Moderation during the Day
Bernd Winter, Spokesperson of VNL – Verein Netzwerk Logistik

Opening of the 20. Vienna Congress com·sult 2023 | Bernd Winter, Spokesperson of VNL – Verein Netzwerk Logistik

Opening words | Alfred Harl, Chairman of the Professional Association of Management Consultancy, Accounting and Information Technology, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Vice President – FEACO

Opening words | Matthias Loebich, Chairman of the European Federation of Management Consultancies Associations (FEACO)

Opening words | David Ungar-Klein, Initiator, Vienna Congress com·sult

Keynote Speech | Bruno G. Hofbauer, Major General, Capability Director, Austrian Armed Forces

Inflation and supply crises massively endanger value creation and growth. Old and new dependencies are putting economic success on the test bench. In addition to the targeted strengthening of competitiveness, the comprehensive security of supply of locations – from energy to raw materials to infrastructure and remedies – plays an increasingly important role for a secure future. The 20. Vienna Congress 2023 discusses which strategies and approaches are important for value creation, growth and prosperity in challenging times.

• How do we increase our competitiveness?
• How do we increase our security of supply?
• How do we better steer economically towards the future?

Introductory note | Iain Begg, Professorial Research Fellow, London School of Economics and Political Science

Introductory note | Alexander Biach, Location-Lawyer of Vienna, Deputy Director of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce

Introductory note | Stefan Lampl, Brigadier General, Commander of the Armed Forces Logistics School, Austrian Armed Forces 

Introductory note | Andreas Reichhardt, Head of Directorate-General VI – Telecommunications, Postal Services and Mining, Federal Ministry of Finance, Republic of Austria 

Panel | Success factors for more competitiveness

Moderation: Maximilian Scherr – Partner & Head of Strategy, Arthur D. Little Austria

Panelists:
Iain Begg – Professorial Research Fellow, London School of Economics and Political Science
Alexander Biach – Location-Lawyer of Vienna, Deputy Director of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce
Bernhard Felderer – former President of the Austrian Fiscal Advisory Council
Stefan Lampl – Brigadier General, Commander of the Armed Forces Logistics School, Austrian Armed Forces
Günther Ofner – Member of the Management Board of Vienna International Airport; Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Österreichische Beteiligungs AG – Austria Holding PLC (ÖBAG)

The model of democracy is not only challenged on a global level in the new system competition with China. Influencing democratic processes through hybrid-attacks and fake-news-campaigns has become an issue in numerous European countries. Cancel- and-wokeness cultures are limiting democratic discourse from within. The 20. Vienna Congress 2023 deals with the challenges of democracy and the need for its further development.

• What challenges and supports our democracy?
• Do we need more or less direct democracy?
• How do we withstand in global systems competition?

Introductory note | Moritz Leuenberger, former President of the Swiss Confederation, former Member of the Swiss Federal Council & Head of the Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications

Introductory note | Enver Hoxhaj, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo; Member of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo

Introductory note | Ron Prosor, Ambassador of the State of Israel to Germany

Introductory note | President Václav Klaus, former President of the Czech Republic; Chair of Advisory Board of the Vienna Congress

Introductory note | 

Introductory note | Phillip Blond, Founder and Director of ResPublica

Panel | Strengthening democracy and the rule of law properly

Moderation: Phillip Blond – Founder and Director of ResPublica

Panelists:
Enver Hoxhaj – former Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo; Member of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo
President Václav Klaus – former President of the Czech Republic; Chair of Advisory Board of the Vienna Congress
Ron Prosor – Ambassador of the State of Israel to Germany
Tibor Szanyi – former Member of European Parliament

More innovative power is essential for actively shaping the future and economic success. It needs bright minds and new technologies. The development of innovative talents must begin in kindergarten. Algorithms and artificial intelligence open up new innovation potential for us, but also pose new challenges. The 20. Vienna Congress 2023 shows which innovations have a future and give a future – and how we can increase our innovative strength.

• What makes societies innovative?
• What innovation potential do digital technologies bring?
• How do we strengthen digital skills for everyday-life and work?

