Forum History
IEI keeps North Carolina’s attention on working toward a vibrant future. Each year, IEI focuses on an emerging issue that requires the entire state’s attention. IEI brings thousands of people together to discover the opportunities in these issues, identify innovative solutions and support leaders and communities seeking to implement those solutions.
For nearly four decades, IEI has maintained a strong tradition of bringing the best and the brightest leaders to gather together to discuss the emerging issues that drive our state forward.
| Emerging Issues Forum Topics |
|---|
| 2024: Weathering Financial Storms: A Resilient Future for North Carolina Families |
| 2023: Talent First Economics: Engaging our Skilled Workforce for a Competitive North Carolina |
| 2022: Advancing Together: Enhancing NC’s Workforce Through Educational Attainment |
| 2021: ReCONNECT for the Future |
| Fall 2020: ReCONNECT to Move Forward: A three-part virtual meeting series |
| Feb. 2020: ReCONNECT to Technological Opportunity |
| Oct. 2019: ReCONNECT to Economic Opportunity |
| Feb. 2019: ReCONNECT Rural & Urban |
| 2018: ReCONNECT to Community |
| 2017: kidonomics: The Economics of Early Childhood Investment |
| 2016: FutureWork |
| 2015: Innovation Reconstructed |
| 2014: Teachers and the Great Economic Debate |
| 2013: @Manufacturing Works |
| 2012: Investing in Generation Z |
| 2011: An Idea Exchange for Healthcare |
| 2010: Creativity, iNC |
| 2009: Changing Landscapes: Building the Good Growth State? |
| 2008: North Carolina’s Energy Futures: Realizing a State of Opportunity |
| 2007: Transforming Higher Education: A Competitive Advantage for North Carolina |
| 2006: Financing the Future |
| 2005: My Health Is Your Business: Making Healthcare Work in North Carolina |
| 2004: Creative Responses for Global Economic Change |
| 2003: Jump Starting Innovation: Government, Universities & Entrepreneurs |
| 2002: Biotechnology and Humanity at the Crossroads of a New Era |
| 2001: First in America: Charting the Course for Excellent Schools |
| 2000: Shaping our Common Future |
| 1999: Global Economic Storms |
| 1998: People and Planet: A Fragile Partnership |
| 1997: Economic Forces: Shaping the Next Half-Century |
| 1996: The Knowledge Explosion: What is the Payoff for Americans? |
| 1995: Conflict, Competition and Cooperation: Power Politics in a Changing World |
| 1994: Investing in Health: An American Agenda |
| 1993: Strengthening America: New Economic Strategies |
| 1992: Priorities for America’s Future |
| 1991: Changes in Europe: Challenges for America |
| 1990: Global Changes in the Environment: Our Common Future |
| 1989: Education for a Competitive Economy |
| 1988: Taking Control of the Future |
| 1987: Winning in the Global Economy |
| 1986: The Challenge of Innovation and Competition |