World Economic Forum launches new think tank community

The World Economic Forum on Monday launched the Think Tank Leaders Forum, a new community of 25 leading international policy and research institutes that will advise Forum members and constituents on key issues facing the international community.

The Forum aims to bridge the gap between research and policy-making in areas such as globalization, healthcare, ageing, innovation, peace and security, education, the environment, poverty reduction and international economics.

The launch was announced during WEF’s Global Agenda 2015 summit taking place this week in Dubai, bringing together prominent current and former governmental figures from countries around the world to discuss around 80 global issues of concern.

“With globalization seemingly in retreat, the world’s 7.2 billion people urgently need not only new ideas, but also new ways to build consensus that involve all stakeholders in moving the best ideas from theory to practice,” Martina Larkin, WEF Senior Director and Head of the Global Knowledge said in a statement.

“None of the many issues identified in the recently released Outlook on the Global Agenda 2015 report can be addressed effectively without thorough and continuing consultation across the spectrum of stakeholders.”

Prominent figures taking part in the three-day event include José Manuel Barroso, the former president of the European Commission; Olli Rehn, Vice-President and Member of the European Parliament and Carl Bildt, a member of parliament and former Swedish Foreign Minister.