The webinar “Hope to Action: Designing and Catalyzing Brain Economy Living Labs” was organised by EMEA, in cooperation with the Brain Capital Alliance, the Brain Economy Hub, the Neuro-Policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, and took place on Monday 24 February 2025, 13:00 CET on Zoom.
The webinar brought together leading experts from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors to discuss how regional economic living labs can be implemented to demonstrate that the brain economy model enhances productivity, well-being, and human flourishing. These living labs span multiple sectors, integrating advanced economics, finance, and research methodologies.
Opening the webinar EMEA President, Prof. Rym Ayadi, Co-founder of the Brain Capital Alliance and the Brain Economy Hub, Senior Advisor at CEPS (Centre for European Policy Studies) underlined that “the true measure of economic progress is not just in GDP numbers, but in the well-being and potential of people. By designing Brain Economy Living Labs, we are building economies that invest in brains and minds, cultivate resilience, and turn human flourishing into our greatest asset.”
From his side Dr. Harris Eyre, Lead and Senior Fellow, Neuro-Policy, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, Executive Director of the Brain Capital Alliance and the Brain Economy Hub, and EMEA Advisor noted: “Davos this year was a tipping point from the brain economy. We now need to move from macro-economic innovations to very tangible place-based approaches to drive growth, wellbeing, productivity and flourishing societies. Place-based approaches must be tailored to geographies across Global North and Global South, and consider public, private and philanthropic actors”.
AGENDA
Moderator: Harris Eyre, Lead and Senior Fellow, Neuro-Policy, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, Executive Director of the Brain Capital Alliance and the Brain Economy Hub, EMEA Advisor; Keynote: Brain Economy Systems Change Strategies
Speakers:
- Prof. Rym Ayadi, EMEA Founder and President, Co-founder of the Brain Capital Alliance and of the Brain Economy Hub: Keynote Address
- Kana Enomoto, Director of Brain Health, McKinsey Health Institute: Keynote “Brain economy perspectives”
- Stephen Reynolds, Director of Public Policy, Greater Houston Partnership: Keynote “The Greater Houston Region’s Leadership of Economic Transitions”
- Shiva Dustdar, Dean, European Investment Bank Institute
- Giulio Taglialatela, PhD, Director of the UTMB Moody Brain Health Institute and Vice President for Brain Health, UTMB: Keynote “The Greater Houston brain economy transition”
- Rajinder Dhamija, Chair of the Indian Government Brain Health Task Force: Keynote: “The Indian Brain Economy: The World’s Most Populous Nation”
Discussants:
- Steve Carnevale, Founder, UCSF Dyslexia Center, California Mental Health Commissioner
- Paola Zaratini, Director of Scientific Research AISM
- Penny Dakin, Executive Director, Communities, Minderoo Foundation
- Facundo Manes, Argentine Congressperson
- George Vradenburg, Chair, Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative and UsAgainstAlzheimer’s
- Cara Altimus, Managing Director, SPARC (Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration), Milken Institute
Event video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3G-AwzeDvg
