The 48forward Festival is where the future is thought, articulated, and shaped. Leading minds from business, science, politics, and culture come together here to speak beyond platitudes about what really matters: our common future. In curated talks, in-depth discussions, and surprising encounters, new impulses for leadership, innovation, and social responsibility emerge.
In 2025, the festival focuses on the major tensions of our time: How do we safeguard democratic structures in an increasingly polarized world? What responsibility do companies bear in the age of artificial intelligence and geopolitical upheaval? And how do we achieve genuine transformation – in leadership, education, and technology? Topics range from digital sovereignty to radical innovation culture to new models for cohesion and purpose. Always looking forward. Always with people who have something to say.
48forward is not an event. It is a statement: For dialogue instead of dogma. For conviction instead of hype. For a tomorrow that we want to make better together.
On stage, we are pleased to welcome, among others:
- Christian Wulff, former Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Toomas Hendrik Ilves, former State President of the Republic of Estonia
- Joe Kaeser, chairman of the boards of directors of Siemens Energy AG and Daimler Truck Holding AG
- Dr. Gregor Gysi, member of the German Bundestag, lawyer, author, columnist & moderator
- Dr. Jan Goetz, CEO and co-founder at IQM Quantum Computers
- Mikko Hyppönen, Chief Research Officer at WithSecure
- Ariadne von Schirach, philosopher, author, and lecturer
