Business Diplomacy Today

In Episode 27 of Business Diplomacy Today, host Matthias Catón is joined by Till Klein, Head of Trustworthy AI at appliedAI. Matthias and Till explore the forthcoming EU AI Act, including an investigation of its core principles and implications for businesses.

Their conversation begins by looking at key points of the EU AI Act, including the EU’s risk-based approach, where it tries to classify certain AI practices into four categories. Matthias and Till discuss if such an act will hinder bringing innovation to the European Union due to its requirements around data governance, risk management, and accuracy.

As emerging technologies are constantly evolving, Matthias and Till further analyse how quickly the AI Act may become redundant and how to navigate this complexity, both from a governance and business perspective.

Although AI regulation is not new, both in the EU and other regions, Matthias and Till provide an insightful episode for those interested in understanding how (and why) regulation is conceived and its evolving implications on businesses and societies.

This episode was recorded on 29 January; it’s important to note, that since then, the Act has been modified and further developed.

Dr Till Klein is the Head of Trustworthy AI at appliedAI, a leading AI initiative in Europe, where he is working toward accelerating Trustworthy AI at scale.

Together with this colleagues and the entire AI Ecosystem, Till is driving the co-creation of methods and tools for operationalising regulations, standards, and principles of Trustworthy AI, from Europe and beyond.

Till gained several years of industry experience in Regulatory Affairs for Medical Devices, as Lead Auditor for ISO 9001, and as Head for Quality Management in a drone company, which equips him with practical and skills perspectives that are invaluable for applying Trustworthy AI.

Till holds a Ph.D. in Business from the Centre for Transformative Innovation at the Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. Besides AI, his research interests include economic geography, economic complexity, social networks, innovation management, and regional clusters.

In Episode 26, host Matthias Catón is joined by Lewis Sage-Passant, Global Head of Intelligence at Novo Nordisk and founder of EncyclopediaGeopolitica. Matthias and Lewis delve into the intricacies of how multinational corporations navigate geopolitics and international relations.

Matthias and Lewis investigate how the changing responsibility of security intelligence teams and how, in a corporate environment, this is transforming into a strategic direction – how does geopolitics work? What implications does this have on a business?

Empirically, Lewis explains how geopolitic events affect different sectors of a business, such as supply-chains, access and affordability to raw materials; and as globalisation evolves, more types of industries have had to internationalise, and therefore, pay more attention to geopolitical events. Interestingly, Lewis and Matthias also look into the idea of “opportunity intelligence” and how geopolitics should not only be viewed from a “risk” perspective, but also a business development angle.

This episode is a must listen for business leaders and policy makers to understand how to incorporate geopolitical intelligence in their corporate strategy and utilise this as both a risk, and opportunity.

Dr Lewis Sage-Passant is the Global Head of Intelligence at Novo Nordisk, and is a researcher in the field of intelligence and espionage focusing on the private sector. Lewis holds a PhD from Loughborough University in intelligence studies, and is an adjunct professor in intelligence at Sciences Po Paris and EMLyon Business school.

He has extensive experience working and living in the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions in a variety of geopolitical analysis and intelligence roles, working for some of the largest corporations in the energy industry, the financial sector, and technology sector. He is also the founder and editor of EncyclopediaGeopolitica.com, a website discussing geopolitical issues, where he hosts their podcast on dangerous topics in the security, intelligence, and geopolitics field, “How to get on a Watchlist”.

Lewis has appeared in numerous media outlets, including the BBC, France24, CNBC, Harvard Business Review, The New Arab, El Mundo, GQ, and others, discussing intelligence, geopolitics, and security matters.

In Episode 25 host Matthias Catón is joined by Simone Menne, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany. In their discussion, Matthias and Simone address the intricacies of transatlantic relations between the US and Germany and how this relationship is shaped by geopolitics.

Following themes of economics, politics and international relations, Matthias and Simone discuss the current stand of the transatlantic relationship and the significance of US-German partnerships; notably in the context of the automotive and pharmaceutical industries. As the US prepares for the 2024 election, the episode investigates the potential outcome and the rise of right-wing parties within Europe. Simone and Matthias further discuss the necessity to maintain political stability and the repercussions that may occur following electoral results.

Further comparisons are made with the US’s dynamic business sector and the ageing population in Germany and, on a wider scale, Europe. Drawing on her experience of leading digital transformation, Simone explains the optimism behind leveraging new technologies and furthering sustainability efforts.

This episode is a must-listen for business leaders and policymakers to gain insights to the US-German relationship and understand predicted outcomes in the short- and long-term.

