Leadership in Place-making Innovation (URLF)

This phase of the University and Research Leadership Forum (URLF) explores the dynamic intersection of university-driven innovation and strategic place-making. We examine how universities are shaping vibrant ecosystems in the digital age, fostering entrepreneurship, deepening community engagement, and accelerating sustainable development.

University and Research
Leadership Forum

The GFCC University and Research Leadership Forum (URLF) is a dynamic hub where thought leaders collaborate and explore trends and strategies to reshape the future of higher education and innovation.
Since its establishment in 2016, the University and Research Leadership Forum (URLF) has continuously adapted and evolved through various phases. In each phase the URLF has provided a platform for GFCC members and fellows to engage in discussions about the dynamic role of universities in shaping our economies and societies. Learn more about the URLF's journey below.

Global Competitiveness Awards

The Global Competitiveness Award recognizes leaders who have made significant contributions to global and regional competitiveness. It honors those who have championed innovative new models and policies that have transformed business and government, creating sustainable growth and prosperity for their nations.

Partnerships Catalyzed

We help organizations from different countries forge impactful collaborations for innovation and commercialization. We connect universities, councils on competitiveness, innovation districts, research centers with shared interests, creating a platform for joint projects. By acting as a global connector, we help these cross-border partnerships accelerate shared progress and unlock new opportunities.

Competitiveness Councils Launchpad

We help countries and regions unlock their full potential by supporting the creation of their own Competitiveness Councils. This initiative offers a roadmap for leaders to unite business, government, labor, and research labs, forging a collaborative strategy for long-term growth and global competitiveness.

Driving Innovation in Times of Crisis

As the world continued to grapple with increasingly frequent and severe crises, we recognized that opportunities for innovation existed amidst these challenges to help us emerge stronger and more resilient. 
Our goal was to deepen our understanding of crises and offer insights that translated into actionable recommendations. By enabling earlier crisis recognition, we empowered businesses, governments, and organizations to not only weather turbulent times but to thrive in the face of adversity.
This initiative was a GFCC undertaking in partnership with the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).

Frame the Future
Conversation Series

The Global Federation of Competitiveness Council (GFCC) hosted eleven conversations defined by five future-defining attributes: innovation, partnership, resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainability. For the GFCC, these attributes are interconnected and must be applied simultaneously to drive future strategies into a truly transformative agenda.
Throughout these conversations, policymakers, CEOs, researchers, entrepreneurs, government and civil society leaders gathered to share insights and expertise on ten subjects: innovation, talent, intellectual property systems, infrastructure, public-private partnerships, regulations, local development, natural assets, trade & global partnerships, and benchmarking.

University 4.0 (URLF)

In 2019, URLF members gathered to envision the future of universities amidst evolving technologies and the innovation economy. They introduced University 4.0—an impact-oriented, tech-enabled institution. COVID-19 hit in 2020, forcing universities into accelerated transformation. The URLF analyzed the pandemic's impacts, surveying strategies and models.

The Competitiveness
Decoder ™

The GFCC Competitiveness Decoder, a pioneering data-driven tool, was conceived to illuminate the key drivers propelling national competitiveness.
Developed by the GFCC and its members, with initial backing from the Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development (ABDI), this first-of-its-kind online interactive tool enabled various stakeholders — nations, policymakers, and investors alike — to measure the competitiveness performance of more than 100 nations over 35 years and across 130+ metrics organized in 8 core pillars.