{{Short description|Non-profit foundation}} {{Infobox organization | name = WORLD.MINDS | abbreviation = | image = World.Minds Rolf Dobelli.jpg | image_size = 200px | image_alt = Rolf Dobelli at a WORLD.MINDS event | caption = Rolf Dobelli at a WORLD.MINDS event | map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | membership = | logo = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | type = NGO, Think tank | founded = {{start date and age|2008|df=yes}} | founders = Rolf Dobelli | location = Switzerland | origins = | key_people = Rolf Dobelli (Founder) | region_served = Worldwide | focus = Science, Technology, Economics, Arts | method = Conferences, networking | endowment = | num_volunteers = | num_employees = | num_members = | subsid = | awards = | website = {{Official URL|https://www.worldminds.org}} }}
'''WORLD.MINDS''' (known as '''ZURICH.MINDS''' until 2016<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-09-08|title=Zefix (Swiss Business Index) Publication Number 3044377|url=https://www.zefix.ch/de/search/entity/list/firm/925520?name=world.minds%20foundation&searchType=exact|access-date=2021-03-25|website=www.zefix.ch}}</ref>) is a nonprofit foundation set up in 2008 by Rolf Dobelli<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-11-11 |title=Zurich Minds: Forschung meets Business |url=https://www.handelszeitung.ch/unternehmen/zurich-minds-forschung-meets-business-117826 |access-date= |website=handelszeitung.ch |language=de-CH}}</ref> with the goal to create "a bridge between the science, business and cultural communities".<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|title=An 'ideas salon' for the 21st century|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/world-minds_an--ideas-salon--for-the-21st-century/44167708|access-date=2021-03-25|website=SWI swissinfo.ch|date=7 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
WORLD.MINDS is composed of the not-for-profit WORLD.MINDS Foundation<ref>{{Cite web |title=WORLD.MINDS FOUNDATION in Zürich - Reports |url=https://www.moneyhouse.ch/en/company/world-minds-foundation-4543975881 |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=Moneyhouse |language=en}}</ref> and WORLD.MINDS Management Ltd,<ref>{{Cite web |title=WORLD.MINDS MANAGEMENT AG in Baar |url=https://www.moneyhouse.ch/en/company/world-minds-management-ag-5621145141 |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=Moneyhouse |language=en}}</ref> the operational event management company that organizes and produces all symposia and events on behalf of the WORLD.MINDS Foundation. On 29 March 2022, Axel Springer acquired a majority stake in the event management company.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-29 |title=Axel Springer acquires majority stake in WORLD.MINDS |url=https://www.axelspringer.com/en/ax-press-release/axel-springer-acquires-majority-stake-in-world-minds |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=www.axelspringer.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>
The ''Neue Zürcher Zeitung'' (NZZ) called WORLD.MINDS a "community of experts for experts"<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=Dobelli |first=Rolf |date=2021-05-20 |title=Henry Kissinger über die USA, China und die Zukunft der Welt. |url=https://www.nzz.ch/feuilleton/henry-kissinger-ueber-die-usa-china-und-die-zukunft-der-welt-ld.1625753 |access-date=2021-05-21 |website=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |language=de}}</ref> and described its annual meetings as "a salon for the 21st century".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ribi |first=Thomas |date=2016-12-07 |title=Ein Salon für das 21. Jahrhundert |url=https://www.nzz.ch/feuilleton/aktuell/worldminds-in-zuerich-ein-salon-fuer-das-21-jahrhundert-ld.133255 |access-date=2021-09-28 |website=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |language=de}}</ref>
== Membership == Members of the advisory board include former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency David Petraeus, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, and founder of 3G Capital Jorge Paulo Lemann. In the past, former US secretary of State Henry Kissinger was also on the advisory board.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Team |url=https://www.worldminds.org/team/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=WORLD.MINDS |language=en}}</ref>
WORLD.MINDS has around 1,000 members,<ref>{{Cite news|date=2016-12-06|title=Rolf Dobelli, ce gourou suisse que le monde entier s'arrache, sauf les francophones|language=fr|work=Le Temps|url=https://www.letemps.ch/economie/rolf-dobelli-gourou-suisse-monde-entier-sarrache-sauf-francophones|access-date=2021-03-25|issn=1423-3967}}</ref> including Nobel prize laureate Kurt Wuthrich, activist and author Ayaan Hirsi Ali, President of the ETH Board Michael Hengartner, Airbus CTO Grazia Vittadini, philosopher John N. Gray of the London School of Economics, the rector of ETH Zurich Sarah Springman, Max Planck Institute for Human Development director Gerd Gigerenzer, writer and politician Matt Ridley,<ref name="zurichminds1">{{cite web|url=http://zurichminds.com/impressions-2011/?img=2113 |title=2011 |publisher=zurich.minds |date= |accessdate=2013-08-15}}</ref> Indian artist Aparna Rao, American nuclear engineer and MIT board member Leslie Dewan, economist Paul Romer, investor and author Guy Spier,<ref name="zurichminds1" /> professor of bioethics at ETH Zurich and Fellow at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center Effy Vayena, neuroeconomist Ernst Fehr, experimental psychologist Roy Baumeister,<ref name="zurichminds1" /><ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://derstandard.at/1324170245455/Psychologie-Selbstkontrolle-ist-auch-nur-ein-Muskel |title=Selbstkontrolle ist auch nur ein Muskel - Mensch - derStandard.at › Wissenschaft |publisher=Derstandard.at |date= |accessdate=2013-08-15}}</ref> investor and entrepreneur Daniel Aegerter, Stanford University professor of mechanical engineering Allison Okamura, MIT astrophysicist Sara Seager, Harvard psychologist and happiness researcher Dan Gilbert, and French-American mathematician and polymath Benoit Mandelbrot, along with artists such as Ai Weiwei and US-Israeli architect and designer Neri Oxman.