Collaboration is Key!

This white paper is a product of ebx.lab 2025 and a timely contribution to the business events ecosystem.

“Collaboration is Key!” is not just a catchy slogan; it defines a strategic capability that determines long-term viability in an increasingly complex world. Insights gained from three ebx.lab editions show that the challenges facing stakeholders across the business events ecosystem are far more similar than expected, and that the most effective solutions emerge when knowledge, data, perspectives and resources are brought together through genuine collaboration.

This white paper therefore has three objectives:

1. Documentation and consolidation of insights

We share the key insights, models and experiences emerging from the discussions, masterclasses and working groups of ebx.lab 2025. With the Book of Keys, we establish, for the first time, a shared frame of reference for collaborative work, informed and supported by academic expertise, including contributions from the Centre for Collective Intelligence Design (CCID, Nesta) and the Center for Responsible Research and Innovation (CeRRI, Fraunhofer IAO).

2. Transfer into practice

The use cases presented in this white paper are rooted in real questions raised by the ebx.lab community and illustrate how collaboration works in practice — from data-sharing models and governance frameworks to AI-enabled tools. They are not intended as theoretical analysis, but as hands-on blueprints for application in real-world projects.

3. Community engagement and invitation to contribute

As highlighted in the foreword, the focus is not on one-off co-operations, but on fostering a new culture of collaboration. Each use case therefore concludes with an open Collaboration Call — an invitation to get involved in these projects and continue this shared approach to innovation