Klaus Schwab is a German mechanical engineer, economist, and the founder of the World Economic Forum (WEF), an international organization for public- private cooperation. He was born on March 30, 1938, in Ravensburg, Germany. Schwab founded the European Management Forum in 1971, which was later renamed the World Economic Forum in 1987. He served as its chairman from its founding until 2025
. Schwab holds doctorates in mechanical engineering and economics, as well as a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University. He was a professor of business policy at the University of Geneva from 1972 to 2003 and has been an honorary professor there since. Alongside his wife Hilde, he established the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship in 1998, which supports social entrepreneurs globally
. The WEF is best known for its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, which brings together influential political, business, and civil society leaders to discuss global issues. Schwab is credited with popularizing the concept of the "Fourth Industrial Revolution," which explores the fusion of physical, digital, and biological technologies and their impact on society and the economy
. Throughout his career, Schwab has received numerous international honors and holds 17 honorary doctorates. He is recognized for promoting stakeholder capitalism and fostering collaboration between public and private sectors to address global challenges
