundation initiative Re:think Alliances with the aim of connecting various actors to strengthen democracy, an open society and social cohesion in Europe.

The European Forum Alpbach Foundation (EFAF) was established on 15 November, 2005 to support the objectives of the European Forum Alpbach.

The Foundation funds scholarships for the European Forum Alpbach with the aid of donations. It is based in Vienna.

Otto Molden and Simon Moser founded the European Forum Alpbach in 1945 with the aim of strengthening democracy and social cohesion in Europe.

The Scholarship Programme of the non-profit private Foundation of the European Forum Alpbach enables young people from across the world to come to the Forum in Alpbach or to participate in the Forum’s online conference. Until today, hundreds of scholarship holders from more than 50 countries serve as ambassadors or have founded alumni groups, which run their own successful scholarship programmes. All in all, scholarship holders from over 100 countries participate in the European Forum Alpbach every year. In addition, the Foundation has launched the international

In order to ensure the long-term existence of the European Forum Alpbach and to enable the expansion of its network, the Alpbach Circle was founded under the leadership of Karl Sevelda.

The Circle is an exclusive circle of people who support the Forum out of personal conviction.

EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

Donations made through the Circle to the European Forum Alpbach Foundation are tax-deductible.

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Board of the Non-Profit Foundation under Private Law ANDREAS TREICHL

WERNER WUTSCHER

President of the European Forum Alpbach

New Venture Scouting

FR ANZ FISCHLER

K ARL SEVELDA

Former President of the European Forum Alpbach

President of EcoAustria

INGRID HAMM

H O WA R D W I L L I A M S O N (C O - O P T E D )

Charity funding expert and former director of the Robert Bosch Foundation

Professor of European Youth Policy

Contact SONJA JÖCHTL

Alpbach Circle

Managing Director of the Foundation

Contact

E FA F O U N D AT I O N

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EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

K ARL SEVELDA

Chair of the Alpbach Circle Board of the European Forum Alpbach Foundation

Scholarship Programme In 2020, the EFA Foundation Scholarship Programme went virtual and almost 2,000 young people from 134 countries took part in the European Forum Alpbach online conference.

The scholarship programme of the European Forum Alpbach Foundation enables young people from across the world to come to Alpbach and participate in the Forum. Here, they find an intellectual environment in which they can tackle key socio-political questions in depth. The international exchange, the constructive dialogue and the substantive debates with renowned scientists, entrepreneurs and politicians influence and connect attendees far beyond Alpbach. Thus, the European Forum Alpbach Foundation makes a sustainable contribution towards European integration and intercultural understanding.

EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

The scholarship programme of the Foundation is funded by international partners, the Forum Alpbach Network and the Foundation itself.

Detailed information about the scholarship programme and how you can participate or contribute: www.alpbach.org/foundation

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SCHOL ARSHIP PROGR AMME

Alpbach Hubs 2020 Online Staging for the Youth Network

All events of the Alpbach Hubs were very well attended, with around 80 participants on average per online discussion. Due to the great success of the Hubs, the EFA decided to further this initiative and to invite the Forum Alpbach Network (FAN) and the Africa Alpbach Network (AAN) back to become an active part of the official Forum 2021.

The EFA will provide thematic guidelines and support the Hubs in realising their proposals.

The idea behind the Alpbach Hubs is to strengthen EFA’s youth networks, to foster connections among alumni, young professionals, and civil society, and to obtain more visibility for network members and scholarship holders during the Forum in August and beyond.

Hubs were organised by alumni from 23 countries: Austria, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Germany, Georgia, Ghana, Hungary, India, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

ALPBACH HUBS 2020

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Since we could not imagine a Forum without the voices of the young generation, we took the opportunity to give them a stage at the online conference. As Alpbach Hubs, alumni clubs and ambassadors of our global youth network curated and hosted 70 decentralised, digital events of the EFA 2020 main programme. The focus of these events was on sustainability, social equality, and human rights. While most Hub events were completely digital due to Covid-19 restrictions, some of them were physical gatherings open to a wider audience and live-streamed at the Forum’s online conference. These physical events took place in various cities such as Vienna.

