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Gain access to exclusive events, cutting-edge insights and networking opportunities to help shape tomorrow's policies.

The Ideas Network 2030 was launched in September 2018 with the mission to provide an informal framework for individuals of the centre-right of British politics – along with other stakeholders interested in long-term trends and their effects on our economy, politics and society – to meet, discuss, evaluate and assess their relevance and importance to current politics in the United Kingdom. The Network is working with local, national and European stakeholders across politics, business, academia and society to drive change and nurture ideas.

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Priority registration and access to in-person events, online events and expert panels.

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Networking
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Connect with, and share ideas with, our network of policy makers, influencers and others.

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Future trend
insights

Access documents and analysis on emerging policy trends and their potential impact.

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Useful documents

Between now and 2040, Europe and the world will undergo profound geopolitical, economic, technological and social change. We have pulled together a useful repository of documents. Below are a few examples of the documents available.

The World in 2040: Reviewing the UK's Approach to International Affairs

This report calls for ambitious reform of the Foreign Office and wider government machinery to safeguard future UK prosperity and security. Following a series of in-depth roundtable discussions, the report sets out a series of measures to renew and reform the UK foreign affairs function. The report and other useful documents are available here.

The Digital World towards 2040

This report seeks not to predict but to provoke thought. The report’s author, Ajit Jaokar has engaged with keen thinkers about what AI would mean for Europe. Their insights have given fresh perspectives, all showing that AI will be a red thread through many new European policies over the next five years. The report and other useful documents are available here.

Latest news

We continued our 2025 programme on Wednesday 24th September at 18:00 (UK time) with a Virtual Conversation with Douglas McNeill OBE and Vinay Raniga.

Looking towards 2040, the panel addressed key questions including:

• If we are serious about growth in the coming decade, what are the three reforms we need to push through the system, however politically difficult?

• What is really stopping us from fixing Britain’s housing, energy and infrastructure, and who benefits from that failure?

• How does Britain's approach compare to the actions underway by the European Union to back long-term growth?

Earlier events

This online seminar, featured former UK Trade Minister Greg Hands and Penny Naas from the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and explored whether we are seeing the start of a long-term retreat from global economic integration and what that could mean for the UK, Europe, and the world.

One year after the publication of Digital World Towards 2040 in April 2024 and its UK launch at our IN2030 event, this session will focused on the short-term consequences of the AI revolution, given the extremely rapid and accelerating pace of change. While 2040 remains a critical milestone, the sheer pace of technological change makes long-term forecasting increasingly difficult. The discussion explored what we can expect with greater certainty in the near term, particularly the impact of AI and AGI on economies, governance, and society.

As we look ahead, the global order is undergoing a significant transformation. The unipolar world of the past is giving way to a more fragmented geopolitical landscape, where no single power holds dominance. Instability appears to be a persistent feature of the coming decades. How will the US develop its foreign policy given the aims already set out by President Trump? How will the EU address putting its own house in order? These were just some of the questions addressed in this online event.

Our 2025 and 2026 outlook

As we look ahead, there is a widespread recognition that we are entering a period of a new geopolitical order with the transition from a unipolar world to one where no single power predominates. Instability looks set to be a durable phenomenon. Last year was one of transition with over 50 elections being held across the world. In most cases in the developed world, election results provided a stronger showing of populist parties, not least in the US with a sweeping victory for President Trump. Elections to the European Parliament provided a greater presence of right-wing parties but strong support from the EPP ensured President Von der Leyen was re-elected as European Commission President. In the UK, the Labour Party won by a landslide.

Going forward, our events will be focussed, where possible, on long term trends to 2030 and beyond, identifying possible areas for action both in the UK and in Europe. In some areas, such as climate change and demographics, long term trends are already evident while in other areas such as the digital transformation and economics and trade, future developments are less easy to identify. Our economic survival and vitality will depend on flexibility and adaptability in the light of events.

Preparations are already underway for the Summer University 2026 which will become the focal point of our activities. The title of this occasion is “Shaping our future towards 2040”. To assist Network coherence, we are ensuring that all events during 2025 will serve as preparation for this occasion bringing together network partners in 2026. We eagerly anticipate your participation in our programme this year as we continue to investigate what these developments mean for our politics, economy, and society up to the year 2030 and beyond.

Questions about joining the Ideas Network 2030?

Drop us a line to find out more!

Get in touch