Some 65 years ago, the first human ventured into space. What was once the domain of governments is now increasingly shared with private companies reshaping the landscape.
As missions push towards the moon, Mars and beyond, questions of ownership, accessibility and sustainability grow more urgent.
In this new space race, how do we balance discovery with responsibility?
Globally, the middle class had been growing by about 54 million people every year since 2011, but with the pandemic in 2020 that growth tapered off, while concerns about long-term job security are rising.
How will AI impact middle-class economics and where are economies focused on growth from the middle out despite the odds?
Noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease and diabetes claim over 70% of lives worldwide, yet they are not a priority in the global health agenda due to their slow and not easily detectable development.
From grassroots health services promoting physical activity to emerging digital tools for self-monitoring of metabolic levels, can harnessing place-based solutions be the key to addressing the burden of NCDs?
Manufacturers are embedding intelligence at every stage, from algorithmic design and AI agents to closed-loop recycling. The race is on to merge speed, innovation and talent without collapsing under complexity and cost.
As every factory becomes intelligent, what will set the leaders apart?
A new market infrastructure is emerging, where tokenized assets, AI-driven systems and future quantum capabilities reshape financial flows. While these technologies can offer unprecedented efficiency and access, they are also being deployed amid growing technological and economic competition.
Is the global financial system prepared to update its rules and operating models for new technologies or will strategic rivalry and the complexity of a more fragmented system heighten systemic risks?
The blue economy is fast becoming one of the world’s most powerful engines for sustainable growth, set to be worth over $3 trillion a year by 2030.
From tourism to renewable energy to a potential enabler of global trade, how is the ocean’s ever-increasing importance to economies and people changing?
Often perceived as a niche issue, the women’s health gap, impacting 3.9 billion lives, has gained overdue awareness for its ripple effects on future generations.
From emerging low-tech solutions for decreasing maternal mortality rates, next-generation contraceptives, to using AI to more precisely detect and track cervical cancer, what breakthroughs will make closing the women’s health gap possible?
The 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will provide a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability.
This Annual Meeting will welcome over 100 governments, all major international organizations, 1000 Forum’s Partners, as well as civil society leaders, experts, youth representatives, social entrepreneurs, and news outlets.
The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.
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Welcome to Radio Davos coming to you on Day 4 of the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2026.
Stacey Vanek Smith, co-host of the podcast Everybody’s Business from Bloomberg Businessweek, joins us to look ahead at the day’s highlights.
Catch up on all the action from World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2026 at wef.ch/wef26 and across social media using the hashtag #WEF26.
Follow our live blog on Day 4: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/01/live-from-davos-2026-day-4-what-to-know
Related podcasts:
Day 3’s episode: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/radio-davos-daily-wef26-day-3/
Day 2’s episode: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/radio-davos-daily-wef26-day-23/
Day 1’s episode: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/radio-davos-daily-wef26-day-1/
Top global risks in 2026 and how the Davos ‘spirit of dialogue’ can help us face them: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/global-risks-report-2026/
Cybersecurity Outlook 2026: the view from Interpol and the threat to ‘OT’: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/global-cybersecurity-outlook-2026-interpol-dragos/
Global Cooperation Barometer 2026: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/agenda-dialogues/episodes/global-cooperation-barometer-2026/
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Meet the Leader – subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560
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The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. It provides a global, impartial and not-for-profit platform for meaningful connection between stakeholders to establish trust, and build initiatives for cooperation and progress.
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