Entrepreneurship Summit 2023: Keynote speech by Prof. Tania Singer

Summary

In her keynote speech „From Inner Work to a more Caring Economy: A Social Neurocience Perspective”, Prof. Tania Singer highlights how psychological and neuroscientific findings can be used to overcome social challenges such as loneliness, stress and social inequality. She shows that human behaviour is strongly influenced by motivation systems that are context-dependent and can be changed through targeted training.

She presents her research on mindfulness, compassion and perspective-taking, including the Resource Project programmes, which systematically strengthen social brain networks. Using methods such as mindfulness-based exercises and partner-based empathic practices (dyadic practice), participants can improve their resilience, emotional regulation, social connectedness and prosocial behaviour. She particularly emphasises the effectiveness of social exercises, which can even be scaled online, in reducing loneliness and promoting hope and a positive outlook on life.

Prof. Singer thus links scientific research directly to practical solutions for entrepreneurs, teachers and health professionals in order to strengthen sustainable social cohesion and mental health in organisations and society.

Key insights for founders

1. Motivation is context-dependent:
Behaviour is not a fixed result of preferences; decisions and cooperation can be influenced by specifically activating care and empathy systems.

2. Social brain networks can be trained:
Mindfulness, compassion and perspective-taking can be strengthened through regular practice, leading to greater empathy, resilience and social intelligence.

3. Partner-based practice strengthens social cohesion:
Short, regular exercises in dyadic form increase connectedness, reduce loneliness and promote hope, even in digital formats.

4. Balance between performance and care:
Excessive motivation through power, consumption or performance can lead to stress, burnout and addictive behaviour; entrepreneurs benefit from conscious training in social and caring motivation.

5. Scalable mental practices have practical and measurable effects:
Scientifically proven exercises can be implemented online, reducing stress, improving mental health and increasing cooperation in teams and organisations.

About the speaker

Prof. Tania Singer is a psychologist and neuroscientist specialising in empathy, compassion and social brain networks. She led the Resource Project, a long-term research programme that shows how mental exercises can train mindfulness, perspective-taking and compassion, leading to measurable changes in the brain and behaviour.

Singer was a professor of economics in Zurich, where she conducted interdisciplinary research on how cooperation arises and breaks down. Her work combines neuroscientific findings with practical programmes for entrepreneurs, teachers and health professionals to strengthen social resilience, social connectedness and mental health. She develops scalable training methods that have a transformative effect on both individuals and society.