PAST EVENTS
2023
HELSINKI, 29 JUNE - 1 JULY
How to Navigate the Perfect Storm?
The 2023 EBLC Northern Light Summit was held under the title “How to Navigate the Perfect Storm”, reflecting on challenges and opportunities in a world of increasing uncertainty. Central themes discussed in the sessions were power relations, US-China relations, green transition, nuclear energy, artificial Intelligence (AI), European security, and Russia’s future after Putin.
The notion of complete decoupling between the United States and China was dismissed, highlighting the interdependence of the global economy. Listening to the perspectives from the Global South was emphasised. Africa's relations with the US and EU were considered to be not ideal, and the need for genuine interest in Africa's development was stressed.
Africa was seen as a resilient, hopeful continent, whose economic prospects are not very good. Meanwhile, the world economy was seen as stable while with potential cracks stemming from the high inflation and increasing public and private debt.
The potential of AI was compared to that of the printing press revolution, unleashing unseen leaps of productivity. Nevertheless, its role as a “co-pilot” was highlighted to keep control in the human hands. AI and other disruptive technologies were seen as significant drivers but required rules to lessen the dangers of misuse.
Russia’s future was seen as highly uncertain, and Putin's successor could pose further risks but also opportunities. The ongoing support for Ukraine is vital, although the West is getting war fatigued.
In the green transition, the electrification and decarbonization of industries were emphasized, including the role of nuclear power. Energy efficiency and sustainability were regarded as crucial, with the need to optimize grid efficiency and scale up carbon-neutral technologies.
Building resilience in businesses and societies was deemed crucial in navigating the "perfect storm".
Speakers and participants included Chris Miller, the Author of Chip War, Philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy, Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, and Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament.
Michael Williamson (Lockheed Martin), David van Weel (NATO) and Rafal Modrzewski (Iceye) shared their views about emerging disruptive technologies and the implications for business and defence. The discussion was moderated by Jamil Anderlini and live streamed by Politico EUROPE.
2022
HELSINKI, 30 June – 2 July
THE NEW ABNORMAL - Are All Our Old Assumptions Gone?
The EBLC 20th Anniversary Northern Light Summit took place in Helsinki at a historic time. There is a war in Europe. Finland and Sweden had just been admitted as candidate members to NATO.
The Northern Light Summit gathered participants to discuss geopolitics and the direction of current developments of international affairs. In addition, discussion topics included supply chain trouble, the possibility of stagflation in the West, green transition and the challenging relationship of technology and democracy.
Speakers and participants included Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan, Pekka Haavisto, Minister for Foreing Affairs, Finland, Søren Skou (Maersk), Megan Greene (Harvard), Martin Wolf (Financial Times), Pekka Lundmark (Nokia) and Bob Sternfels(McKinsey). Dr. Henry Kissinger sent his regards to the participants of the EBLC Northern Light Summit via video.
The main takeaways were:
1. Geopolitics I: Freedom must be defended.
2. Geopolitics II: Defence is not enough. The West must open the Black Sea for grain exports.
3. Good Scenario for the World Economy: Significant slowdown. Inflation under control.
4. Bad Scenario for the World Economy: Stagflation. We are in deep trouble.
5. Green Transition: we cannot even agree on the definition of Net Zero!
6. Good News: The technology and the money for containing climate change already exists.
7. Decoupling between China and the West? We simply cannot afford it.
8. Africa is facing a lost generation. Many are blaming us.
9. India will be the growth story of the next decade, but it will not be all sunshine and rainbows.
10. America today (“Episode Six”):
”The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.”
(William Butler Yeats, The Second Coming, 1919)
Dr. Henry Kissinger shared his remarks on Finland’s accession to NATO. Dr. Kissinger’s greetings to the participants were shared at the EBLC 20th Anniversary Dinner.
2021
Online, 1-2 July 2021
Coming Out of the Dark:
Technologies and Policies to Take Us Forward
For the second time, the conference took place online. Speakers included HRH the Prince of Wales, Larry Summers(Harvard), Martin Wolf (FT), Ola Källenius (Daimler), Nicolai Tangen (Norges Bank Investment Management), Beatrice Weder di Mauro (CEPR), George Schindler (CGI), Xenia Wickett (Equinor), Pekka Lundmark (Nokia), Kishore Mahbubani (Asia Research Institute), Gen. John R. Allen (Brookings Institution), Syrie Crouch (Shell), and Jean Lemierre (BNP Paribas).
The 2021 title of the conference (“Coming Out of the Dark”) captured the mood of the conference very well. The participants were convinced that the worst of the pandemic was over. It was time to concentrate on technologies and policies to take us forward.
2020
Online, 25-26 June 2020
The Corona World:
What is the new paradigm for business?
For the first time, the conference took place online. Participants such as Christine Lagarde (European Central Bank), Jim Mattis (Former US Defence Secretary), Eric Li (Chengwei Capital), Gideon Rachman (Financial Times), Martin Wolf (Financial Times), Martin Brudermüller (BASF), Henrik Ehrnrooth (KONE), Sigve Brekke (Telenor), Paul Polman (ICC), Annica Bresky (Stora Enso), discussed the Corona crisis and the recovery.
