Showcase is back on September 10th, 2025 for its 6th edition!

SwissTech Convention Center, Lausanne

Showcase is E4S’ impact innovation summit that gathers all actors of society (the academic community, businesses, start-ups, investors, large organizations, NGOs, policy-makers and civil society) to build a better future for the people and the planet. 

Register here

Innovating for the Wellbeing of Humans and Ecosystems

Our economies and societies are changing profoundly and fast, in response to environmental and social challenges such as the overshoot of planetary boundaries, pandemics, the rise of artificial intelligence, geopolitical turmoil and rising inequality. In such stormy waters, humanity is more than ever in a quest for purpose. The notion of wellbeing offers a bridge from anxiety and polarisation to serenity and collaboration, by focusing on “what really matters”.

We define human wellbeing as a state of existence that fulfils human needs, including material living conditions (livelihoods, income, housing, work) and quality of life (how people are and feel, what they know and can do, how healthy and safe their environments are, and how socially connected they are), while preserving the resources needed to sustain it over time (natural, human, social and economic capital). Ecosystem wellbeing is a state of nature that enables ecosystems to maintain their diversity and quality. While ecosystems could thrive without people, human wellbeing cannot be achieved or sustained without them.

This year’s Showcase puts human and ecosystem wellbeing in the spotlight. Bold visionaries, brave innovators, and future leaders showcase social, economic, and technological innovations that pursue wellbeing for all humans and the planet.

Draft Agenda

09:30 Welcome to Showcase, with Jean-Philippe Bonardi, Florian Hoos, Michaël Aklin, (Co-Directors of E4S)

09:50 Setting the Stage: an Economy for Wellbeing, with Christian Gollier (Professor of Environmental Economics, Toulouse School of Economics)

10:15 – 11:  15 Block 1: Facing Reality – Wellbeing in a fragmented world

With:

• Simon Evenett (Professor of Geopolitics and Strategy, IMD)
• Timothée Parrique (Researcher in Ecological Economics, HEC-UNIL)
• Maria Neira (Director of Environment, Climate Change and Health, World Health Organisation)
• Pitches from our Solutions Exhibition

Moderated by Jean-Philippe Bonardi,(Co- Director, E4S- HEC UNIL)

11:30 -13:00 Thematic Workshops

13:30 – 15:00 Block 2: Rethinking the Model – An economy for wellbeing

With:

• Jean-Marc Jancovici (President, the Shift Project)
• Karen Scrivener (Professor, Materials and Construction Laboratory, EPFL)
• Fire-side chat with Anna Fontcuberta i Morral (President, EPFL), Frédéric Herman (Rector, UNIL).

Moderated by Michaël Aklin (Co- Director, E4S – EPFL)

15:00 – 15:30 Break

15:30 – 17:00 Block 3: Acting Now – Showcasing innovation for impact

With:

• Sophie Bacq (Professor of Social Entrepreneurship, IMD)
• Abhishek Jain (Director of Green Economy & Impact Innovations, CEEW)
• Bastien Sachet (CEO, Earthworm Foundation)
• Adina Edme (Chief Transformation Officer, Decathlon Switzerland)
• Nicolas Hänny (CEO, NIKIN)
• Pitches from our Solutions Exhibition

Moderated by Florian Hoos (Co- Director, E4S – IMD)

17:00 – 17:30 Closing remarks 

Register here

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