Green Economy – Key Topic at BHF 2018 in Beijing

How can the economy grow sustainably and in an environmentally friendly manner? What role do education and cultural heritage play in this? And how can the green transformation succeed? These and other global challenges will be discussed by high-level speakers at this year’s Beijing Humboldt Forum (BHF) in the Chinese capital from 15 to 17 September 2018. The interdisciplinary forum, established in 2013, is organised by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in cooperation with the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

This year’s event focuses on the main topics of Green Economy, cultural heritage and Education 2035. Among other things, ZEW researchers will engage in a discussion with international guests on how a green transformation can succeed and how ecological and social aspects can be reconciled with international competitiveness in line with the principles of a green economy. In order to achieve this aim, it is important for economic agents to act and behave in an environmentally friendly manner. Therefore, the participation of and cooperation between countries and also generations will be examined in more detail. In addition, social aspects such as the fair distribution of economic welfare as well as the fight against poverty are taken into account.

As in previous years, around 600 guests are expected to come to Beijing this autumn to discuss these current challenges. ZEW Director and BHF founding member Thomas Kohl will give the opening speech  in a session on human resources and labour market policy topics and will engage in a panel discussion on maternity and motherliness.

The ZEW delegation will organise two sessions this year, with the first session on environmental and energy policy featuring the following researchers:

• Prof. Dr. Andreas Löschel, ZEW Research Associate and University of Münster
• Dr. Sebastian Voigt, deputy head of the ZEW Research Department “Environmental and Resource Economics, Environmental Management”
• Dr. Christiane Reif, researcher in ZEW’s “Environmental and Resource Economics, Environmental Management” Department
• Prof. Dr. Bodo Sturm, ZEW Research Associate and Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (HTWK Leipzig)

The second session on market incentives and public incentives for investment in innovation will involve the following ZEW researchers:

• Dr. Georg Licht, head of the ZEW Research Department “Economics of Innovation and Industrial Dynamics”
• Prof. Dr. Philipp Böing, researcher in ZEW’s “Economics of Innovation and Industrial Dynamics” Department and Peking University
• Prof. Dr. Bettina Peters, deputy head of the ZEW Research Department “Economics of Innovation and Industrial Dynamics” and University of Luxembourg
• Dr. Maikel Pellens, senior researcher in ZEW’s “Economics of Innovation and Industrial Dynamics” Department