New World Academic Forum launched in Stockholm
The World Academic Forum Stockholm Summit, an interdisciplinary stage with academics from different corners of the world, is being launched in May of 2022. A groundbreaking partnership comprising of 18 universities and university colleges in Stockholm welcomes academics and artists to join the conversation, on site and online.
During four days in May (17-20) open-minded, interdisciplinary, and diverse talks will take place, inspired by a model known from Stockholm Explorative Talks. Timely topics within research will be addressed in new, and creative ways when academics are offered the opportunity to discuss solutions to some of the most challenging issues of our time.
“We are aiming high and have been preparing for this event for several years now. The goal for the launch of the World Academic Forum is to be a starting point for a new global academic movement that highlights the importance of academia in society and gathers researchers from all over the world. We want this to be a fun, novel, and innovative way to communicate science and research,” says Maria Fogelström Kylberg, Founder of World Academic Forum and CEO of Stockholms Akademiska Forum.
The overall theme for the World Academic Forum, Stockholm Summit 2022 – Post Pandemic Planet: How do we build a united and livable world together? – is manifested throughout this year’s program.
Hosted by the City of Stockholm and its 18 universities
The program in May is hosted by The City of Stockholm along with 18 higher education institutions in the metropolitan area, from the Stockholm School of Economics to The Royal Institute of Art.
“In order to be able to meet the complex societal challenges ahead, we must work in inter- and multi-disciplinary ways together – with researchers from all over the world. This is an important path to success – and why we have chosen to organize and engage in several of the events at the World Academic Forum,” says Sigbritt Karlsson, President of KTH, The Royal Institute of Technology.
“I’m expecting crackling fireworks of thoughts. We’re meeting across subject matter boundaries to address vital issues with creativity, curiosity, and passion, which hopefully will be igniting a few sparks in the minds of the participants,” says Micael Dahlen, Professor at the Stockholm School of Economics who will be partaking at one of the sessions at the World Academic Forum.
International outlook
The World Academic Forum Stockholm Summit is founded and organized by Stockholm's Akademiska Forum, the collaborative body and collective voice of 18 universities and the City of Stockholm. An international mindset has been imperative from day one of this project.
"17 universities outside Sweden will be represented in the program and Honorary Guests attending from across the globe, from Cambridge in the UK to Harvard and MIT in the US, and on to Mauritius, Lebanon and Ghana. You can take part in the program online from any country. This global outreach is essential to us since the academic discussions and the joint problem-solving shouldn’t be limited by any boundaries,” says Maria Fogelström Kylberg.
Stockholm – The Unicorn Factory
The fact that the City of Stockholm is one of the largest sponsors of the event is no coincidence. The interplay between academia and innovation lies in the very DNA of the city, and Stockholm produces more billion-dollar companies per capita than any other region in the world after Silicon Valley.
“The World Academic Forum in Stockholm will be an incredible meeting place for some of the world's most brilliant minds with the mission of solving the issues of our time. This initiative also strengthens Stockholms position even further as a global academic capital, which increases our attractiveness on the international stage. This is simply an extraordinary project that I and the City of Stockholm are very much looking forward to,” says Anna König Jerlmyr, Mayor of Stockholm.
More information about the program and how to participate:
More information for the media:
- Press materials: www.worldacademicforum.se/media-kit/
- Press event: Monday, May 16 (RSVP here)
Honorary Guests (available for interview via press contact):
- Aku Kwamie, Health Systems Researcher at WHO-UNICEF-Lancet Commission, Geneva, Switzerland
- Livia Tomova, Research Fellow in Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, UK
- Harri Oinas-Kukkonen, Professor in Information Systems Science and Dean of Graduate School, University of Oulu, Finland
- Zaheer Allam, Urban Strategist and Consultant, Mauritius
- Nader El-Bizri, Professor of Philosophy and Civilization studies, The American University of Beirut, Lebanon
Press Contact:
Maria Fogelström Kylberg
CEO, Stockholms Akademiska Forum
+46 73 461 25 31
maria.fogelstrom-kylberg@staforum.se