For more than three decades, UNCTAD’s Division on Investment and Enterprise has contributed to advancing research, policy analysis and technical assistance on foreign direct investment (FDI), the activities of multinational enterprises (MNEs), and international production, most notably through its annual World Investment Reports. It has done so in close collaboration with the academic community.
The WIF 2023 Academic Track is organized in partnership with leading academic institutions and associations in disciplines related to investment and development. The track includes a series of thematic events (elsewhere on the programme) integrating research and ideas from leading scholars, researchers, executives from global companies and senior policymakers. It will cover a broad spectrum of issues related to foreign investment, MNEs and development, including themes such as the energy transition, sustainable infrastructure, FDI and women empowerment, SME internationalization, and industry 4.0 and the future of global investment.
The academic track will start with a keynote session followed by a roundtable dialogue, setting the tone and objectives for the week. It will then combine the thematic sessions with a stand-alone academic research conference organized by the academic partners. Leading scholars will run the discussions in core sessions of the WIF, to create synergies between academia and the multi-stakeholder community, cross-fertilizing debates. A series of daily roundup sessions will provide a unique opportunity to hear about the latest research emerging in the field, to reflect on the core issues and themes discussed across the Forum, and to influence the future research agenda on investment for development.
The academic track will also fisher the Investment for Development Research Square, a meeting place for policy-oriented academic research.
World Investment Report | UNCTAD (click on the link to see the latest updates)
Session themes:
- Investment in the energy transition
- FDI and women empowerment
- Investment in sustainable infrastructure
- Investing in industry 4.0
- Global value chains and international production
- Internationalization of SMEs
Speaker(s)
