The 21st century has reached a new turning point. Technological leaps, climate turning points, geopolitical realignments and the rise of artificial intelligence are coming together to form a single set of global challenges. In this era, universities, researchers and innovators who are able to build bridges between continents, scientific fields and cultures have a key role to play.
The central inspiration for the conference is John Von Neumann, who was a mathematical visionary, technological pioneer, and symbol of global thinking. Neumann's legacy—an understanding of complex systems, algorithmic thinking, and a vision of human-technology collaboration—is now the foundation of the AI era.
The aim of this conference is to provide a comprehensive overview of future megatrends and to show how Europe and Asia can cooperate in the interests of sustainability, technological development, and geopolitical stability.
This meeting creates a platform where actors from science, politics, and economics can jointly shape the coming decades of humanity, building on the opportunities and responsibilities of the AI era.
The beginning of the 21st century marked the start of a new era in world history. The technological explosion, the rise of artificial intelligence, global climate change, and the realignment of global power relations have triggered complex, systemic processes that are radically transforming the future of humanity. Taken together, these challenges can no longer be interpreted solely at the regional or national level: they fundamentally determine the long-term development trajectory of the world.
Eurasia, the world's largest geopolitical and economic space, where more than two-thirds of the world's population lives and where the vast majority of 21st-century innovations are born, plays a particularly important role in understanding the current era. Eurasia is not only a geographical space, but also a meeting point of different civilizations, scientific cultures, and economic dynamics. The Eurasian era, in which European and Asian cooperation is becoming increasingly important, is playing an increasingly decisive role in shaping the global order.
In this context, connectivity between Asian and European universities is particularly important, as it has become one of the most important drivers of the global innovation system. The internationalization of higher education and research has led to new organizational models, joint training programs, and cross-border research networks. Digital infrastructures and AI-based scientific cooperation enable academic communities to create shared knowledge at an unprecedented pace.
John Von Neumann's work plays a key role in the development of modern technologies and artificial intelligence. Neumann architecture, game theory, and the mathematics of complex systems are the cornerstones of the AI era. The conference therefore builds on Neumann's legacy: the thinking that brought together the border areas of mathematics, computer science, logic, and strategy into a unified framework.
The functioning of today's AI systems—algorithmic complexity, neural networks, predictive models—are all areas that carry on Neumann's intellectual legacy.
Eurasia's importance has grown significantly in recent decades. The economic center of gravity has shifted to Asia, while Europe remains one of the leading centers of scientific excellence. Cooperation between the two regions has the potential to create scientific and technological ecosystems that will shape the future of the world. The convergence of Eastern and Western philosophies of science—combining Asian systems thinking with Western analytical scientific thinking—is creating a new quality. This integration is reinforced by the AUAP as a platform that provides opportunities for long-term, strategic cooperation between universities.
Artificial intelligence is no longer just a technological tool, but a civilizational force. It is transforming the economy, the labor market, education, healthcare, and creating new geopolitical dimensions. Decisions and algorithms built into AI systems are increasingly determining social processes. This dual reality—technological possibilities and social challenges—makes it necessary for scientific communities to work together to find sustainable, humane, and ethical solutions.
Sustainability issues are no longer optional, but are essential for the survival of humanity. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource crises are systemic problems that can only be solved through global cooperation. The millennia-old wisdom of Eastern civilizations—harmony, balance, cyclicality, and life-centered thinking—is an important source of knowledge for 21st-century sustainability solutions.
The aim of the AUAP global congress held at John Von Neumann University is to bring together the best players in science, innovation, and higher education at an international level. The conference examines the megatrends and challenges of the future along three major thematic areas: geopolitics, sustainability, and technological innovation.
The event aims to build a bridge of ideas between Europe and Asia, where joint knowledge creation is not only possible but also necessary.