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Seiler|first=Roman|title=Stiftung World.Minds - Intensivkurs für Firmenchefs: Dieser Autor bringt Manager und Wissenschafter zusammen|url=https://www.luzernerzeitung.ch/wirtschaft/intensivkurs-fur-firmenchefs-dieser-autor-bringt-manager-und-wissenschafter-zusammen-ld.1595413|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Luzerner Zeitung|date=21 November 2016 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=World.Minds in Zürich – Kluge Köpfe essen Insekten|url=https://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/stars/schweiz/ideen-forum-world-minds-in-zuerich-kluge-koepfe-essen-insekten|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Schweizer Illustrierte|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-08-01|title=Der grösste Mathematiker Benoît Mandelbrot in Zürich {{!}} handelszeitung…|url=http://www.handelszeitung.ch/unternehmen/der-groesste-mathematiker-benoit-mandelbrot-zuerich|access-date=2021-03-25|website=archive.ph|archive-date=2012-08-01|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801213358/http://www.handelszeitung.ch/unternehmen/der-groesste-mathematiker-benoit-mandelbrot-zuerich|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref>
The meetings are attended by around 400 guests each year, and WORLD.MINDS also holds regular in-depth meetings on specific issues, such as WORLD.MINDS MOBILITY in 2018, which focused on the future of mobility.<ref name="auto1"/>
== History == In December 2017, former Swiss President Doris Leuthard opened the 2017 WORLD.MINDS flagship Annual Symposium event in Zurich,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Richard|first=Katja|date=2017-12-10|title=11. World.Minds mit Ai Weiwei: Gipfeltreffen für Ideen|url=https://www.blick.ch/people-tv/schweiz/11-world-minds-mit-ai-weiwei-gipfeltreffen-fuer-ideen-id7707520.html|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Blick}}</ref> where the Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei spoke with Uli Sigg, the world's largest collector of contemporary Chinese art, about Ai's art, activism and views on the future of China.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Stahl|first=René Scheu, Antje|title=Ai Weiwei: "Es gibt keinen Unterschied zwischen einem Aktivisten und einem Künstler." |url=https://www.nzz.ch/feuilleton/ai-weiwei-im-interview-ld.1339511|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Neue Zürcher Zeitung|language=de}}</ref>
In December 2020, former South African President and Nobel Peace Laureate F. W. de Klerk proclaimed at WORLD.MINDS that South Africa would be like Syria was then, had it not been for the policies his government put in place to end apartheid.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ghida Fakhry - latest|url=http://www.ghidafakhry.com/interviews|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Ghida Fakhry|language=en-US}}</ref> TRT World moderator Ghida Fakhry had asked De Klerk whether, in addition to the moral principles and economic realities (sanctions) behind ending apartheid, his government's decision to end the injustice was done to protect and salvage South Africa for the white minority.<ref>{{Citation|title=FW de Klerk: Global Leadership (2019 WORLD.MINDS Annual Symposium)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiYD-X5COe8|language=en|access-date=2021-03-25}}</ref>
WORLD.MINDS has received some coverage on ''Handelszeitung''.<ref>{{cite web |date=2008-06-17 |title=Neue Ideen für neugierige Köpfe |url=http://www.handelszeitung.ch/artikel/Unternehmen-Neue-Ideen-fuer-neugierige-Koepfe_348114.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801122257/http://www.handelszeitung.ch/artikel/Unternehmen-Neue-Ideen-fuer-neugierige-Koepfe_348114.html |archive-date=2012-08-01 |accessdate=2013-08-15 |website=handelszeitung.ch |publisher= |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2008-11-25 |title=Kollision mit Sternen und Schwänen |url=http://www.handelszeitung.ch/artikel/Unternehmen-Kollision-mit-Sternen-und-Schwaenen_438528.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801134357/http://www.handelszeitung.ch/artikel/Unternehmen-Kollision-mit-Sternen-und-Schwaenen_438528.html |archive-date=2012-08-01 |accessdate=2013-08-15 |website=handelszeitung.ch |publisher= |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2009-12-23 |title=Vom Hirnen, Fliegen und von der Evolution |url=http://www.handelszeitung.ch/artikel/Unternehmen-Vom-Hirnen-Fliegen-und-von-der-Evolution_658409.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801214340/http://www.handelszeitung.ch/artikel/Unternehmen-Vom-Hirnen-Fliegen-und-von-der-Evolution_658409.html |archive-date=2012-08-01 |accessdate=2013-08-15 |website=handelszeitung.ch |publisher= |language=de}}</ref> In ''The Daily Beast'', journalist Noah Kirsch has called WORLD.MINDS a "Mini Davos".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kirsch |first1=Noah |title=The Global Elite Just Gathered at a Secretive Mini Davos |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-global-elite-just-gathered-at-worldminds-a-secretive-mini-davos-in-switzerland |access-date=21 March 2024 |publisher=The Daily Beast}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commonscatinline}} *[https://www.worldminds.org Foundation's website]
Category:Innovation organizations Category:International conferences Category:Organisations based in Zurich Category:Clubs and societies in Switzerland Category:Organizations established in 2008 Category:2008 establishments in Switzerland