The debate during the Summit Lecture will focus on three questions: How did politicians and executives manage the crisis in Japan in the 1990s? What are the structural (misguided) developments that its economy is suffering from? And how can it cope with today’s global crisis?

The inaugural event of a new discussion series on social policy, organized in cooperation with UBS Deutschland AG, will focus on new forms of social and civic engagement. Social entrepreneurs and representatives of corporate foundations are invited into a dialogue with each other to present their projects and highlight different aspects of effective social enterprise.

Under the title “The Financial Crisis: The Way Forward”, the next Munich Economic will dissect the causes of the crisis and discuss possible ways to exit the slump.

In cooperation with the Student Representatives of the Political Science and Philosophy departments of the University of Munich (LMU) and Prof. Dr. Julian Nida-Rümelin, the BMW Stiftung Herbert Quandt organized a lecture and discussion series on the topic of “Responsibility.” The evening discussions with invited speakers from civil society, academia and politics were designed to develop both the practical and theoretical aspects of the term “responsibility.”

From January 27 to February 3, 2010, the “Round Table USA” organized an alumni trip for journalists and experts entitled “Societies in Transitions: Energy, Climate and Oceans – Impacts on the Global Economy.”

In 2009, the BMW Foundations Young Leaders Ideas Competition again searched for projects and initiatives that can make a positive impact in the world. The BMW Foundation and the jury were truly overwhelmed by the Young Leaders’ responses to the search for innovative projects oriented to the common good. The submitted projects from around the world addressed major themes and challenges of our times: environmental issues, sustainability, education and training, media and immigration, personal and corporate leadership, international understanding, and the transfer of know-how.