Simone Menne is an experienced manager with diverse experience, notably in finance and digitalisation. She was CFO at Lufthansa and Boehringer Ingelheim. Currently, she is a member of the Supervisory Board of Henkel and Deutsche Post AG and a Non-Executive Director of Russell Reynolds Associates and Johnson Controls International PLC.

Simone is also President of the American Chamber of Commerce Germany e.V., where she is dedicated to maintaining transatlantic relations and strengthening economic ties between Europe and the USA.

In Episode 24 of Business Diplomacy Today, host Matthias Catón is joined by Karel Lannoo, CEO of the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS). In their discussion, Matthias and Karel dive into the complexities of implementing a digital currency and its impact on the financial landscape; in this episode, specifically on the case of the Eurozone and the Digital Euro.

Covering an array of compelling topics, Matthias and Karel discuss the motivations of central banks to embrace digital currencies and the evolving landscape of digital payments. Karel shares thought-provoking arguments on the privacy concerns of implementing a digital Euro; as well as potential disruptions in the financial sector and the ramifications the digital Euro could have on monetary policy.

One motivation of implementing a digital Euro is led by the desire to make the Euro a more significant global currency, Matthias and Karel, thus, look at the geopolitical landscape and financial significance of the Dollar and monetary policies in China and India.

At the intersection of finance, technology and geopolitics, this episode is a must-listen for policymakers and business leaders to further understand and analyse the viability of implementing a digital Euro on national, regional and international levels.

Karel Lannoo has been CEO of the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) since 2000. He specialises in financial regulation, European economic governance and single market issues. His recent publications cover the EU healthcare sector policy, anti-money laundering, Russian financial sanctions, crypto-currency regulation and Europe’s geopolitical role.

He has published several books on capital markets, MiFID, and the financial crisis, the most recent of which is “The Great Financial Plumbing, From Northern Rock to Banking Union” (2015). In October 2023 he co-authored the publication “A Digital Euro Beyond Impulse: Think Twice, Act, One”, a study highlighting the importance of value proposition and benefits to consumers and merchants in the EU with the adoption of the digital Euro.

Karel holds a Baccalaureate in Philosophy (1984) and an MA in history (1985) from the University of Leuven, Belgium and obtained a Postgraduate Degree in European Studies (CEE) from the University of Nancy, France (1986).

In Episode 23 of Business Diplomacy Today, host Matthias Catón is joined by Tom Standage, Deputy Editor of The Economist and editor of its future-gazing annual, The World Ahead. Timely, with the start of the new year, Matthias and Tom delve into global trends and predictions for 2024; as well as their implications for businesses and global affairs.

To understand the metholodogy, Matthias and Tom begin by discussing how forecasting is developed and the necessity to analyse previous events and liaise with cross-departmental colleagues to look forward. Their conversation analyses both predictable events and forecasted events, ranging from GDP growth in a country to instability in domestic and international contexts.

Interestingly, Matthias and Tom briefly look at how cognitive bias plays a role in the prediciability of events and how our common assumptions can lead us to be unprepared for events; contextualised in the episode, is the Russia-Ukraine war. The discussion further investigates crucial geopolitic affairs such as China-Taiwan, US Elections and the role of artifical intelligence. Tom further highlights the importance of 2024 as “election year” with over half of our global population living in a country that will have an election this year.

With a wealth of knowledge and relevant contextualisation, this episode is a must listen for policymakers, business leaders and those interested in understanding how to navigate 2024 and the intricate network of global affairs.

Tom Standage is Deputy Editor of The Economist and editor of its future-gazing annual, The World Ahead. He joined The Economist as science correspondent in 1998 and was subsequently appointed technology editor, business editor and digital editor.

He is the author of seven history books, including “Writing on the Wall” (2013), “The Victorian Internet” (1998) and the New York Times bestsellers “A History of the World in 6 Glasses” (2005) and “An Edible History of Humanity” (2009). His latest book, “A Brief History of Motion”, was published in 2021.

Tom studied engineering and computer science at Oxford University and has written for other publications including the New York Times, the Guardian and Wired, taking a particular interest in technology’s social and historical impact.

In Episode 22 of Business Diplomacy Today, host Matthias Catón is joined by Prof. Harold James, Professor of History and International Affairs at Princeton University. Drawing inspiration from Harold’s recent publication Seven Crashes: The Economic Crises That Shaped Globalisation (2023), Matthias and Harold discuss seven major turning points in the history of globalisation.

