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Flagship Collaborations

Last update: June 2026

  • Flagship Collaborations
  • Contributors
  • Core Collaborators
  • Ongoing Flagship Collaborations

Flagship Collaborations

The World Economic Forum organizes its work around several Centres, each dedicated to tackling global challenges and driving positive change. These Centres house multiple initiatives that address key issues across various sectors, such as the global economy, society, technology, and the environment. Global Shapers and Alumni with relevant expertise are encouraged to engage with these initiatives, contributing their knowledge and skills to advance the Forum's mission of improving the state of the world. Flagship Collaborations is the engagement framework that integrates the Global Shapers Community into the work of World Economic Forum Centres and Initiatives through structured, outcome-driven collaboration aligned with Forum priorities. Its goal is to amplify the leadership and solutions of young experts by activating a globally diverse network of next-generation leaders and practitioners to embed intergenerational perspectives into Centre work, driving dialogue, generating actionable insights and accelerating impact that shapes global agendas. The Flagship Collaboration framework is built around three core categories: Dialogue, Insights and Action. Together, they provide a comprehensive model for embedding intergenerational perspectives into Centre agendas, from agenda-setting to knowledge generation to implementation.

  • Dialogue enables Centres to convene young experts alongside senior leaders to shape priorities and inform direction.
  • Insights provides structured mechanisms to generate youth-driven intelligence, foresight and knowledge outputs.
  • Action mobilizes and scales youth-led initiatives that advance Centre priorities in practice.

Important tip: Make sure your Forum Spaces profile and biography are up to date, including your expertise, experience, and areas of interest, to increase your chances of being identified and engaged in relevant opportunities.

Contributors

Contributors participate in defined Dialogue, Insights or Action streams within a specific Collaboration. They provide subject-matter expertise, regional perspective and implementation support, while not holding coordination or oversight responsibilities. Engagement is structured and time-bound, with clearly defined expectations aligned with the relevant Centre or Initiative. Depending on the scope of the Flagship Collaboration, Contributors may commit approximately 1–2 hours per week on average.   Role Contributors may:

  • Participate in taskforces or thematic working groups
  • Contribute to knowledge products, consultations and research outputs
  • Support pilot implementation at Hub level
  • Engage in structured dialogue formats and workshops
  • Provide regional insight and local intelligence relevant to Centre priorities

Core Collaborators

Core Collaborators hold a defined leadership and coordination role within a specific Flagship Collaboration and act as key members of its leadership team. They act as the primary liaison between the Centre or Initiative and the Global Shapers Community, ensuring alignment, continuity and quality of engagement across Dialogue, Insights and Action.

Mission and Mandate

Core Collaborators contribute to a specific Flagship Collaboration by co-designing its activities, providing operational support and overseeing the development of key deliverables. They act as the primary link between Forum staff and Global Shapers engaged in the collaboration, ensuring effective coordination and engagement across all contributors. The role is open to active Global Shapers and Alumni who seek to take on a formal leadership mandate within the framework. Core Collaborators are appointed by HQ in coordination with the relevant Forum team, based on credentials, motivation, competence, and alignment with the Flagship Collaboration’s objectives. Core Collaborators are expected to dedicate an average of 1–3 hours per week to their role. Flexibility is important, as time commitments may vary depending on the stage and needs of the collaboration, with some periods requiring more engagement than others. While specific responsibilities vary across Flagship Collaborations, most Core Collaborators are involved in the following tasks during their tenure:

  • Providing strategic input on the design of the Flagship Collaboration to ensure relevance to Shapers and feasibility, continuously providing feedback for improvements.
  • Moderating virtual and in person sessions (introduction calls, talks with leaders, etc.) with an emphasis on engaging Shapers in an active and productive way.
  • Proactively engaging and managing the community of contributors through email and other channels as necessary to ensure progress and momentum.
  • Being the first point of contact for contributors to the Flagship Collaboration and managing the flow of information.
  • Independently designing and delivering workshops related to the Flagship Collaboration at the Global Shapers Annual Summit (based on selection).
  • Leading the creation of deliverables by coordinating working groups, creating and adhering to work plans, and taking responsibility for completing tasks.

