The fifth edition of the Santander-CIDOB Future Leaders Forum brings together young leaders to debate on European digital policy

On Friday, 22 November, CIDOB hosted the fifth edition of the Santander-CIDOB Future Leaders Forum, the first of these to be held in an in-person format since Banco Santander and CIDOB launched this programme five years ago, with the aim of identifying and promoting dialogue between future global leaders, aged 35 and under, in different areas of the international agenda, especially those related to new technologies. 

The Forum brought together twenty young talents from all over Europe who are part of the Future Leaders Forum community. This group comprises 140 emerging leaders from the four Santander-CIDOB 35 under 35 lists from previous editions of the programme, who work at the intersection between technology and international politics. 

The Santander-CIDOB Future Leaders Forum is a unique opportunity for young leaders in technology and digital policy to meet and share their ideas and proposals. This forum not only fosters dialogue and collaboration but also reinforces the commitment of both institutions to new talent and to global and European digital governance” — Pol Morillas

According to Pol Morillas, Director of CIDOB (Barcelona Centre for International Affairs), ‘the Santander-CIDOB Future Leaders Forum is a unique opportunity for young leaders in technology and digital policy to meet and share their ideas and proposals’, in a forum which, beyond promoting dialogue and collaboration, also reinforces the commitment of both institutions to new talent and to global and European digital governance. For Cecilia Yuste, Director of Institutional Affairs at Santander Group, the programme ‘reflects the importance of dialogue between young leaders to address issues that will impact Europe in the short term, such as the regulation of technology, the digital industry, the fight against disinformation and the relevance of the EU in the world' 

Speed-debating on European Digital Policy

European digital policy: where are we and where are we going? was the title of this new edition of the Santander-CIDOB Future Leaders Forum, which consisted of a speed-debating dialogue session, a dynamic and interactive format. During the event, the young participants brought their reflections, ideas and political proposals in four key areas: the regulation of emerging technologies, the European Union's technological and innovation capacities, the fight against disinformation and European digital sovereignty in a context of geopolitical competition.  

It’s important that we not only discuss the challenges but also exchange ideas on how to go forward. Having such a range of diverse experts definitely brought up some new ideas during the discussion” — Yasmine Idrissi Azzouzi

We need to bring new people and new ideas into these debates, and this initiative is a great opportunity to start building the future of the discipline” — Darío García de Viedma

Yasmine Idrissi Azzouzi, Cybersecurity Programme Officer at the International Telecommunication Union and one of the participants at the Future Leaders Forum, highlighted the opportunity to 'network and to meet with other young people from all over Europe that are working on a diverse range of topics and that have a diverse range of opinions and experiences', creating a rich debate. 'It’s important that we not only discuss the challenges but also exchange ideas on how to go forward, and having such a range of diverse experts definitely brought up some new ideas during the discussion', said Idrissi Azzouzi.  

According to Darío García de Viedma, who also participated in the event, 'we need to bring new people and new ideas into these debates, and this initiative is a great opportunity to start building the future of the discipline'. Darío García de Viedma, member of the Santander-CIDOB 35 under 35 lists as all the participants in the Forum, is Associate Director at the Center for the Governance of Change of IE University.  

The debates were structured into round tables led by CIDOB experts, who guided the discussions and collected the participants' conclusions.