How will we live, think and work in the future? This question was posed by 35 leading representatives from research, politics and business at the eleventh IT-BUSINESS Executive Summit on February 3 and 4 at Schloss Fuschl near Salzburg.



A look at the latest news - as well as many years of market observations - brings George Orwell's "1984" to mind in places. Or, as Prof. Dr. Dr. Franz-Josef Radermacher, board member and C4 professor at the University of Ulm, put it somewhat more pointedly in his keynote speech: "Can we still be saved?"



Yes, we are! The flourishing start-up culture in Germany proves that even small companies can survive in a crowded market and benefit from hypes such as 3D printers and the Internet of Things.



However, blind actionism is out of place in our constantly changing society and economy. Prospects need to be used sensibly. Simply setting the course for 2020 is no longer enough, says Joachim Langmarck, consultant and member of the supervisory board of several companies. Business models need to be revised with more foresight in order to avoid a fate like that of the car city of Detroit.



A look at the European markets and finances also provided plenty of material for discussion. Prof. Peter Bofinger, member of the German Council of Economic Experts and Professor of Economics at the University of Würzburg, wanted to know whether secular stagnation was to be expected. He gave an answer himself: "The black zero stands for zero economic policy competence".



Once again this year, there was a lively discussion among the invited guests, different points of view were emphatically represented, but at the same time many impulses for the future were given. Dr. Carlo Velten, Managing Director at Crisp Research, summarized these once again at the end of the summit for all those present.



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