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The Forum

We convene at a moment of profound transition. The post-Cold War order is giving way to something new, a multipolar world where power is distributed across multiple centers, alliances are in flux, and the rules of global governance are being rewritten in real time. Trade conflicts and technological decoupling fracture systems that once seemed permanent. The race for AI dominance accelerates, transforming not only industries but the very nature of work, raising fundamental questions about who controls the infrastructures of intelligence and to what ends.

Climate breakdown and biodiversity collapse demand transformation at a scale and speed that existing institutions struggle to deliver. Cities, home to the majority of humanity, face the compounding pressures of housing crisis, inequality, and extreme weather. The future of work is uncertain: automation, platform labor, and AI are reshaping employment across every sector.

This is the polycrisis, not a series of separate emergencies, but interconnected disruptions that amplify one another. Geopolitical realignment feeds economic fragmentation; technological transformation concentrates power while displacing workers; ecological breakdown intensifies resource competition and human mobility. No single nation, institution, or discipline can navigate this terrain alone.

Yet multipolarity also opens new possibilities. As the world moves beyond binary Cold War logics, partnerships like EU-Brazil become strategic anchors, not as blocs against others, but as demonstrations that democratic, human-centric, and sustainable technological development is both possible and desirable.

The Future Affairs Forum responds to this moment by creating space for a different kind of dialogue – one that refuses both techno-solutionist optimism and paralysing despair. Connecting the European Union and Brazil through the lens of emerging technologies, the future of work, urban transformation, ethics, and strategic foresight, the Forum brings together policymakers, technologists, urban planners, philosophers, artists, civil society representatives, and youth leaders to address the questions that will define our collective future.

Bringing digital diplomacy into the heart of foreign policy, this first edition establishes Brazil as a strategic hub for transatlantic dialogue. At a time when multilateralism is under pressure, genuine partnerships grounded in shared values offer a path forward.

Curatorial Team

Archipelago of Possible Futures: Francesca Bria and José Luis de Vicente

Museu do Amanhã: Fabio Rubio Scarano and Camila Oliveira

The questions that define us.

How can international cooperation pave the way for a just, resilient, and sustainable transition in the context of shifting geopolitics and a multipolar world?
How will Artificial Intelligence, Automation and Quantum Computing change the way we work, move, and live – and what ethical frameworks can ensure these technologies serve the common good?
How do we navigate the future of work? What lies ahead for jobs, employment, and the social contract as automation and AI reshape every sector?
How will technological progress transform our cities – and how do we guarantee that the impact is positive, sustainable, and inclusive?

THEMATIC ARCHITECTURE

PILLAR 1: GEOPOLITICS, COOPERATION, AND DEMOCRATIC FUTURES

The global order is in transition. As the world moves from unipolar to multipolar, new alignments emerge and established frameworks are tested. The race for AI dominance, trade realignments, and competing visions of digital governance reshape international relations. In this context, partnerships grounded in shared democratic values become strategic imperatives. This pillar examines the evolving role of global actors – including the European Union and Brazil – in navigating technological and societal changes.

PILLAR 2: TECHNOLOGY, ETHICS, AND THE SOCIETIES OF TOMORROW

Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and quantum computing are not distant horizons – they are reshaping society now. These technologies raise profound ethical questions: about privacy and surveillance, algorithmic bias, the concentration of power in a handful of corporations, and the democratic governance of systems that increasingly mediate human experience. This pillar examines the most transformative technologies on the horizon and addresses the ethical frameworks needed to ensure they serve the common good.

PILLAR 3: THE FUTURE OF WORK AND EMPLOYMENT

Automation, AI, and platform labor are fundamentally reshaping work, skills, and job security. Some sectors face displacement; others see new opportunities emerge. The gig economy challenges traditional employment protections. The benefits of technological productivity gains and rights are unevenly distributed. This pillar explores what lies ahead for jobs and employment, and what policies can ensure that technological change benefits workers and society.

PILLAR 4: SMART CITIES, URBAN FUTURES, AND SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY

Cities are where the future is built – and where the crises of climate change, population growth, and resource scarcity are most acutely felt. By 2050, two-thirds of humanity will be urban. The challenge is to build cities that are smart, inclusive, and resilient: integrating digital infrastructure, sustainable architecture, and circular solutions while ensuring that technological progress serves all residents.