King Jigme of Bhutan has announced that the inaugural Bhutan Innovation Forum will take place from October 1-3, 2024, at the Dungkar Dzong in Paro.
This event will bring together global thought leaders to explore the intersections of mindfulness, innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability as Bhutan embarks on creating the world’s first Mindfulness City.
The Mindfulness City, a project rooted in the principles of Gross National Happiness first introduced by the monarch in December 2023, will integrate green technologies and mindful innovation to build a harmonious, well-being-focused community.
More than 80 distinguished speakers are expected, covering diverse topics such as integrating mindfulness into education and leadership, leveraging blockchain for knowledge economies, utilising AI in digital services and governance, promoting ESG investments for climate resilience, and developing carbon markets for sustainable growth.
Speakers include Evan Spiegel, the co-founder and CEO of Snapchat; Joseph E Stiglitz, economist and Nobel Laureate; Nicholas Stern, economist and member of the UK House of Lords and Nobel Laureate; Richard J Roberts, molecular biologist and Nobel Laureate; Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, a Buddhist scholar, author and filmmaker; Juan Manuel Santos, the former President of Columbia; Anil Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Group; Bjarke Ingels, the founding partner & creative director of igG; Matthieu Ricard, a philosopher and Buddhist monk; among others.
