REGISTER for the 2025 EMI Annual Conference: November 6 and 7, 2025.
The Emerging Markets Institute is proud to hold the 2025 EMI Conference on November 6 and 7, 2025, at Cornell Tech, New York City,
In this year’s conference, we delve into the landscape of emerging markets amidst a global economic flux. ‘Innovation and Transformation to Emerge Stronger’ offers a detailed exploration of how these dynamic economies are harnessing cutting-edge innovations and strategic transformations to redefine their paths to growth. From groundbreaking technological advancements to transformative economic policies, our conference and the EMI report provides a comprehensive analysis of the key drivers propelling emerging markets towards unprecedented resilience and prosperity. This conference is an essential event for investors, policymakers, and industry leaders seeking to understand the future trajectory of global economics and capitalize on the burgeoning opportunities within these economies. Join us in uncovering the stories of resilience, adaptation, and success that define today’s emerging markets.
Annually, EMI holds within the EMI Conference the Cornell EMI Corning Case Competition and the Cornell EMI Mark Mobius Pitch Competition.
Cornell EMI Corning Case Competition
The Corning Cornell Case Competition is a key event in the conference. It boosts collaboration among universities and strengthens Johnson’s ties with other academic institutions. Moreover, it speaks to EMI’s focus on international and inter-institutional collaboration. The total prize distributed by the Cornell EMI Corning Case Competition totals $9,000 (all prizes subject to tax withholdings as required by IRS regulations). Find more information by clicking below or accessing case.emiconference.com.
Cornell EMI Mark Mobius Pitch Competition
This pitch competition is hosted by the Cornell Emerging Markets Institute and assisted by Cornell Big Red Ventures in the regional finalists’ selection. In 2021, Mark Mobius announced his generous sponsorship of the pitch competition as a learning opportunity for student entrepreneurs to improve their pitching skills. The competition distributes $15,000 in awards (all prizes subject to tax withholdings as required by IRS regulations), find more information by clicking below or accessing pitch.emiconference.com.
2.2K+Participants in the Case Competition since 2017
126Startups in the Pitch Competition since 2020
1,000Streaming views
All regions around the world participate annually
Past EMI Conferences
The EMI Conference 2024 was held on October 31 and November 1, 2024, at Tata Center and Bloomberg Center Auditorium, Cornell Tech, New York City, under the theme “Innovation and Transformation to Emerge Stronger“.
In this conference, we delved into the landscape of emerging markets amidst a global economic flux. ‘Innovation and Transformation to Emerge Stronger‘ offers a detailed exploration of how these dynamic economies are harnessing cutting-edge innovations and strategic transformations to redefine their paths to growth. From groundbreaking technological advancements to transformative economic policies, our conference and the EMI report provides a comprehensive analysis of the key drivers propelling emerging markets towards unprecedented resilience and prosperity. This conference is an essential event for investors, policymakers, and industry leaders seeking to understand the future trajectory of global economics and capitalize on the burgeoning opportunities within these economies.
The 2023 EMI Conference had 500 attendees at Bloomberg Auditorium, Cornell Tech, NYC, and online.
The Cornell Emerging Market Institute Conference is the United States’ leading annual forum for discussing the ongoing trends and phenomena in our world’s rapidly growing emerging markets. Bringing together heads of the world’s largest multilateral institutions and preeminent business, the conference fosters engaging discussions on economic development and this year, specifically, through the lens of global supply chains.
Emerging markets are in flux—no longer the future, already central to the present. And yet Capital is flowing as if there is doubt, with new partnerships dawning, old questions lingering. The EMI Conference straddles the crossroads, here to capture a seminal moment, when crises — even the specters of financial contagion — may not have to threaten us, so much as invite us to think anew. This Conference reaffirms our commitment to building bridges, as risks spill over, as potential realignments draw closer.
The 2022 EMI Conference had nearly 471 attendees at Verizon Center, Cornell Tech, and online.
The Cornell Emerging Market Institute Conference is the United States’ leading annual forum for discussing the ongoing trends and phenomena in our world’s rapidly growing emerging markets. Bringing together heads of the world’s largest multilateral institutions and preeminent business, the conference fosters engaging discussions on economic development and this year, specifically, through the lens of global supply chains.
The theme of the 2022 Conference, “Reinventing Global Value Chains”, invites speakers to envision the connections that are evolving between industries, governments, and environments, which have compounding effects on trade and economic development, especially as we reach into a post-pandemic world riddled with uncertainty.
The 2021 EMI Conference had nearly 450 attendees at Verizon Center, Cornell Tech, and online.
In the 2020s more than ever before, ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) concerns will be crucial for business, especially in emerging economies. Emerging multinationals will be key players in both offering solutions and mitigating their own impacts, as society grapples with its own destructive effects on our planet. Understanding and responding to social issues, such as poverty, inequality, and marginalization will be crucial, as business leaders seek to make positive change and eliminate harmful practices. And finally, scrutiny of firms’ governance will be a primary concern. Clients, partners, employees, and society at large expect firms to be part of the change for good.
The last 10 years has been transformational for Emerging markets; their economies have grown, poverty levels have gone down and, in some cases, extreme poverty has been eradicated. On the business side, their companies, mainly from China and Korea but also from India, Mexico or Brazil, have made inroads globally and have made major acquisitions globally. On the innovation front, emerging markets have increased patent applications and investments in research and development. EMI’s annual conference in November 2020 will celebrate the institute 10th anniversary and focus on the achievements of emerging markets over the last ten years.
EMI was born in 2010 in the aftermath of the Global Financial crisis. A decade later in 2020, emerging markets are faced with yet another global crisis and this is an opportune moment for the EMI Annual Conference to explore how emerging markets will not just cope with the Covid-19 crisis but also emerge stronger to shape the global future.
"I participated in the organizing committee. I was able to learn about the end-to-end process, the guest speakers, topics in ESG and overall innovation in emerging markets."
Yashodhara Neerukonda, Cornell AMBA 2022, EMI Conference Committee member
"The EMI conference was the highlight of our year, and engaging with impactful start-ups from different was inspiring - it challenged us to think about how we can bring positive, lasting impact in our own communities and countries."
