The President and Founder of EMEA, Prof. Rym Ayadi, co-founder of the Brain Capital Alliance, and Pawel Swieboda – Founder, NeuroCentury and EMEA Advisor, were among the high level experts that participated at the meeting “Towards a new “Global Brain Health Funding Initiative” which took place in London on 25 June 2024. Dr. Harris Eyre, EMEA Advisor, supported with preparations, however was not able to be there in person.
The meeting was organized by the European Investment Bank (EIB) Institute, and it was chaired by Shiva Dustdar, Director, Head and Dean of the EIB Institute.
At the meeting Prof. Ayadi underlined the need for a strategic method to ensure that investments are geared towards improving neurological and mental health, which is increasingly recognized as critical for sustainable development:
“Effective investment in a brain positive economy via ESG requires a holistic approach. Investments should prioritize initiatives that foster mental health awareness and support, integrate cognitive wellness into employee programs, and fund research on neurological health. It’s crucial for both private and public sectors to collaborate in creating robust ESG criteria that specifically include mental health metrics. This ensures that investments are not only economically sound but also socially responsible and sustainable, ultimately contributing to a healthier and flourishing society.”
Pawel Swieboda highlighted that “The concept of the Brain Economy brings together different strands of policy, to advance human flourishing in the face of technological change. Advancing it requires innovative funding models and a new type of orchestration between complimentary initiatives. As such, it has an enormous transformative potential, especially in the fields of health and education.”
The meeting participants discussed the need for a full range of initiatives, from transformative innovations to delivery of care. The focus was on the entire life span, and a narrative that goes beyond brain disorders and has to do with human thriving. Much of the discussion focused on the outcomes, which the government is not very well placed to measure. The point was made that capital innovation is foundational to everything. This requires creating an environment for private sector scaling.
Meeting participants
- Shiva Dustdar – Director, Head and Dean of the EIB Institute
- Steve Carnevale – Chairman at Sawgrass Technologies, Commissioner California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission
- Toby Ewing – Executive Director, California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission
- Mara Madrigal Weis – Executive Director at San Diego County Office of Education
- Bill Brown – Sheriff, Santa Barbara County, California
- Pawel Swieboda – Founder, NeuroCentury and EMEA Advisor
- Rym Ayadi – EMEA President and co-founder of the Brain Capital Alliance
- Mika Pyykko – Executive Director at Finnish Brain Association
- Jules Chappell – Chief Executive Officer, Kokoro
- Natasha Mueller – Founder, Kokoro Change
- Kris Vulgan – Managing GP Ferocity Capital
- Darian Stibbe – Executive Director, The Partnering Initiative
- Adam Swesky – CEO of Social Finance UK
- Carsten Morgenstern – Head of EIB Representation for the United Kingdom
