Aspen Annual Conference

The Aspen Annual Conference brings together transatlantic leaders to discuss key political, economic, and societal developments based on expert studies provided by our partners. We focus on topics that are relevant not only to current governments but also seek to foster broader consensus beyond a single election cycle. Open dialogue across our societies is the only way to overcome high polarization of opinions and stand united in support of Western values.

Participants can benefit from diverse perspectives on up-to-date topics such as values-based leadership in the context of new technologies, defense innovation, education, the digitalization of small businesses, and more. Experts from the business, academic, and non-profit sectors are traditionally joined by government officials on the conference panels.

Within its mission, Aspen Institute Central Europe brings together individuals who positively influence society and strives to support strategic thinking that that goes beyond local and sector-related boundaries. We cooperate with renowned consulting and research firms such as Boston Consulting Group, Data Ethics Lab, and PAQ Research on expert reports to build discussions on solid foundations. By hosting interdisciplinary policy and public debates, the Institute contributes to open dialogue on topics relevant to current society and its advancement.

The Aspen Annual Conference is one of the Institute’s flagship events, held since its founding in Prague in 2012. Over the years, it has brought many distinguished speakers, experts, business leaders, and politicians from various countries and continents to Prague. Notable speakers include Madeleine K. Albright, the 64th U.S. Secretary of State; Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine; Alexander Stubb, former Prime Minister and President of Finland; Petr Pavel, President of the Czech Republic; Andrej Kiska, former President of Slovakia; Toomas Hendrik Ilves, former President of Estonia; Petr Fiala, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic; Timothy Garton Ash, Professor at the University of Oxford; and Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission, among many others.

Aspen Annual Conference 2024 took place on November 14.

Relevant posts

Aspen Annual Conference 2023 – Values: A New Trend in the Digital Era?
Report from the Aspen Annual Conference 2023.
Annual Conference: The Shape of (Central) Europe 2022
Read the report from this year's Annual Conference that official topic was THE ROLE OF VALUES IN TURBULENT TIMES.
The Shape of (Central) Europe 2021
The Aspen Annual Conference took on December 2, 2021 & the main topic of this year's conference was The Future
The Shape of (Central) Europe 2020
Report from the Aspen Institute Central Europe annual conference on the restart of Central Europe.
The Shape of Central Europe 2019
Read the English summary of our 2019 Annual Conference held at Prague Crossroads!
The Shape of Central Europe 2018
Read the English summary of our 2018 Annual Conference!
Aspen Annual Conference 2017 – The Shape of (Central) Europe
Aspen Institute CE Annual Conference focused for the first time on Central Europe. See our expert report presented at the
Czech Republic: The Shape We’re In | Annual conference 2016
See the materials for the second edition of the annual conference Czech Republic: The Shape We're In, which took place
Czech Republic: The Shape We’re In 2015 | Conference summary and materials
Read a short report and access the materials presented at the Czech Republic: The Shape We're In annual conference
Aspen Annual Conference 2014
The conference commemorated the momentous events across Central and Eastern Europe 25 years ago and the enormous geo-political changes that
Annual Conference 2013
The Aspen Institute Prague Annual Conference celebrating 20 years of the Czech Republic will take place on October 9 and
Aspen Prague Launch Event
The Aspen Institute Prague commenced its operation in Central Europe on Thursday, July 19, 2012.