Introductory note | Ophir Frieder, Professor, Georgetown University; Chief Scientific Officer, Invaryant; Lead Science & Technology Advisor, Aurora Forge

Introductory note | Matias del Campo, Associate Professor of Architecture at the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Michigan

Introductory note | Benjamin Mencer, Software Engineer at Reality Defender and Student at University of California, Santa Cruz

Introductory note | Dan Shechtman, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry; Vice-Chair of Advisory Board of the Vienna Congress

Introductory note | Zipora Shechtman, Professor Emerita, University of Haifa, Israel

Introductory note | Patrick Noack, Executive Director, Future, Foresight and Imagination, at the Dubai Future Foundation

Introductory note | Florian Tursky, State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Republic of Austria

Introductory note | Karim Taga, Managing Partner, Global Practice Leader Time, Arthur D. Little Austria

Panel | Digitalization as innovation drivers

Moderation: Oskar Mencer – CEO – Maxeler Technologies, a Groq Company

Panelists:
Matias del Campo – Associate Professor of Architecture at the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Michigan
Ophir Frieder – Professor, Georgetown University; Chief Scientific Officer, Invaryant; Lead Science & Technology Advisor, Aurora Forge
Patrick Noack – Executive Director, Future, Foresight and Imagination, at the Dubai Future Foundation
Zipora Shechtman – Professor Emerita, University of Haifa, Israel
Karim Taga – Managing Partner, Global Practice Leader Time, Arthur D. Little Austria

Resistance to advice and a lack of openness to new solutions go hand in hand in many areas. The challenges of a complex economy and society demand and promote the discipline of professional consultants. Their know-how and experience play an increasingly important role in business, administration and politics. As a result, the demands on the consulting industry itself are growing. The 20. Vienna Congress 2023 addresses the role played by professional consulting in shaping the future – and where we need to take action.

• Where do we need more consulting?
• What skills do consultants need to have?
• What are the effects of good consulting?

Introductory note | Matthias Loebich, Chairman, European Federation of Management Consultancies Associations (FEACO)

Panel | Future through more consulting

Moderation: Ilse Ennsfellner – Management Consultant

Panelists:
Peter Csakvari – President – Association of Management Consultants in Hungary, Vice President – FEACO, Managing Partner – Haerington & Co
Manuel Giralt Herrero – President, Asociación Española de Empresas de Consultoría (AEC), Spain, EY Advisory Partner at EY Spain
Matthias Loebich – Chairman, European Federation of Management Consultancies Associations (FEACO)
Borut Potočnik – President Association of Management Consulting (AMCOS), Slovenia
Olga Trofymova – Cluster Manager for Ukrainian Automotive and Mobility Cluster; Director on internationalisation at Ukrainian Cluster Alliance; President of Association of Management-Consultants CMC-Ukraine; Director Quality Centre, Ukraine

The role of science and research continues to increase. Science helps us to better understand and solve complex challenges. However, in many areas of the population, there is skepticism about science or a lack of interest in scientific findings. The 20. Vienna Congress 2023 conveys, which challenges and opportunities shape the future of science – and how we can achieve more scientific excellence. 

• What are the reasons of the hostility towards science?
• What science does the future need?
• Where are the boundaries between science and activism?

Introductory note | Osahon Enabulele, President of the World Medical Association (WMA)

Introductory note | Johannes (Hans) Oerlemans, Recipient of the Balzan Prize 2022, Professor Emeritus at Utrecht University (IMAU), Affiliated with the Academia Engiadina (Switzerland)

Introductory note | Thomas C. Südhof, Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine

Introductory note | 

Panel | Strategies for scientific excellence

Moderation: Sierd Cloetingh – Distinguished Professor Utrecht University; former President of the Academia Europaea

Panelists:
Osahon Enabulele – President of the World Medical Association (WMA)
Sebastian Kummer – Head of the Institute for Transport and Logistics Management, Vienna University of Economics and Business
Johannes (Hans) Oerlemans – Recipient of the Balzan Prize 2022, Professor Emeritus at Utrecht University (IMAU), Affiliated with the Academia Engiadina (Switzerland)
Thomas C. Südhof – Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine
Dan Shechtman – Nobel Laureate in Chemistry; Vice-Chair of Advisory Board of the Vienna Congress

Closing Remarks