Forum Alpbach Network The time spent together at the EFA connects former scholarship holders over the course of many years and across national borders.

This year, 32 alumni organisations active in 21 different countries are a visible expression of this bond. They organise successful scholarship programmes and various events throughout the year.

There are also 22 FAN Ambassadors who provide information about the EFA Scholarship Programme and the Forum in their countries.

More information can be found at: https://forum.alpbach.network

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Initiative Group Alpbach Albania (AL) Initiative Group Alpbach Armenia (ARM) Czech and Slovak Club Alpbach Club Alpbach Belgrade (SRB) Club Alpbach Belgium Brussels (B) Club Alpbach Burgenland (A) Club Alpbach Croatia (HR) Club Alpbach Finland (FIN) Club Alpbach Georgia (GE) Club Alpbach Germany (D) Initiative Group Alpbach Kosovo (KS) Kyiv Initiative Group Alpbach (UA) Club Alpbach Iraq (IRQ) Club Alpbach Liechtenstein (LI) Club Alpbach London (GB) Club Alpbach Macedonia (MK)

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Club Alpbach Montenegro (MNE) Club Alpbach Netherlands (NL) Club Alpbach Niederösterreich (A) Club Alpbach Oberösterreich (A) Initiative Group Alpbach Romania (R) Club Alpbach Salzburg (A) Initiative Group Alpbach Sarajevo (BIH) Club Alpbach Senza Confini (A/SLO/I) Club Alpbach Steiermark (A) Club Alpbach Südtirol Alto Adige (I) Club Alpbach Sweden (SWE) Club Alpbach Tirol (A) Club Alpbach Trentino (I) Club Alpbach Vorarlberg (A) Initiativgruppe Alpbach Wien (A) Club Alpbach Switzerland Zurich (CH)

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Algeria Azerbaijan Bolivia Brazil China Egypt Ghana Hungary India Iraq Israel

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Montenegro Nigeria Philippines Poland Portugal Russia South Korea Turkey USA Vietnam Zimbabwe

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The Africa Alpbach Network was founded in 2019 and is our second continental alumni network. Currently, it has 64 members in 28 African countries. The headquarters of the network are in Ghana.

FORUM ALPBACH NE T WORK

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Re:think Alliances

EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

Re:think Alliances is an initiative of the European Forum Alpbach Foundation supported by the National Endowment for Democracy, Stiftung Mercator, and Mercator Foundation Switzerland.

Re:think Alliances aims to build diverse networks between different actors in order to strengthen democracy, an open society and social cohesion in Europe. We work with democracy experts, activists, artists, media representatives, managers, PR experts, influencers, etc. Based on local success stories in the field of civil society, it is our concern to bring together those who aim to do good for our society, no matter in which field they are operating. We are looking for “unlikely allies” for our usual suspects from the political sphere and civil society, in order to generate concrete ideas for a better functioning society through joint discussions, workshops and working groups.

In 2020, Re:think Alliances activities focused on the opportunities and risks for democratic actors and organisations in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. This included the rise of conspiracy theories and extremist contents online. Extremist channels in the digital sphere have soared ever since the beginning of the first Corona lockdowns in Austria, Germany and Switzerland in the spring of 2020. Right-wing extremist groups have gained the largest number of followers comparted to left-wing extremists and extreme Islamist groups. This was shown by a study commissioned by the European Forum Alpbach and conducted by the Institute of Strategic Dialogue in London. The study shows, among other things, a large increase in online postings disseminating conspiracy theories. Study author Jakob Guhl said that there is an urgent need for increased cooperation in the German-speaking region to fight against such contents online effectively. You can find the full study on our website.

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R E :T H I N K A L L I A N C E S

Further EFA Activities in 2020

Shaping a sustainable relationship between Europe and China – but how? H.E. Xiaosi Li, Ambassador of China to Austria, Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik, University Professor of Sinology at the Institute of East Asian Studies and Dean of the Faculty of Philological and Cultural Studies at the University of Vienna, discussed this question at the Alpbach Dialogue in the Berio Hall of the Vienna Konzerthaus. The discussion was moderated by Verena Nowotny, Partner, Gaisberg Consulting.

