Norway Summit 2025 brought together thought leaders, innovators, and changemakers for a day of inspiring discussions and bold insights at Fiskepiren in Stavanger. The one-day conference offered a dynamic mix of economic perspectives, personal stories, and reflections on global challenges—explored through both traditional expertise and creative thinking.
The day opened on a powerful note, as 80 children from Storhaug Elementary School delivered a moving and hopeful rendition of "We Are the World". It was a different way to begin a business conference—setting a tone of optimism and possibility, that resonated throughout the day.
This year’s program featured a diverse lineup of speakers, each offering a unique perspective on the issues shaping our world. For the first time at Norway Summit, James Altucher—entrepreneur, bestselling author, podcast host, venture investor, and chess master—took on the role of moderator. With curiosity, wit, and sharp insight, he guided the conversations throughout the day.
Altucher also kicked off the event with his talk, "Be Stupid." He explored how today’s rapidly changing world—driven by AI, crypto, energy, robotics, and finance—demands unconventional thinking, and how embracing so-called "stupidity" might actually be the smartest move.
Leontxo García (Renowned Chess Journalist, Writer, Lecturer, and Commentator) continued with his talk "Your Doctor Might Use Science Based on Chess to Save Your Life". Here, he revealed how chess has not only shaped AI research but also contributed to major scientific advancements in fields like medicine and other fields on how chess could help save lives.
After a short coffee break, James Altucher sat down with Natasha Abbas Jankovic, (Serial Entrepreneur, Partner at Pitch40, and Mentor for startups and founders) for a fireside chat.
Following this, Altucher also sat down with Former Head Coach for Norwegian Women’s National Handball Team, Lecturer and Consultant — Thorir Hergeirsson.
Next up, it was time for the highly relevant panel discussion, "Trumponomics — What’s at Stake for Europe and Norway?" with Øystein Olsen (Former Governor of the Central Bank of Norway & Chairman of Norway Summit) and Øystein E. Søreide (Managing Director at Abelia).
Post-lunch, Ola Kvaløy (Norwegian Economist and Dean and Professor of Economics at University of Stavanger) took the stage. He talked about the future of Norwegian competitiveness beyond oil, and focused on how economic incentives, regulatory frameworks, and investment conditions can foster long-term competitiveness.
Vishwanathan Anand, legendary world chess champion, then shared his life lessons from the board.
Anna Rosling Rönnlund (Vice President & Creative Director at Gapminder Foundation) followed with her talk "Seeing the World as It Really Is – Factfulness in an Age of Change". In this engaging and eye-opening lecture, Anna Rosling Rönnlund explored the hidden biases and outdated assumptions that shape our worldview. Using clear data, vivid visuals, and real-world examples, she revealed how we can replace fear-driven misconceptions with a fact-based perspective.
After the second coffee break, Eirik Mofoss (Managing director, Langsikt) took the stage with his talk: "Doing Good Better: From Good Intentions to Real Impact". In this presentation, he explained how good philanthropy is similar to capital investing, and how it can achieve far greater impact when guided by data and optimized for results.
The final part of the program featured the fireside chat "Follow Your Passion, They Said. It’ll Be Fun, They Said" with Chief Chess Officer at Chess.com, Daniel (Danny) Rensch. The chat centered around the topic of following your passion (and surviving it).
We extend our deepest thanks to all speakers, partners, and participants who helped make Norway Summit 2025 a day to remember—full of fresh thinking, meaningful dialogue, and new connections.
