Worldwebforum 2018 in Zurich: Success for "the other WEF".

A remarkably relaxed Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann opened the forum and spoke on this year's conference theme "End of Nation". He did not support the end of the nation state for two reasons: on the one hand, Schneider-Ammann said with a twinkle in his eye, because he did not want to criticize his employer (and he needs his job, like all of us). In his remarks, however, he also emphasized that a nation is not an abstract vessel, but contributes greatly to representing and securing aspects such as culture, values and belonging for people. He then asked the audience rhetorically: "Would you feel comfortable with a Google passport? Or would you like to be an Amazon citizen?"

Digitization has come to stay

No stunningly new ideas were put forward in the subsequent presentations, but one thing stood out: That similar statements from previous years are becoming more and more concrete and underline the full force and dynamics of digitalization. One speaker compared the digital transformation to gravity and said that there are still people who want to fight against this "digital gravity." With the appearance of Lino Guzzella, President of ETH Zurich, it became clear that Switzerland as a country has the best prerequisites for mastering the digital transformation. Switzerland's national innovative power, economic strength and the high quality of its educational institutions put it in a good starting position. At the same time, Guzzella - like other speakers - pointed out that federal inertia and the frequent lack of willingness to take risks are serious stumbling blocks to prosperous development. He saw the role of his ETH in preparing graduates for a career in flexible, increasingly uncertain economic systems.

Learning the joy of failure

The joy of failure - as repeatedly proclaimed by Tesla's Elon Musk, for example - is definitely not yet part of Switzerland's DNA. How could this change? A passionate appeal came from Nancy Pfund, an experienced Silicon Valley investor: using the example of e-car manufacturer Tesla, she made it clear that her selection methods for venture investments are viable and robust. She had already supported the company in 2006, factoring in the risk of failure - and focusing on long-term rather than short-term success. This requires courage, trust and sometimes patience.

"Parks, not parking lots"

David Le from Lyft in San Francisco, Uber's biggest competitor, made it clear what "meaningful contribution" a sharing company like Lyft makes.He also made it clear that the next phases of mobility - especially in urban conurbations - are on the horizon. The next big trend would be the breakthrough of electromobility, initially for vehicles owned by private individuals. This will be followed by self-driving vehicles, which will only be used as a service and will no longer be owned. This would solve the traffic chaos in cities and at the same time give substantial parking space back to city dwellers in the form of green parks.

"Compromising kills innovation"

The topic of innovation was undoubtedly a much-discussed one at the Worldwebforum 2018. Glenn Gore from Amazon Webservices made an apt quote: "Compromising kills innovation". He meant that a constructive culture of debate with winners and losers is essential in day-to-day business if individual companies want to develop further. The "Swiss in need of harmony" should pay particular attention to this. Another speaker told the audience that Switzerland and Europe need more managed chaos to stimulate innovation. It will be exciting to take stock of this at the Worldwebforum in January 2019.*Christoph Oggenfuss, Front Office Architect, CE-Owner markITing ag Zurich.