The BMW Stiftung Herbert Quandt seeks to foster national and international dialogue between business, politics and society, and to promote a mutual understanding of these areas. This thinking underscores the Foundation's sponsoring of this Summit.

The CESifo Group Munich links the Department of Economics of the University of Munich and the Ifo Institute with the international economic research community. It also supports the international CESifo Research Network, an independent academic research community now numbering over 500 internationally-renowned economists from around the world.

Siemens is a network of innovation in electrical engineering and electronics encompassing nearly half a million people in 190 countries.

Roland Berger Strategy Consultants advises leading international enterprises as well as public institutions on business management issues ranging from rule-breaking strategies to powerful organizational structures and innovative business processes.

Headquartered in Munich, E.ON Energie is Europe's largest privately owned provider of energy services, with 14 million electricity and gas customers Europe-wide. Its decentralized structure is designed to cater for regional differences on the European energy market.

Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. (established 1919 in Houston, Texas) is a leading international U.S. law firm. With nearly 1,000 attorneys in 13 offices — 8 in the U.S., as well as London, Hongkong, Munich, Dubai and Riyahd — it serves the entire spectrum of clients' legal needs around the world.

A leading international real estate financing company with European roots, the Hypo Real Estate Group combines commercial real estate financing with modern investment banking.

Swiss Re the global reinsurer does business from over 70 offices in more than 30 countries with over 9 000 employees, providing risk transfer, risk financing and asset management to its global client base. Today, Swiss Re Group is one of the world's leading and financially strongest reinsurers.

Published in the United Kingdom since 1785, The Times has been regarded for much of its history as Britain's newspaper of record. It plays an influential role in politics and shaping public opinion about foreign events.