UTMB Establishes Global Brain Economy Initiative at the World Economic Forum in Davos

The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) on Jan. 21 unveiled the Global Brain Economy Initiative (GBEI) during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

This initiative positions brain capital-defined as brain health and brain skills-at the forefront of global economic development in the age of AI. Launched in partnership with Rice University and the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative, the GBEI aligns with a new report from the Forum and the McKinsey Health Institute (MHI), "The Human Advantage: Stronger Brains in the Age of AI", co-authored by UTMB Senior Fellow and Rice research Harris Eyre, PhD, which emphasizes the increasing importance of brain health capital in the era of artificial intelligence.

Led by Eyre, the GBEI seeks to establish "brain capital," which is the integration of brain health and brain skills, as essential infrastructure for the 21st century. As AI transforms workplaces and global populations age, the initiative connects neuroscience with economic policy to promote long-term growth, workforce resilience and social well-being.

"Brain health is foundational to economic strength, innovation, and human potential," said Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD,

president of UTMB and CEO of the UTMB Health System. "Through the Global Brain Economy Initiative, UTMB is helping lead a global shift-one that recognizes brain health and cognitive skills as critical assets for prosperity, resilience, and shared progress in an AI-driven world."

How GBEI moves ideas into action

The GBEI aims to turn research into practical solutions for governments, employers and investors to enhance brain health and human skills. Its goal is to address disparities in support for brain capital across health care, education, workplaces and public policy.

The initiative functions as a global center of excellence and coordinating platform and advances brain capital through four core strategies:

• Defining a shared framework that integrates brain health and skills as a unified driver of human and economic performance
• Measuring impact by establishing common research agendas, standards and metrics for brain capital
• Testing solutions through real-world pilots that improve cognitive health, workforce performance, and local economic outcomes
• Supporting investment in brain health by developing financing frameworks to attract capital that is aligned with long-term value creation
  

In its first year, the GBEI will focus on establishing a global brain research agenda, piloting brain economy strategies in select regions and introducing a framework to guide funders and financial leaders. It will also advocate for brain economy public policy at major global forums, including the G7 Summit in France, G20 Summit in the U.S., United Nations General Assembly, World Health Assembly and COP31 in Turkey.

Through this work, the initiative unites partners across various sectors to strengthen workforce resilience, support innovation and improve long-term economic outcomes.

"Together, these efforts aim to translate the concept of the brain economy into action by aligning research, policy and investment around human potential," said Eyre, a senior fellow at UTMB and the Harry Z. Yan and Weiman Gao Senior Fellow for Brain Health and Society at Rice's Baker Institute for Public Policy, senior advisor for neuroscience in Rice's Office of Innovation and co-lead of the Brain and Society Initiative at the Rice Brain Institute.

Why brain capital matters for global growth

The WEF-MHI report highlights the increasing significance of brain capital in the age of AI. Created through the Brain Economy Action Forum, a WEF initiative focused on brain capital as an economic asset, in collaboration with the McKinsey Health Institute with key contributions from Eyre, the report defines brain capital as encompassing both brain health and brain skills such as adaptability, empathy, and complex problem-solving.

The report estimates that implementing proven brain health interventions could reclaim more than 260 million disability-adjusted life years and yield $6.2 trillion in economic gains by 2050. The report also emphasizes that brain health conditions make up a significant portion of the global disease burden across all age groups.

"By enhancing brain health and brainskills, societies can boost productivity, workforce participation and overall quality of life," Eyre said.

UTMB's role in advancing the brain economy

Through the initiative, UTMB is advancing a comprehensive, action-oriented approach that connects brain health, brain skills, and economic resilience, and leveraging its strengths in academic medicine, research, clinical care, and innovation to translate neuroscience into real-world impact-shaping how communities, institutions, and economies invest in brain capital.

"Brain health is not only a medical or scientific priority-it is an economic imperative," Reiser said. "At UTMB, we are aligning research, clinical insight, education, and innovation to ensure that investments in brain health and cognitive performance translate into longer, healthier lives, a more capable workforce, and stronger, more resilient communities."

In addition, UTMB serves as co-chair of the Center for Houston's Future Project Metis, a region-wide brain economy transition initiative that serves as a national blueprint for a place-based approach to brain capital development. Project Metis brings together cross-sector partners-including industry, health systems, and academic institutions-to accelerate innovation, inform policy, and strengthen regional and global competitiveness. In addition to UTMB, collaborators include BP, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Rice, and Memorial Hermann Health System.

By elevating brain health and cognitive performance as economic priorities, UTMB is helping define the future of the brain economy-demonstrating how academic health institutions can lead at the intersection of science, health, and economic growth to build stronger societies and shared prosperity.