The first milestone in the World Bank's effort to support the transition to knowledge economies in its client countries in Central and Eastern Europe was the Paris Knowledge Economy Forum in February 2002: Building Knowledge Economies—Opportunities and Challenges for EU Accession Countries. As a follow-up, the World Bank and the Government of Finland co-sponsored the Helsinki Knowledge Economy Forum, Implementing Knowledge Economy Strategies: Innovation, lifelong learning, partnerships, networks and inclusion,in March 2003. While the emphasis of the Paris Forum was on formulating knowledge economy strategies for EU Accession countries, the goal of the Helsinki Forum was to move from theory to action. Participating countries and invited speakers demonstrated in Helsinki, primarily through the presentation of case studies, how countries can speed up the transition to Knowledge Economies through well-designed and implemented programs and policies, private/public/NGO partnerships and community action.

The Third Knowledge Economy Forum is organized together by the Hungarian Government and the World Bank, in collaboration with the Open Society Institute.
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Knowledge Economy Forum III (KEFIII) seeks to maintain that momentum and to build upon the lessons learned and experiences shared in Paris and Helsinki. KEF III will focus on the competitiveness agenda and on how a more dynamic Knowledge intensive economic context can support innovation, competitiveness, and economic growth.

For more information visit 2004 Budapest Forum website.