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Alpbach Dialogues in the Vienna Konzerthaus

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Re:think Alliances Online Workshop

Moderated by Frauendomäne (Sophie Rendl, Fides Raffel, Hannah Zach), Jeannie Schneider (Dezentrum), Viktar Vasileuski (Polis 180), Christine Maaß and Annamária Tóth (EFA Foundation).

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On 23 October, the first Re:think Alliances online workshop took place. The goal of this workshop was to find cross-sectoral solutions and foster the creation of common agendas amongst the workshop’s participants while looking at specific cases of successful activism and community building initiatives. It started with a series of expert inputs on the current state of affairs and was followed by a collective brainstorming, where everyone got the chance to work on the unlikely alliances necessary to promote civic engagement and strengthen democracy across borders. Speakers of the workshop were Sophie Achermann (alliance F, stophatespeech.ch), Barbara Djassi (Das NETTZ), Laura Giani (Campaign Manager, NOW!), Jakob Guhl (Institute for Strategic Dialogue), Cesy Leonard (Radikale Töchter), Bailey Richardson and Briene Lermitte (People & Company), Bianca Schönberger (ZARA - Zivilcourage und Anti-Rassismus-Arbeit), Natascha Strobl (political scientist and expert on rightwing extremism), and Christoph Witzany (Software and data engineer, handcheque).

EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

Tested and Transparent

with the statutes and it was discussed in detail with the management by the honorary auditors Günther Schrems and Max Kothbauer, who assessed the accounting and the financial management of the association as orderly. The auditors certify “the good economic situation of the association due to the steady increase in success. With the support of the foundation, it will also succeed in mastering the difficult year 2020.” In 2019, the association made neither a profit nor a loss.

The European Forum Alpbach had its 2019 annual accounts audited by ECOVIS Austria Wirtschaftsprüfungs- und Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH. This provides an account of the use of the sponsorship and donation funds entrusted to us. The audit for the 2019 financial year was accepted by the General Assembly on 14 May, 2020, with one abstention and without any dissenting votes. The annual financial statement was presented by the association’s committees for use in accordance

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Turnover 2019 € 3,331,101.94 MEMBERSHIP FEES € 1 6 , 2 5 0.0 0 0. 4 9 %

PUBLIC FUNDS € 1 6 8 , 0 7 5 .0 0 5 .0 5 %

PA R T I C I PAT I O N FEES € 1,616,00 4. 25 48.51 %

SPONSORING € 1 , 5 2 7, 9 4 8 .0 5 45.87 %

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OTHER INCOME € 2,824.6 4 0.0 8 %

Costs 2019 € 3,331,101.94 RESERVE € 8 0 9. 2 4 0.0 2 %

O P E R AT I N G EXPENSES € 436,412.41 1 3 .1 0 %

S TA F F E X P E N S E S € 1 ,1 9 3 , 2 1 0. 5 1 35.82 %

O R G A N I S AT I O N E FA € 1 , 7 0 0, 6 6 9. 7 8 5 1 .0 5 %

PROFIT € 0,– 0%

TURNOVER AND COS T S 2019

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T H E A S S O C I AT I O N

European Forum Alpbach The first European Forum Alpbach took place in 1945 as the “International College Weeks”. Founded in 1948 as a non-profit association based in Vienna, it acts independently of any ideology, religion or political party. The association only functions thanks to the vast number of people who, with the exception of the organisation team, all give their time voluntarily to the Forum Alpbach. They have contributed to making the European Forum Alpbach one of the most important interdisciplinary dialogue platforms in Europe for science, politics, economics and culture today.

