The “Organisationsforum Wirtschaftskongress” (OfW) was founded in 1984 to build a bridge between academic theory and business practice. Since then, an annually changing team of Cologne students has organized an international business conference as its main product here in Cologne. The intention was to connect entrepreneurs, scientists and ambitious students through an intensive, intergenerational exchange.
Initially, the “German Business Conference” took place every two years with a focus on Germany, until it attracted more and more foreign participants and was renamed the World Business Dialogue in 1999. Since 2009, the conference has been organized annually instead of every two years with participants from over 70 nations.
At the end of 2019, the organization decided to realign itself and find a new approach of engaging and contributing to a better future.
Now, we want to create an ongoing dialogue about relevant topics that affect businesses, environment and the society: all of us. We will combine old strengths of the World Business Dialogue with new opportunities. Our history will develop!