The Robots Are Taking Center Stage

Robots are increasingly permeating everyday life. (Image: Shutterstock)

Back on the face of the earth, the Future Investments Circle will also look into the commercial use of robotics, such as humanoid robots which can be used at home for cleaning, ironing, washing, but also to complete manual blue collar jobs.

The programme will also feature contributions from leading figures in the industry, including Joe Landon, president and co-founder of Rendezvous Robotics, a company developing space infrastructure through autonomous systems that assemble in orbit, and Oliver Ulrich, who has led NASA missions for over two decades.

A New Currency

Stablecoins statt Euro? Ein heiss diskutiertes Thema unter Investoren. (Bild: Shutterstock)

According to Bernegger, one of the biggest topics at the Crypto Finance Conference (CFC) is the U.S. GENIUS Act (Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins), a proposal with potentially significant implications for European central banks. 

The issuance of U.S.-denominated stablecoins could encourage individuals and firms in the EU to hold these instead of euros, potentially constraining European monetary policy. If such stablecoins become widely used, they could further strengthen the dollar’s global dominance, affecting demand for the euro and reducing the effectiveness of ECB policy tools in controlling inflation. In response, European central banks are now exploring the issuance of their own digital currencies. However, this raises ethical questions, particularly when looking at countries such as China, which use similar systems alongside social credit structures.

Other popular topics at the event will include the tokenization of assets and the integration of AI and blockchain. Noteable speakers include Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of blockchain company Ripple; Jenny Johnson, President and CEO of Franklin Templeton, which manages $1.5 trillion in assets; Richard Teng, CEO of one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges; and possibly Carolyn Weinberg, Chief Product and Innovation Officer at BNY, Bernegger shares.

A New Human 

Still in high demand: longevity. (Image: Shutterstock)

Meanwhile, one of this year’s key investment trends is much closer to home: the human body. Longevity is presently one of the biggest investment thematics of the future economy, with investments into its market projected to grow to $50–80 billion by 2035.

At the private Longevity Investors Lunch in Davos hand-picked group of 50 to 60 guests will convene for a private, three-course lunch and discussion on the sector’s most important technological breakthroughs. What’s interesting about this industry, is that while its growth is partially fuelled by concerns about the aging population crisis and its impact on future healthcare and pension systems, the industry is also an elite lifestyle movement which is slowly but surely making its way to the masses. Bernegger, who hosts the event emphasizes that the focus in this sector has shifted toward quantifiable results that centre around turning back the biological clock. Some of the most exciting speakers at the invitation-only event include Jordan Schlain, a longevity consultant to celebrities and professional athletes in the United States and Liv.Kraemer, founder of the Skin Longevity Clinic in Zurich. 

A New U.S. Agenda

Finally, one of the most critical moments that will set the tone for the future economy this January, is the arrival of the Trump administration which will be headquartered in a historic church, slightly reminiscent of The Crucible in Davos.

The U.S. delegation will include Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. While discussions in the lead-up to the forum were widely rumoured to focus on the Ukraine– Russia war, attention could now likely extend to Venezuela, Greenland, Cuba, and the future of crude oil markets. In last year’s World Economic Forum address, delivered by video link, Trump demanded lower OPEC oil prices, called for interest-rate cuts, and warned of impending tariffs, making this year’s speech a good indicator of what policies may lie ahead. 

Overall, the WEF and CFC are much more than elite conferences. They are not just about transforming what already exists, but a genesis of all that could be—a blooming of innovation that may soon lay the foundations of society and reshape our culture in the years to come. While no one can predict the future with certainty, these gatherings set the tone for the year, introducing agendas that mark the birth of new paradigms and are in many ways the mould of the future economy.