President

Council

Franz Fischler (until November 2020) Andreas Treichl (since November 2020)

Peter C. Aichelburg, Martin Bernhofer, Jürgen Busch, Verena Ehold, Friedrich Gleissner, Erich Gornik, Ivo Greiter, Wolfgang Habermayer, Michael Haider, Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger, Günter Hillebrand, Herwig Hösele, Michael Ikrath, Beatrix Karl, Wolfgang Knoll, Georg Kopetz, Kathryn List, Johann Luif, Ulrike Lunacek, Christian Macek, Bernhard Marckhgott, Thomas Mayr-Harting, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Patricia Mussi-Mailer, Dieter Natlacen, Ewald Nowotny, Johannes Ortner, Klaus Poier, Filip Radunović, Reingard Rauch, Wolfgang Renner, Verena Ringler, Walter Rothensteiner, Sabine Schindler, Christoph Schneider, Rainer Schrems, Matthias Strolz, Alexandra Terzic-Auer

EUROPE AN FORUM ALPBACH

Vice Presidents Caspar Einem, Sonja Puntscher Riekmann, Claus J. Raidl (until November 2020) Michaela Fritz, Florence Gaub, Katja Gentinetta, Katarzyna Pisarska, Marie Ringler (since November 2020)

Honorary Presidents Erhard Busek, Franz Fischler, Heinrich Pfusterschmid-Hardtenstein

Executive Board Valerie Hengl (FAN), Tobias Neugebauer (FAN), Shalini Randeria (Co-opted Member), Manfred Url (Financial Officer)

Auditors Günther Schrems, Max Kothbauer

Friedrich Korkisch (†), Peter Schmidhuber (†)

Arbitration Board Michael Neider, Katharina Scherke, Matthias Strolz, Franz Zöchbauer

Scientific Advisory Board Brigitte Bach, Matthias Beck, Anna Durnová, Caspar Einem (Chair), Martin H. Gerzabek, Markus Hengstschläger, Barbara Horejs, Maximilian Jösch, Sylvia Knapp, Martin Kocher, Katja Mayer, Josef Mitterer, Hanns-Christoph Nägerl, Manfred Nowak, Elisabeth Oberzaucher, Daniela Pollak, Barbara Prainsack, Peter Purgathofer, Margit Schratzenstaller-Altzinger, Sarah Spiekermann-Hoff, Saskia Stachowitsch, Alma Steger, Harald Stelzer, Kristina Stöckl, Ulrike Tappeiner, Felicitas Thun-Hohenstein, Miriam Unterlass, Michael Wagner, Andreas Wimmer, Rudolf Zechner

Corresponding Members of the Scientific Advisory Board Jeremias Adams-Prassl, Nadia Al-Bagdadi, Petar Bojanić, Johann Frank, Irene GinerReichl, Maja Göpel, Hermann Hauser, Michael Ignatieff, Sabine Junginger, Hedwig Josefine Kaiser, Lisa Kaltenegger, Peter G. Kirchschläger, Wilhelm Krull, Dominik Markl, Thomas Mayr-Harting, Gero Miesenböck, Jürgen Mlynek, Berthold Molden, Friedrich B. Prinz, Michael Reiterer, Dirk Rupnow, Anya Schiffrin, Tobias Schumacher, Nona Shepphard, Otmar D. Wiestler, Howard Williamson, Ruth Wodak

Secretary General Philippe Narval (until September 2020) Werner Wutscher (since October 2020)

Executive Board of the Foundation Andreas Treichl, Franz Fischler, Ingrid Hamm, Karl Sevelda, Howard Williamson (co-opted), Werner Wutscher

Managing Director of the Foundation Sonja Jöchtl

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Advisory Committees Health Symposium

Economic Symposium

Political Symposium

Michaela Fritz, Michael Heinisch, Alexander Herzog, Hedwig Kaiser, Bernhard Küenburg, Lena Lepuschütz, Philippe Narval, Sigrid Pilz, Sofia Ribeiro, Kerstin Schallaböck, Andreas Sönnichsen, Giulio Superti-Furga, Thomas Wochele-Thoma, Sabine Wolf, Hedwig Wölfl

Silvia Angelo, Gerald Bast, Ulrike FamiraMühlberger, Gabriel Felbermayr, Nikolaus Griller, Karen Horn, Martin Kocher, Georg Kopetz, Heike Mensi-Klarbach, Philippe Narval, Claus Raidl, Martin R. Stuchtey, Sofie Waltl

