The fourth Europe Asia Young Leaders Forum, taking place in Nice, convened approximately 50 participants and speakers from 17 Asian and European countries, including representatives of more recent EU member states. The varied backgrounds and broad experiences of the participants characterized the discussions of the forum.

Picking up on current debates on the global competitiveness of Europe and the necessity for economic and social reforms, the forum took place under the motto “Seeking the Competitive Edge: Europeans and Asians in Global Competition”.

In three conference sessions, various aspects of the topic took centre stage: First, the participants analysed the competitiveness of Asia and Europe and discussed the recommendations for economic and political action that could be derived from the strengths and weaknesses of each region. In session two, the focus was on the company level: Forum participants discussed strategies and instruments that can help companies improve their competitiveness and innovativeness, and debated possible conflicts between a company's drive to compete and need to cooperate with other companies. In the concluding session, this conflict was illuminated from yet a different angle: The debate revolved around the issue of how to reconcile professional demands and personal life plans. In addition, participants discussed, in international comparison, how economisation and competition influence the quality of life of the individual.

During the “Networking in Nature” programme, which took place on the first conference day on the island Sainte Marguerite off Cannes, the participants divided into four competing groups and took on a number of challenges. Thus, the focus was also on competition, but the primary goal was for new participants and alumni to get to know each other in an informal setting right at the beginning of the conference.

As in previous years, the fourth Europe Asia Young Leaders Forum was organised in cooperation with the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai and the NUS Entrepreneurship Centre in Singapore.