Their conversation explores the requirement for preparation and flexibility in responding to global crises, such as geopolitical tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic. Also discussed is the impact of political systems on crisis response and how this differs in autocratic and democratic systems.

With globalisation being synonymous to interconnectedness, Harold and Matthias examine the influence of communication and technological advances during times of rapid change. Harold contextualises these theories through historical events and the importance of having a historical understanding to prepare for the interaction between a globalised world that experiences conflict and uncertainty.

Discussing topics of historical events, innovation and global trade, this episode is a must listen for policymakers and business leaders to gain insights on how to be resilient and prepared for changes on a global level.  

Harold James, the Claude and Lore Kelly Professor in European Studies at Princeton University, is Professor of History and International Affairs. His books include a study of the interwar depress in Germany, The German Slump (1986); International Monetary Cooperation Since Bretton Woods (1996) and The End of Globalisation (2001). He was also co-author of a history of Deutsche Bank (1995), which won the Financial Times Global Business Book Award in 1996.

His most recent publication is Seven Crashes (2023). He is the official historian of the International Monetary Fund. In 2004 he was awarded the Helmut Schmidt Prize for Economic History, and in 2005 the Ludwig Erhard Prize for writing about economics. He writes a monthly column for Project Syndicate.   

Episode 21 of Business Diplomacy Today covers the emerging significance of middle powers. Host Matthias Catón is joined by Michael Mazarr, Senior Political Scientist at the RAND Corporation. Matthias and Michael discuss how middle powers are rising and their impact on global trade and business environment.

Beginning with definitions of middle powers, Michael explains the concept of different power scales, and the domestic and global roles great, middle, and small powers play. Understanding different factors as ingredients of influence, such as size, geography and economic power, Matthias and Michael discuss the shift into a multipolar reality where middle powers have a growing significance.

Tied with these complexities, their conversation examines the implications of changes in the global power order on businesses and decision-making processes in contexts of investments and geopolitical shifts. Furthermore, the space that businesses provide for communication, such as cyber- and information security, is discussed.

Matthias and Michael specify these theories in the cases of India’s growth, US-China relations, and developments within the Middle East; with Michael further advising business to continuously invest in developing their geostrategies and ability to operate internationally.

Ultimately, this episode serves as a vital resource for understanding the changing dynamics of global business and diplomacy; as well as the imperative need for businesses to understand and adapt to global shifts to remain competitive and influential on an international scale.

Michael Mazarr is a Senior Political Scientist at the RAND Corporation. Prior to coming to RAND, he served as Professor and Associate Dean at the U.S. National War College in Washington, D.C.

He has served as Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, President and CEO of the Henry L. Stimson Center, Senior Vice President for strategic planning at the Electronic Industries Alliance, Legislative Assistant in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Senior Fellow and Editor of The Washington Quarterly at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

In Episode 20 of Business Diplomacy Today, host Matthias Catón is joined by Ashoka Mody, Charles and Marie Robertson Visiting Professor in International Economic Policy at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University and author of “India is Broken: A People Betrayed, Independence to Today”. Matthias and Ashoka delve into how the world’s largest democracy faces obstacles in achieving fair and equal development, with a specific focus on how its history has shaped its present.

With a detailed exploration into India’s history since 1947, Matthias and Ashoka look at theories of “path dependence” and how India’s previous leaders and historical events have shaped its politics and development today. From unaddressed economic challenges, to a lack of public goods and the breakdown of accountability, Ashoka provides an intriguing argument to the hindrances of India’s development.

Matthias and Ashoka converse on three pressing themes: India’s economy, its growing inequality, and democracy and accountability. Ashoka debates the need to provide quality goods for the general population; and further suggests a potential solution of decentralising power – identifying Kerala as a role model.

Bringing the topic to a global and business context, Matthias questions if India’s problems are not uncommon for emerging economies and the responsibility of businesses to address these challenges. As a growing destination for investment and India’s role on the global stage, this episode is a must listen for those interested in market access and entry to India.

Ashoka Mody is Charles and Marie Robertson Visiting Professor in International Economic Policy at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. He is author of EuroTragedy: A Drama in Nine Acts. Previously, Professor Mody was Deputy Director in the International Monetary Fund’s Research and European Departments. He has worked at the World Bank, AT&T’s Bell Laboratories, and the Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum. He has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and is a non-resident fellow at the Center for Financial Studies, Frankfurt. He received his Ph.D. in Economics from Boston University.