Erhard Busek, Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook, Franz Fischler, Franz-Stefan Gady, Maja Göpel, Gerald Knaus, Thomas Mayr-Harting, Katharina Natter, Claudine Nierth, Shalini Randeria, Sonja Puntscher Riekmann, Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik

Legal Symposium

Financial Market Symposium

Sonja Barnreiter, Tamara Ehs, Caspar Einem, Michael Enzinger, Michael Lysander Fremuth, Michael Holoubek, Brigitte Loderbauer, Elisabeth Lovrek, Sophie Martinetz, Dieter Natlacen, Katarzyna Nowicka, Klaus Poier, Neda Savić, Oliver Scheiber, Alexander Somek, Alma Steger, Michael Umfahrer

Magdalena Biereder, Catherine Cziharz, Sonja Jöchtl, Bernhard Marckhgott, Christian Niedermüller, Jeffrey Owens, Shermin Voshmgir, Claus Raidl, Natalie Staniewicz, Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell, Ricardo-José Vybiral

Philipp Narval (Secretary General Association), Charlotte Steenbergen (COO), Sonja Jöchtl (Managing Director Foundation), Martin Anderl, Marina Bartoletti, Ayper Deniz, Christina Fuchs, Hannah Kickert, Sarah Kiparski, Silvia Hanschur, Christine Maaß, Nikolaus Matejka, Bettina Nahajowski, Benedikt Osl, Teresa Reiter, Clara Rindler-Schantl, Magdalena RostkowskaMüllner, Elisabeth Schack, Christiane Schwaiger, Floria Springer, Annamária Tóth, Sandra Wenzl, Franziska Werkner (Bildungskarenz), Andrea Windegger, Katia Wissinger, Bernadette Zimmermann

E FA A S S O C I AT I O N

International Advisory Board Catherine Ashton, Franz Fischler, Eamon Gilmore, Arancha González Laya, JeanClaude Hollerich, Miroslav Lajcák, Pascal Lamy, Thomas Mayr-Harting (Chairman), Philippe Narval, Jeffrey Sachs, Karel Schwarzenberg, Martin Selmayr, Bruno Stagno-Ugarte, Cédric Villani, Margot Wallström, Thomas Wieser

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Organising Team (as of 12/2020)

European Forum Alpbach Association

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The European Forum Alpbach thanks you!

This year we are especially grateful to all our partners’ support. Thank you for remaining loyal to the European Forum Alpbach and for being flexible in a year full of changes and challenges. Together we will continue to build on the fundamentals of democracy, European unity, solidarity and dialogue. Let us stay strong together, help those in need and show the world what the Village of Thinkers is made of. The European Forum Alpbach is not “just” a conference: Alpbach is wherever you are and wherever you act in the spirit of a united Europe and a solidary world.

European Forum Alpbach Foundation

MAIN BENEFACTORS

BENEFACTORS

CONTRIBUTORS

Austrian Development Agency Baker McKenzie Boston Consulting Group Club Alpbach Steiermark Elsevier

Finnish Cultural Foundation Gesellschaft Österreich Ungarn Hirsch Beteiligungs GmbH KAUTE Foundation Lions Club Wels

Lions Club Zillertal Lung Yingtai Cultural Foundation Raiffeisen Bank International AG Stiftung Fürstlicher Kommerzienrat Guido Feger

Imprint: Publisher: European Forum Alpbach Non-Profit Association Franz-Josefs-Kai 13/10, 1010 Vienna | Tel.: +43 1 718 17 11 | forum@alpbach.org Picture Credits: Philipp Huber, Philipp Lipiarski, Maria Noisternig, Luiza Puiu, Andrei Pungovschi Editor: EFA Team | Editing: EFA Team, onlinelektorat.at | Design: WHY.Studio

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#efa21 European Forum Alpbach 18 August to 3 September 2021 Alpbach, Tyrol 2021.alpbach.org