The Munich Conference Series on Ethics in Innovation
The World Forum for Ethics in Business and the Max-Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition are coming together for a series of conferences on ‘Ethics in Innovation.’ This conference series is also supported by the Peter Löscher Chair for Business Ethics, Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the European Patent Office.
Innovation is recognised today as a powerful tool for social, economic and even cultural growth and evolution. Yet, ‘innovation’ is often considered to be either an end in itself, or primarily a means of promoting socio-economic efficiency and increasing corporate profits. In the 21st century global village, however, there is a growing recognition of the need to not only ensure and encourage innovations as such, but also to ensure and encourage innovations that achieve specific societal goals, such as environmental protection, inclusiveness, sustainability, affordability, and competition. There is a need, therefore, to broaden the academic, socio-economic, cultural and political discourse pertaining to ‘innovation’: In addition to the current emphasis on efficiency and profits, there is a need to include ‘ethics’ (as understood in both eastern and western cultures) as a specific goal towards which societal and industrial innovation must aspire and adhere.
With the aim of expanding the dialogue pertaining to ‘innovations’ as such and that pertaining to the ‘type’ of innovations that we, as a global society, desire, the Munich Conference Series on Ethics in Innovations seeks to bring together experts and practitioners from a variety of disciplines, and from diverse philosophical and cultural backgrounds, to one platform to exchange ideas, practices, practical experiences and current academic research pertaining to ‘ethics’, ‘innovation’ and their interface in the 21st century global village. The conference series is envisaged as one that will continue for four consecutive years, each year taking up issues of ethics and innovation from a multi-disciplinary perspective, with a particular focus on (i) both eastern and western philosophy, culture/religion and legal history, and (ii) a specific technological focus area. In the first year, the focus is on the information and communication technologies (ICT) and will invite experts from India and Europe to discuss the underlying ethical issues from a multi-disciplinary perspective.
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For more details, registration and information, please contact the WFEB office: office@wfeb.org
Dr. Monika Griefahn is a founding member of Greenpeace Germany and was Co-CEO (1980-1983). From 1984-1990 she was the first female board member of Greenpeace International and responsible for trainings and founding new offices all around the world.
Anja Jessurun is a Dutch female entrepreneur who values ethics in business very highly. From an early age on she has an interest in building networks, developing new concepts and creating opportunities by connecting ideas to people and people to ideas.
Rutger Koopmans graduated in law, political science and business administration in Leiden, Rotterdam and Rochester (USA).
Ethics in Business impacts the way a corporation organises itself around profit maximisation to nurture an eco-system that creates and sustains value for all stakeholders – the employees, the shareholders, the communities & the environment that the organisation operates.
Nirj Deva was born in Sri Lanka and holds Sri Lankan and British citizenship. He has a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He became in 1981, Chairman of the Bow Group (leading British political think-tank).
Roland Glaser is born and raised in Switzerland and holds a degree in history and mathematics from the University of Basel, Switzerland. From 1965 till 2002 he served as CEO and owner of the Minerva Schools Switzerland and helped to make it one of Switzerland’s biggest and most recognized private schools.
Ram Lakhina is the Founder and Executive President of the Netherlands-India Chamber of Commerce & Trade (NICCT). Earlier he was the President of the Indo Dutch Chamber of Commerce from 1979 to 2001.
Jo Leinen was born in the Saarland at the German-French border. He concentrated on laws and economics at the Universities of Saarbrücken and Bonn. He continued his studies at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium and the Institute for World Affairs located in Connecticut, USA. Leinen began his career as a legal trainee at the Higher Regional Court Koblenz and soon after became a well-established lawyer in Freiburg/Breisgau. Before becoming an MEP, Jo Leinen was Minister for the Environment in the State Government of Saarland, Germany from 1985-1994. From November 1994 until September 1999, he played the triple role of Chairman of the Committee for European Affairs in the State Parliament of Saarland, Germany and member of both the Committee of the Regions and Congress of Regions of the Council of Europe. After being President of the Union of European Federalists (UEF) from 1997 to 2005 he was appointed the organization’s Honorary President. He served as a Vice President of the European Movement International (EMI) from 2003 to 2011, before becoming its President in November 2011.
Mr. Rao has more than 20 years experience with Shangri-La. Prior to his current position, he was the managing director and chief executive officer. He joined Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts in 1988 as group financial controller. Named chief financial officer in 1997, he also serves as an executive director and chief financial officer of the holding company, Shangri-La Asia Limited.
H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (b. 1956, India) is a revered spiritual leader and humanitarian. His mission of uniting the world into a violence-free global family has inspired millions of people worldwide to broaden their spheres of responsibility and work towards sustainable peace.
