"Escaping the age of stupid": after this economic crisis, the world will be a different place. Are you prepared to profit from the changes and get your company on the right track? The 5th European Futurists Conference Lucerne focuses on areas of transformation and pinpoints the megatrends of the future.

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A glimpse ahead: The weather forecast predicts stable conditions and perfect air streams in the high atmosphere. The saucer-like airship glistens in the sunlight, while a curious crowd of travellers filters on board. The flight attendants ferret the hand luggage away and serve chilled champagne. Sepia-tinted photographs on the wall show planes of the Wright Brothers in Kitty Hawk 1903, and other pioneers of air travel. That was 190 years ago.

"I can imagine that, at the end of the century, aviation will begin to utilise more effectively the physical medium of flying--air itself," says Atte Korhola, Professor of Environmental Change at the University of Helsinki. "As the performance of computers improves, it will be possible to exploit more efficiently, and in real time, air streams and the winds that blow in the upper atmosphere. One of the most fascinating possibilities is the return of airships serving passenger traffic."

Next to being far more fuel-efficient and climate-friendly--currently air travel is responsible for two per cent of the worldwide CO2-emmissions--the future of aviation may mean the abandonment of the Western concept of time: Perhaps we will no longer fly according to the clock and timetables, but when it is favourable, inexpensive and sensible to do so.

Deciphering transformations

At the 5th European Futurists Conference Lucerne this October, Christer Haglund of Finnair will present the vision of air travel in the year 2093, which win be quite different from what we are used to now. But not only the aviation business will go through drastic change.

"After the crisis the whole world will have changed:' says Georges T. Roos, director of the conference, which will take place at Lucerne's landmark Culture and Convention Centre (KKL), right on the lake of Lucerne.

"This year's motto is 'Visioning 20.20-Escaping the Age of Stupid'. To help to understand these transformations, we have invited specialists and visionaries from around the world like Holger Winklbauer of Deutsche Post DHL, Humayon Dar, CEO of BMB Islamic and Jose Luis Cordeiro of the Institute of Developing Economies in Japan. They will present the megatrends and chances and show how to be prepared for the upcoming challenges."

Preparing for the future

Times of change are always times of uncertainties, but those who can read the signs of the times will be better prepared, and can go about their business in a cooler and more promising way. What will the transformation of Europe look like? What kind of technology does the future hold? Will the ambitious "DesertTec" project, an initiative of the Club of Rome, provide solarthermic energy for all of Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East? While the western banking system nearly collapsed, the Islamic financial institutes prevailed. What are the secrets of Islamic banking?

In addition to these red-hot topics, the European Futurists Conference Lucerne will present the results of the exclusive online survey Future Readiness Index 2009. More than 100 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of Switzerland were analysed regarding their future readiness.

How ready are you for the future?

For further details:

5th European Futurists Conference Lucerne

October 14-16, 2009: Culture and Convention Centre Lucerne (KKL)

www.european-futurists.org