By Satyaki Chakraborty
Against a backdrop of evolving geoeconomic realities and exponential innovation, the World Economic Forum brought together more than 1,800 global leaders from business, government, civil society, international organizations and academia for the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2026 in Dalian, China which ended on June 25..
Across more than 200 sessions, the meeting underscored the urgency of value creation, with leaders exploring how technological breakthroughs can translate into economic value and broader progress for all. Discussions focused on the importance of the right investment architecture, policy frameworks and partnerships to scale innovation for the next era of growth.
The meeting, known as “Summer Davos”, welcomed Chinese Premier Li Qiang, alongside six heads of government: Kim Minseok, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea; Tarique Rahman, Prime Minister of Bangladesh; Amadou Oury Bah, Prime Minister of Guinea; Olzhas Bektenov, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan; Nyam-Osor Uchral, Prime Minister of Mongolia; and Milojko Spajić, Prime Minister of Montenegro. It brought together leaders from over 90 countries and regions, including 90 government leaders, 1,000 senior business executives and 200 leaders of unicorns and Technology Pioneers from the Forum’s innovator communities.
Under the theme “Innovating at Scale”, leaders and entrepreneurs explored how technology can be harnessed as a strategic opportunity and how its benefits can be shared widely and contribute to resilient growth. Sessions focused on the trends shaping Asian economies and China’s economic outlook as well as the critical role of entrepreneurship, the energy transition and digital transformation in building more sustainable economic systems. Participants examined how advances in AI, energy systems and natural capital are reshaping competitiveness, while discussions on jobs and skills focused on pathways to the next billion jobs and the structural transformation of work in an AI-driven economy.
Innovators were central to the meeting, with over 200 leaders from the Forum’s innovator communities, including Technology Pioneers and a record number of unicorns, focused on moving emerging technologies from experimentation to deployment across industries.
“Technological progress is one of the most powerful tools for addressing the existential challenges of a growing global population,” said André Hoffmann, Co-Chair, World Economic Forum. “Leaders must recognize that the most important boundary is not technological, but planetary. Innovation only has value if it serves humanity and preserves the conditions that make life possible in the first place.”
“Technology is creating new opportunities for growth across industries and economies,” said Larry Fink, Co-Chair, World Economic Forum. “Realizing that potential will depend on scaling innovation in ways that drive productivity, investment, and broader prosperity.”
“The next phase of innovation is about closing the gap between technological potential and real-world economic impact, to translate breakthroughs into tangible progress for industry and people,” said Alois Zwinggi, President and CEO, World Economic Forum. “Innovating at scale requires partnership across a range of sectors, including government, business, and academia. The meeting in Dalian focused on practical solutions that deliver growth for all.”
“We should harness technology for good. Innovation drives humanity’s quest for a better life,” said Li Qiang, Premier of the People’s Republic of China. “Advanced technologies should serve as tools that benefit people across countries, rather than sources of chaos that undermine peace and stability. Technology progress should always reflect humanity’s common values and advance global peace and development.”
“Our efforts do not stop within Korea. We are working toward the goal of AI for all, to ensure that all global citizens can enjoy the benefits of AI,” said Kim Minseok, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea. “Under the slogan AI to Solve Global Challenges, it will serve as a hub for addressing global issues through AI.”
“The companies that are really pulling ahead are putting their best people and resources on just two or three big bets: the areas where the data is rich, the matters are strategic and the advantage is real,” said Orit Gadiesh, Partner and Chair Emeritus, Bain & Company, Co-Chair of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2026.
The meeting focused on five key questions: how to build prosperity amid shifting geoeconomic and industrial realities; how to understand the next phase of China’s economic trajectory; how to harness technology for outcomes in the real economy; how to ensure growth creates jobs and opportunities for the next generation; and how to align energy and climate systems to drive competitiveness.
Recent developments in the Middle East sent a shock through energy markets and created uncertainty about global growth, jobs and security. Governments are taking a more active role in industries deemed critical for economic and security reasons. Against this backdrop, discussions on trade, investment, US-China relations and regional cooperation underscored the importance of preserving the collaboration that underpins long-term resilience and prosperity.
Published ahead of the meeting, the Chief Economists’ Outlook showed how quickly the global economic outlook had shifted away from cautious optimism due to risks around conflict in critical energy routes. Another report quantified the economic drag created by fragmentation in global trade and finance. The Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network also announced 16 new members deploying advanced technologies at scale.
Participants examined the changing shape of global trade, as the system in place for the last century morphs. They highlighted the proliferation of regional and bilateral trade agreements – termed “minilateralism” – as a positive development in the face of a difficult global trade context. They stressed the importance of the US-China relationship to the global economy, with particular emphasis on their role shaping global trade and prosperity. They also emphasized the potential each has for spreading prosperity beyond their borders.
Leaders also spoke of the role of regional platforms, including APEC and ASEAN in strengthening economic integration and policy coordination in key areas such as the digital economy. “We need to be more ambitions about how far growth can go and more honest about the hard decisions and joint efforts that need to be made to get there,” said Mirek Dušek, Managing Director, World Economic Forum. “When you buy a car, it’s not only that you can save money from electricity compared to gas — you can also create a personal token factory,” said Robin Zeng, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), Co-Chair of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2026.
“Industrial resilience is a shared effort. No single company or country can build it alone; it depends on strengthening core capabilities while keeping value chains open, diversified and technologically connected,” said Kiva Allgood, Managing Director, World Economic Forum. “The latest Global Lighthouse Network members show that industrial transformation is entering a new phase, with leading manufacturers moving beyond isolated technology deployments to scale AI, automation and digital capabilities across operations end-to-end, strengthening productivity, resilience and long-term competitiveness.”
“This is a very different world in which CEOs have to operate,” said Margery Kraus, Founder and Executive Chairman, APCO, Co-Chair of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2026. “The ability to find out who the right stakeholders are and how to engage on a market-by-market basis is really going to be the difference between success and lack of success for some companies.”
China is expected to account for over a quarter of global real GDP growth in 2026, making its economic trajectory a key driver for global markets and supply chains. Overall, Asia, as the economic engine of the world, is projected to deliver over half of global GDP growth in 2026.
In a Special Address, Chinese Premier Li Qiang set out China’s innovation-driven vision for growth, emphasizing that new technologies should benefit the world and that this can be achieved through cooperation and collaboration. (IPA Service)