The standard term for Core Collaborators is one cycle of the respective Flagship Collaboration. This term may be extended for up to one additional cycle at the discretion of Forum staff.

The Core Collaborator Profile

Core Collaborators are part of the leadership team of the relevant Flagship Initiative alongside Forum Staff. To ensure the success of the collaboration and maximize the experience for all Global Shapers involved, we are seeking candidates who meet the following criteria:

  • Be an active Shaper or alumnus who has been part of the community for at least 2 full years (based on Forum Spaces account creation date).
  • Understand and advance the mission of the Global Shapers Community.
  • Hold keen interest and/or professional or educational experience related to the relevant Flagship Collaboration.
  • Have a strongly proactive attitude and be able to identify tasks which need completing and move forward without close supervision.
  • Demonstrate excellent project management skills and the ability to work in a team with other Core Collaborators and Forum staff.
  • Demonstrate a strong sense of moral and professional integrity, with the ability to prioritize collective goals over personal recognition.
  • Demonstrate a genuine ability to empower, uplift, and inspire others, with a talent for driving groups to deliver.
  • Be willing to spend 1-3 hours weekly undertaking tasks as part of the Flagship Collaboration, including those listed under the “Mission and Mandate” section of this page.

Recognition & Benefits

Core Collaborators receive formal recognition for their leadership and contribution within the Flagship Collaboration framework, including:

  • Holding a recognized leadership role within the Global Shapers Community and receiving a Certificate of Recognition acknowledging your contributions.
  • Benefiting from preferential consideration for participation in major Forum institutional events.
  • Becoming eligible to attend the Global Shapers Annual Summit and present the cohort’s findings through a dedicated workshop.
  • Deepening your knowledge and expertise in the topic area of the Flagship Collaboration and expanding your network through collaboration with relevant senior leaders.
  • Gaining formal recognition through acknowledgment in Forum publications to which you contribute.

Role Termination

In situations where Core Collaborators are unable to fulfil their function they may step down by writing to the Forum staff member responsible for the Flagship Collaboration. The Head of the Global Shapers Community reserves the right to cancel a Core Collaborator’s mandate at any time in cases where the Core Collaborator is no longer able to meet the tasks of the role or has for any reason compromised trust within the community.

Ongoing Flagship Collaborations

Equal Air Collaborative

In collaboration with the Forum's Global Future Council on Clean Air, The Equal Air Collaborative offers a pivotal moment for intergenerational partnerships to build healthier, more inclusive societies. By mobilizing more than 100 Hubs worldwide, we are building momentum in a movement to put young people at the heart of action for clean air. Core Collaborators - Equal Air Collaborative

Longevity Economy Taskforce

The partnership with the Longevity Economy Initiative places young people at the centre of action to address the compound challenge that increased longevity has on social and economy systems. With an integrated curriculum and knowledge exchanges going both ways – from Shapers to senior experts, and from senior experts to Shapers – we are creating space for intergenerational dialogue and knowledge to disseminate at the local level, globally. Core Collaborators - Longevity Economy Taskforce

Future26

Our work with the Global Foresight Network seeks to empower emerging leaders by equipping them with skills in foresight methodology. This allows young leaders to explore, develop and advance visions, decision-making, and long-term strategies that prioritize the interests of both present and future generations.

Core Collaborators - Future26

Shapers for Plastic Action

In partnership with the Global Plastic Action Partnership, we are working to place young people firmly at the centre of the plastics transition. By championing the local solutions of young leaders and supporting the design and implementation of new interventions we are mobilizing the next generation of changemakers while addressing plastic pollution across its full lifecycle. Core Collaborators - Shapers for Plastic Action

For further information or inquiries related to Flagship Collaborations, please contact Tobias Lindström Battle.

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