This article provides an outline of the key steps cities need to take to create their own international events that can meet priority economic development goals: identify unique intellectual assets; coordinate disparate stakeholders; articulate a clear vision and event philosophy; bring in citizen voices; think about wider societal impact; use fresh meeting design-thinking.
From Boardroom:
From 29 September to 4 October 2025, Zurich will host the inaugural edition of the Zurich AI Festival—a region-wide initiative that aims to reimagine not only the future of artificial intelligence, but the role of a city in shaping global innovation. More than just another tech conference, this event is the result of a collaborative effort between leading academic institutions, regional economic stakeholders, government bodies, and the tourism sector. Its ambition: to turn Zurich into a model hub for responsible AI…
