The economic success of Germany, the United States, and most other industrialized nations is largely based on their ability to create innovations. It is questionable, however, whether these countries will be able to maintain their innovative edge when facing more intense competition from rapidly developing countries. Which kind of environment and support will be needed from universities, corporations, and last but not least, politics? Or does innovation rest on more evasive grounds?

We will present these challenging questions to a panel of leading entrepreneurs, corporate innovators, and some of the foremost thinkers on innovation.

Speaker:

Holm Keller Executive Vice President for Strategic Development and Administration at Leuphana University Lueneburg

Imdat Solak Consultant in the new media area

F.M. Scherer Harvard Kennedy School Professor of Public Policy and Corporate Management

Wolfgang Daum President and Chief Executive Officer of Boston Heart Lab

Gregor Schmitz Correspondent in the Washington office of DER SPIEGEL