Ashoka Mody has published a book, “India is Broken: A People Betrayed, Independence to Today” (Stanford University Press, 2023). He brings his Indian heart to this provocative new account of how India moved relentlessly from its hope-filled founding in 1947 to the dramatic economic and democratic breakdowns of today.

In Episode 19 of Business Diplomacy Today, host Matthias Catón is joined by Vera Axyonova, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie REWIRE Fellow at the University of Vienna and Principal Investigator of the project ‘Expert Knowledge in Times of Crisis – Uncovering Interaction Effects between Think Tanks, Media, and Politics’. Vera shares her expertise on the influence that experts and think-tanks can have on policy- and decision-making, specifically in hybrid and non-democratic regimes.

Beginning with definitions of think-tanks and their influence on policy, Vera and Matthias delve into how these organizations and experts operate in different political environments. Vera specifically contextualizes these ideas with Russia and the reporting of events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change through her research on the topic; and demonstrates that, in some cases, think-tanks actively transmit certain policy ideas provided by the state.

Matthias and Vera further discuss the various factors which can influence information published by think-tanks; such as local regulations in the case of transnational think-tanks, the influence of donors and funders and the establishment of international expert networks to transfer policy solutions and options.

With the fast spread of news and information and the importance of distinguishing between ‘misinformation’ and ‘disinformation’, this episode is a must listen for those interested in analyzing how we receive knowledge and the influence this knowledge holds. For business leaders and senior executives, Matthias and Vera recognize the role corporate think-tanks can inform market access and entry.

Vera Axyonova is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie REWIRE Fellow at the University of Vienna and Principal Investigator of the project ‘Expert Knowledge in Times of Crisis – Uncovering Interaction Effects between Think Tanks, Media, and Politics’.

In this project, she examines how knowledge about crises is produced and communicated by expert professionals in political settings beyond consolidated liberal democracies, how political and societal actors use this knowledge, and how much influence it has on policymaking.

Before joining the University of Vienna, Vera had various roles in research, science management, and policy consulting. She was the Managing Director of “Academics in Solidarity” at Freie Universität Berlin and worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher and Assistant Professor at Justus Liebig University Giessen. Vera was also a Hurford Next Generation Fellow with the Carnegie Endowment’s Euro-Atlantic Security Initiative and is the founding co-chair of the ECPR Research Network on Statehood, Sovereignty, and Conflict.

Jan Kratzer, Chaired Professor for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management and Founder/Academic Director of Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE) at Technische Universität Berlin, joins Matthias Catón in this episode. Jan shares his expertise on challenges for entrepreneurs in low-income countries, comparing them to high-income countries.

As their discussion explores the concept of entrepreneurship in fragile states, Matthias and Jan discuss theoretical definitions of fragile states and entrepreneurship. Jan explains how the latter has contrasting definitions globally; for example, micro-entrepreneurship is very common in African and Asian states, but the social-political-economic nexus in fragile states hinders the sustainability of an entrepreneurial business model.   

Despite the obstacles faced in fragile environments, such as low-tech industries, a lack of entrepreneurial support systems and legal regulations, Jan recognises the significance these young entrepreneurs have in growing economies through informal and smaller-scale entrepreneurship.  

Jan and Matthias further discuss the need for tailored educational programmes to train young entrepreneurs, the importance of reducing protectionist measures and how matured markets must give away their power to allow others to emerge and grow.  

As an increase in geopolitical risk calls for rethinking business strategies to maintain resilience, this episode is a must listen to gain a deeper insight into stimulating growth in fragile environments. 

Jan Kratzer is Chaired Professor for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management and Founder/Academic Director of Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE) at Technische Universität Berlin, Germany. At the Faculty for Business and Economy at Technische Universität Berlin he holds the function as Vice Dean for Internationalization and he is a member of the Academic Senate of Technische Universität Berlin. Prof. Dr. Jan Kratzer established and leads the (dual degree) master program MSc “Innovation Management, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability” (“IMES”).  

In 2003 Jan Kratzer and others created the startup “NetScan” (Applied Network Analytics) and in 2006 Jan Kratzer and others created the startup “Improof” (Project Management). 

As Chaired Professor for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management/Academic Director CfE he has attracted around 20 million € third party funding from 2010 to 2023, He is in the editorial board of “Creativity and Innovation Management” (CIM), “Journal of Product Innovation Management” (J-PIM), “Sustainability” and “Highlights of Sustainability”. His research is mainly on factors that drive sustainable entrepreneurial and innovation activities towards success and resulted in ca. 100 scientific publications. At all Prof. Dr. Jan Kratzer has supervised more than 80 PhD’s as first supervisor.