By Our Special Reports Team

Founded in 1971, the World Economic Forum is a non-profit economic think-tank made up of business, political and academic leaders. It was set up to "discuss a coherent strategy for European business to face challenge in the international marketplace".

The forum now embraces a more global perspective and at this year's 30th meeting the theme New Beginnings aims to "set the tone, atmosphere and priorities of the new century."

When does it happen?
It is staged in Davos, a ski resort in Switzerland, at the end of January each year. This year's conference is from January 27 until February 1.

What does it do?
Davos provides a discussion forum for global leaders and is the world's most prestigious networking conference. Members attend talks led by top professionals and politicians.

In 1999 Al Gore, US vice-president, used Davos to announce plans for new debt relief initiatives and Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, spoke on business practice in a global economy

Why Davos?
Davos was where the first meeting was held in 1970. It is said that Klaus Schwab, founder of the Forum, sticks with Davos because he enjoys the skiing and thinks the resort is more attractive than a city venue.

How much does it all cost?
It costs about $10m. Funds are raised through subscriptions. Companies and banks pay between $12,000 and $15,000 in membership fees. For this the companies get a tailor-made service and access to the Forum's database. The Forum's foundation membership are the main benefactors.

Who attends?
The global elite. The World Economic Forum issues invitations to people they believe shape the global agenda.

This year US President Clinton will outline his vision of globalisation and UK prime minister Tony Blair will address the participants. Finance ministers from the US, UK, France and Germany will also be speaking.

Last year prominent European finance ministers - including Gordon Brown and France's Dominique Strauss-Kahn - attended, as did Nelson Mandela, then president of South Africa, and German chancellor Gerhard Schröder.

Other attendees included top academics such as Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Harvard Institute for International Development and Michael E. Porter, professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School, USA.

Scott McNealy, head of Sun Microsystems, and Taizo Nishimuro, chief executive of Toshiba, were among industry leaders in attendance.

The forum has several categories of membership. The most prominent is the foundation membership of 1000 foremost global enterprises, organised by sector. There are also "governors of industry" - 50 chief executives of the world's most successful companies.

'Global leaders for tomorrow' brings together people born in the second half of the 20th century who hold important positions in business, politics, media, arts and science. This category was set up in 1992 with 200 original members and a further 100 are nominated each year.

edia leaders includes about 200 editors and leading commentators. This group meets on the sidelines of the main event. About 250 journalists also gather to report on events.

In 1995 the conference launched the Crystal Award to honour artists for their achievements. Winners so far have included African novelist Ben Okri and conductor Ivan Fischer.

Tell me more about Klaus Schwab.
r Schwab, a professor of business administration at Geneva university, called together Europe's chief executives to an informal gathering in January 1971 to discuss European business strategies in the face of a growing international market place. Thirty years on, he chairs the world's most elite think-tank. His profile has grown in tandem with Davos.

He has also helped to set up two internet ventures. Think tools, set up in the 1980s, is a consulting and knowledge software company. It formed a strategic partnership with the World Economic Forum in 1997 and the latter is now a major shareholder. Industry to Industry is an e-market place for businesses.

Does the World Economic Forum host other summits?
Yes, it set up a series of regional summits in the 1970s as the world's economy became increasingly globalised. They were designed to facilitate trade links and the formation of regional economic groups. Eleven summits are set to be held in 2000, from South America to China.

The regional summits act as mini-forums, bringing together regional players, many of whom cannot be included in the Davos summit because of the restricted numbers. A report is produced after each summit.

Who runs the World Economic Forum?
There is a council made up of 40 representatives from member companies. The council meets biannually to discuss "strategy and future activities". The incumbent chairman, elected in September 1998, is Rahul Baja, chairman and managing director of Bajaj Auto in India.

On a day to day basis the Forum is run by a permanent staff of 80. The Forum has out-sourced its operational and logistical needs to Global Event Management, a South African company. It also helps organise the regional summits. The WEF is a major shareholder in the company.

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