2019
HILTON HELSINKI KALASTAJATORPPA, FINLANd, 27-29 June 2019
A World at Risk:
Redefining the role of business
Participants such as Sir Nick Clegg (Facebook), David Wallerstein (Tencent), Bernard Cazeneuve (Former Prime Minister of France) and Herman Gref (Sberbank) met together with other business leaders and the next generation of leaders to discuss how to prepare for the risks ahead and how businesses must redefine their role to strive in these difficult conditions.
2018
Hilton Helsinki kalastajatorppa, Finland, 28-20 June 2018
Boom in Tech – Doom in Politics:
How can business contribute to a better future?
“The old order changeth yielding place to new”
- Alfred Tennyson
This year we introduced our next generation leaders or “Northern Stars”: young, passionate and highly accomplished people in business, academia and NGOs.
Participants such as Paul Polman (Unilever) Eric Schmidt (Alphabet) President Kersti Kaljulaid (Estonia) and Viktor Vekselberg (Skolkovo Foundation) met together with other business leaders and the next generation of leaders such as Claudia Olsson (Exponential), Jussi Herlin (KONE) and Jeremy Hindle (Headstart AI) to discuss the current state of technology and politics.
The topics were leadership and regulation in the age of AI and the relations between China, EU, Russia and the US. As to how business can contribute to a better future, the answer was simple. We must all be part of the solution. There is no other choice.
Furthermore, if you cannot explain what the purpose of your business is, you will go out of business.
2017
Hilton helsinki kalastajatorppa, finland, 29 june-1 july 2017
The New World Disorder:
How to save open societies and free markets?
On the agenda, were the Future of Europe, Trans-Atlantic relations, China-EU-US–triangle, Russia’s relations with the West, artificial intelligence and technological revolution. To discuss these topics, were participants like Joe Kaeser, President & CEO of Siemens, Johannes Teyssen, Chairman & CEO of E.ON RajeevSuri,CEO,Nokia, HenrikEhrnrooth CEO of KONE, Alexey Mordashov, Chairmanof Severstal, Anatoly Chubais, CEO of RUSNANO, Robert K. Steel, CEO of Perella Weinberg Partners, Trina Gordon, CEO of Boyden, Carl Bildt, Co-Chair of the European Council on Foreign Relations, Mervyn King, the Former Governor of the Bank of England and Caroline Spelman, Member of the UK Parliament.
In world politics, we have moved “from House of Cards to the Game of Thrones”
Inspirational revolutionary leaders are shaking domestic politics.
A chaotic Brexit is more likely than an orderly Brexit.
Macron is a game changer.
EU is optimistic.
Technological and scientific progress is keeping globalisation alive.
It is time for business leaders to re-connect with people and with politicians. “The time of the Davos man and woman is over”.
2016
hilton helsinki kalastajatorppa, finland, 30 June-2 July 2016
The Great Disruption
Speakers such as Edward Luce and Martin Wolf discussed the upcoming U.S. presidential elections, and “the saddest of hours”: Brexit. Robin Niblett, the Director of Chatham House discussed the new realities facing the world after this great great political disruption. Business leaders such as Henrik Ehrnrooth, CEO of KONE and Kevin McCann AM, Chairman of Citadel Group compared notes on their responses to Brexit.
2015
Hilton helsinki kalastajatorppa, finland, 2-4 July 2015
The Scary New World
The Summit's title was indeed apt in describing the several acute crises besetting Europe and the world at large. The scary elements include a Russian-Ukrainian conflict that in its wider potential ramifications poses a threat to the entire post-Cold-War international order; a Greek debt crisis that threatens to derail not only that country's economic and social fabric but also, potentially, European and world economic stability; and growing turmoil in the Middle East, made worse by a gruesome campaign of unparalleled violence and cruelty waged by the jihadist so-called 'Islamic State', contributing to a process of state disintegration in the region.
In addition to these crises the Summit noted with concern a number of other rising threats, such as new Chinese territorial claims on distant reefs in the South China Sea also claimed by other states in the region; a massive flow of refugees fleeing from the Middle East and Africa toward Western Europe in particular, fraying the European Union's inner cohesion in the process; a rise in in cyber attacks in various countries threatening vital infrastructure; and the threat of renewed nuclear arms proliferation if the current international efforts to reach a corresponding deal with Iran were to fail.
2013
Hilton Helsinki kalastajatorppa, 4-6 July 2013
Europe’s New Normal:
What does it mean in banking, business and politics?
One of the highlights was undoubtedly our “Hot Seat Session” with Commissioner Olli Rehn on the future of the Euro. Two years ago Mr Rehn was interrogated by Gideon Rachman from the Financial Times. This time he faced two formidable challengers: Professor Hans-Werner Sinn, a well-known German critic of the crisis management policies adopted by the EU, and Mr. Bill Emmott, former Editor of the Economist, who is used to taking European political leaders to task.