Ideas Impacting Society

We connect and inspire people who want to improve society. The Aspen Institute Central Europe is an independent platform where representatives from politics, business and public institutions as well as personalities from the arts, sports and science meet. With the participation of figures from various disciplines, we organize public conferences, seminars, workshops and professional discussions.

Aspen Annual Conference 2024

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Who We Are

Our Mission

We connect and inspire people committed to improving society and fostering trust within it. By providing an open, interdisciplinary platform in Central Europe, we facilitate meaningful public and policy dialogues and encourage leadership grounded in democratic principles.

Open Dialogue, Multiple Points of View

Aspen Institute Central Europe is an independent platform that mediates interdisciplinary and regional cooperation and supports young Central European leaders. It serves as a politically and ideologically neutral platform for democratic discussions about global, political, economic and social issues to promote the functioning and development of democratic values. Aspen Institute Central Europe fosters values-based leadership with the belief that it is essential for a free, just and equitable society. With the participation of experts from politics, business and public institutions as well as personalities from the arts, sports and science, the Institute organizes public conferences, seminars, workshops and expert discussions.

Aspen Institute Central Europe brings together individuals who positively influence the society and strives to support strategic thinking that goes beyond local and sector-related boundaries. By hosting interdisciplinary policy and public discussions, the Institute contributes to open dialogue that explores topics relevant to current society and its advancement. Specifically, the Institute focuses on the priorities of Values-based Leadership, Education, Transatlantic and EU activities, Technology, Innovation and Quality of Governance: Effectiveness of Civil Service. Through our programs, we also aim to encourage young leaders to further develop leadership based on values such as honesty, morality and respect.

Our Core Pillars

Leadership

MULTIPLYING THE POTENTIAL OF LEADERS
The Leadership Programs convene exceptional leaders across various fields and disciplines from Central Europe in order to step away from the daily routine to reflect upon various aspects of values-based leadership. The Alumni become part of an international informal group with the objective of promoting professional ties with one another and triggering possible further cooperation.

Policies

LOOKING FOR EFFECTIVE POLICIES TO CURRENT CHALLENGES
Aspen Institute Central Europe serves as a nonpartisan platform for policy programs that allows for a multifaceted dialogue among policymakers, influential businesses, and public figures. They address themes that reflect education, the effectiveness of civil service, the impact of innovation and technology on the development of society, democracy and quality of life. Global issues, transatlantic relations and the problems that Europe and the Central European region are facing are also discussed.

Public

HIGHLIGHTING TOPICS OF PUBLIC INTEREST
The Public Programs aim to actively involve a large number of participants in debates, conferences and analyses related to current Central European issues and opportunities for regional development. The Institute organizes these events for a broader audience of interested individuals who wish to discuss fresh ideas and look at a wide range of social, political and economic issues from a new perspective. The highlight of the public program is the Aspen Annual Conference where the results of the year-round work of expert groups are presented.

News

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What they said about us

“I am honoured and proud of Aspen’s tremendous success by training new leaders, developing new ideas and forming new connections. Aspen CE is a true region-wide platform promoting civil discourse and informed discussion, something we so desperately need in this day and age. ”

Madeleine K. Albright


“When I was invited to join the Aspen network, it was one of the turning points of my life. I learned to know a lot of different kinds of people with very similar struggles, and I imagined better what I want to achieve in my life. ”

Yemi A.D.


“Participation in the Aspen Young Leaders Program surprisingly helped me to calm down. I gained perspective and learned to prioritize better. Thanks to that, I am more focused at my work and I feel stronger than before. ”

Mimi Hoang Lan Nguyen

“From the stimulation of the Ideas Festival, to the projects conceived at the Resnick Aspen Action Forum, to deep policy studies done at our roundtables, the Aspen Institute brings together people with different outlooks to search for common ground and make the world a better place. ”

Walter Isaacson

“From the stimulation of the Ideas Festival, to the projects conceived at the Resnick Aspen Action Forum, to deep policy studies done at our roundtables, the Aspen Institute brings together people with different outlooks to search for common ground and make the world a better place.”

Jiří Schneider

“Aspen was always able to assemble differently minded people from various fields of activity: politicians, artists, athletes, scientists, innovators, volunteers and businessmen. I believe that this capability will also significantly contribute to the development of a liberal and democratic society not only in Europe. ”

Ivan Hodáč


“Aspen is for me the possibility to meet people, who think in a similar, or absolute different way, than me. ”

Tamara Bobáková

“More than 60 years ago, American businessman and philanthropist, Walter Paepcke, founded what would become one of the most respected platforms in the world for truly non-partisan dialogue addressing critical issues facing civil society. ”

Pepper de Callier

Program Priorities

Aspen Institute Central Europe brings together individuals who positively influence the society and strives to support strategic thinking that goes beyond local and sector-related boundaries. By hosting interdisciplinary policy and public discussions, the Institute contributes to open dialogue that explores topics relevant to current society and its advancement.

Partners

The support of our corporate and individual partners and donors is crucial to sustaining the work of Aspen Institute Central Europe. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for their support and commitment to democratic values, improving society, and fostering trust within it.

Our partners

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Aspen Global Network

Aspen Institute CE was established in 2012 in Prague as a public benefit company serving the whole region, but primarily operating in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. The Central European office is a partner of the global Aspen network, which was founded in 1950 in the United States, is headquartered in Washington and includes 14 offices around the world!

Tokyo
New Delhi
Nairobi
New Zealand
Washington
Mexico City
Madrid
Paris
Prague
Berlin
London
Rome
Bucharest
Kyiv
Bogota