The Concept

Concept and Specificities

The Geneva Forum is designed as a dynamic and interactive platform, combining conferences, workshops, and networking opportunities in a unique format. Unlike traditional events, it is not limited to a one-way transmission of knowledge or a formal framework. Here are its main features that set it apart:

Collaborative Model: The Forum places particular emphasis on interactivity and co-construction. For instance, participants are not mere passive listeners but actively engage in discussions, workshops, and group work, fostering active involvement and tangible outcomes.

Targeted Networking: The organization structures its events around strategic moments such as networking meals and professional network crossover sessions. This approach breaks down sectoral silos and encourages intersectoral collaborations, which are often absent in traditional conferences.

Focus on Concrete Impact: The Forum goes beyond debates and theories by focusing on concrete projects and their economic viability. For example, the "Blended Finance Party" facilitates connections between project leaders and investors, ensuring sustainable impact.

Modern and Dynamic Formats: With formats such as pitch series, immediately followed by interactive discussions and feedback, the Forum seeks to maximize the efficiency of exchanges while reducing the duration of events to maintain a high level of attention and engagement.

Inclusive and Multidimensional Access: The Geneva Forum targets professionals, students who represent the next generation of stakeholders, and citizens, fostering transparency and full accessibility. This inclusive dimension significantly enriches exchanges by bringing diverse perspectives, which professionals take away as valuable resources.

7 leverage themes bring together members of key professional communities:

• Impact Finance - Philanthropy, Investment, and Blended Finance
• Ethical Currencies
• Resilient and Responsible Tourism
• Citizen and Participatory Science
• Education and Project-Based Pedagogy
• Conflict Mediation for Peace
• Rights of Nature

9 transversal axes allow the composition of overarching themes throughout the week:

• Philosophy and Ethics
• Research and Science
• Business Creation and Development
• Gender Equality and Women Empowerment
• Transport and Energy
• Agriculture and Food
• Health
• Smart Cities, Habitats, and Architecture
• Training Youth for Excellence

Finally, numerous calls for breakthrough technology are issued by the Geneva Forum, aimed at fueling the economy with innovative solutions to existing problems, based on other axes and proposals.

Strengths and Differences Compared to Other International Events

Compared to organizations such as the Davos Forum or the Porto Alegre Forum, the Geneva Forum positions itself as a bridge between academic reflection and concrete action, while integrating a strong collaborative dimension. Its main strengths lie in:

The balance between innovation and pragmatism: While Davos often focuses on high-level strategic discussions and Porto Alegre on social movements, the Geneva Forum combines intellectual debates, practical workshops, mechanisms to accelerate project implementation, and the pursuit of their viability to ensure impactful projects thrive and endure over time.

Active participant involvement: Unlike other events that prioritize top-down interventions, the Geneva Forum encourages participants to contribute to the creation and evaluation of solutions.

A thematic and multidisciplinary approach: The Forum integrates major contemporary themes (ecological transition, ethical finance, artificial intelligence, human rights) with contributions from experts, citizen organizations, and opinion leaders.

The Geneva Forum stands out for its practical orientation, collaborative spirit, and focus on measurable impact, making it a unique platform for stakeholders aiming to combine strategic thinking with concrete implementation.

Typical Day

A typical day at the Geneva Forum is structured to maximize interactions, co-creation, and concrete impact while balancing time for reflection, collaborative work, and networking.

The Geneva Forum prioritizes inspiration, concrete action, and strategic networking while maintaining a strong collaborative dynamic.

Here is how a typical day unfolds, year after year, and across continents, combining stimulating reflections, hands-on work, and enriching encounters, all oriented toward creating real impact.

Morning: Interactive Conferences and Debates

1. Participant Welcome:
- Registration, badge distribution, and logistical information.
- Informal socialization time to meet other participants.

2. Official Opening:
- Introductory speeches by organizers or key speakers.
- Presentation of the day’s objectives and main themes.

3. Round of Short Presentations (Round of Pitches):
- Each speaker has 6 to 10 minutes to present a project, issue, or research findings.
- This format is designed to spark interest and lay the groundwork for discussions.

4. Roundtable and Group Discussions:
- Following the presentations, an interactive roundtable allows ideas to converge.
- Participants are then divided into smaller groups to work on solutions or delve deeper into the topics discussed.
- Moderated discussions ensure collaborative output.

Afternoon: Practical Workshops and Collaboration

5. Thematic Workshops:
- These workshops focus on specific challenges, such as ecological transition, impact finance, or citizen science.
- Interactive format where participants co-create tangible solutions, supported by modern methodologies (design thinking, agile management).
- Expected outcomes: project outlines, action plans, or idea prototypes.

6. Feedback Session:
- Plenary session to share group work results.
- Critical discussions and constructive debates to refine ideas.
- Often, a *statement* or synthesis is drafted to document conclusions.

End of Day: Networking and Partnerships

7. Informal Networking:
- Dedicated time for participant exchanges, often over coffee or in a designated area.
- Opportunity to deepen discussions initiated during workshops or conferences.

8. Networking Dinner:
- Held in a relaxed setting, it allows for building personal relationships with opinion leaders, experts, and potential partners.
- Strategic discussions and collaboration opportunities often emerge in this informal context.

All Day: Resources and Side Activities

 Access to Stands and Exhibitions:
- Participants can view scientific posters, project presentations, or technology demonstrations.

 Mentorship or Consultations:
- Meetings between project leaders and experts or investors for personalized advice.

 Documentation and Publication:
- Discussions, results, and key ideas are compiled in real-time by organizers to be shared online or in reports.