Over 40 heads of state and government, as well as 2,500 leaders from business and society will convene at the 46th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, from 20 to 23 January in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, under the theme of Mastering the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Critical current challenges, such as security, climate change and “new normal” global growth and commodity prices, are among the issues on the agenda.

The Co-Chairs of the Annual Meeting 2016 are: Mary Barra, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, General Motors Company; Sharan Burrow, General-Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC); Satya Nadella, Chief Executive Officer, Microsoft Corporation; Hiroaki Nakanishi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hitachi; Tidjane Thiam, Chief Executive Officer, Credit Suisse; and Amira Yahyaoui, Founder, Al Bawsala and Global Shaper.

“The Fourth Industrial Revolution refers to the fusion of technologies across the physical, digital and biological worlds which is creating entirely new capabilities and dramatic impacts on political, social and economic systems. The speed, scale and systemic nature of this transformation has the potential to disrupt all sectors and call into question the essence of human nature and identity. The purpose of our Meeting this year is to build a shared understanding of this change, which is essential if we are to shape our collective future in a way that reflects ultimately that the human being should be at the centre,” said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum.

The US delegation is led by Vice-President Joe Biden and Jill Biden. Also attending are John Kerry, Secretary of State; Ashton Carter, Secretary of Defence; Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Secretary of Health and Human Services;Michael Froman, US Trade Representative; Jacob Lew, Secretary of the Treasury; Penny Pritzker, Secretary of Commerce; Loretta Lynch, US Attorney-General; and Gayle Smith, Adminisration of USAID. Gregory Abbott, Governor of Texas, John Hickenlooper, Governor of Colorado, Gina Raimondo, Governor of Rhode Island as well as five senators and eight congressmen, including Congress Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, will be participating.

Fourth Industrial Revolution

The Fourth Industrial Revolution refers to the ongoing transformation of our society and economy, driven by advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous vehicles, 3-D printing, nanotechnology and other areas of science. The innovation at the intersections of these disciplines promises to change life in new and unforeseen ways and will affect every industry and society. Learning how humankind can benefit from this revolution, while addressing its challenges, is the central aim of this year’s Meeting.

“New Normal” Global Growth and Commodity Prices

The world faces another year with lower than 4% global GDP growth. Experts this year will discuss ways of attaining inclusive, sustainable growth in an environment marked by continued low inflation, subdued oil and commodity prices and widespread currency weakness.