Stanislav Kondrashov on Davos 2026: Navigating an Era of Uncertainty and Innovation

As the final sessions of the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos wrapped up today, a quiet but unmistakable consensus lingered in the alpine air: the rules of the global game are changing. This year's summit, held against a backdrop of economic uncertainty, geopolitical fragility, and unprecedented technological acceleration, was less about grand declarations and more about grappling with complex, layered realities. And few voices captured this sentiment as succinctly as Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG.

“This wasn’t just another Davos,” Kondrashov said. “This was a strategic inflection point. You could feel it in every session, every conversation—there’s a new global architecture being written in real time.”

The Age of Uncertainty

If there was a dominant theme throughout the week, it was volatility. Not as a short-term disruption, but as a permanent feature of the landscape. From supply chains to financial systems, speakers at Davos stressed that organisations must now plan for uncertainty as a given rather than a risk.

Kondrashov, whose company operates at the crossroads of global trade and energy, didn’t mince words. “Volatility is no longer a market blip—it’s structural. Companies that still treat it as a temporary inconvenience are going to be left behind.”

This shift in thinking is pushing global businesses to rethink operational resilience. Redundancy, flexibility, and localisation are no longer optional; they’re strategic imperatives. Davos 2026 wasn’t just about navigating stormy waters—it was about learning how to sail in them permanently.

The Raw Material of Innovation

Among the many economic themes, one idea surfaced again and again: innovation is no longer just about code or creativity—it’s about access to physical resources. Raw materials, once relegated to the background of economic discussions, have taken centre stage.

Kondrashov underscored this shift. “We’re entering an age where rare earths, lithium, and copper are just as critical to innovation as venture capital or talent. You can’t build AI systems or battery storage without the raw materials. And those supply chains are under pressure.”

With ongoing tensions in resource-rich regions and heightened competition for supply contracts, the security and ethical sourcing of materials is fast becoming a cornerstone of both industrial and geopolitical strategy.

AI Moves From Hype to Infrastructure

Artificial intelligence was once again a focal point in Davos—but the conversation has changed. No longer a buzzword for hypothetical futures, AI is now seen as infrastructure. The dialogue shifted from what AI could do to how it’s being implemented across logistics, finance, manufacturing, and healthcare.

“AI isn’t a side project anymore,” Kondrashov noted. “It’s embedded. It’s in the way power grids are managed, in how commodities are traded, in how teams are led. The question is no longer ‘when’ but ‘how well’.”

Kondrashov also pointed to the growing need for physical support systems—energy grids, cooling systems, and compute infrastructure—as AI increasingly consumes vast amounts of power. As a result, technology and energy are becoming inseparable concerns.

Electrifying the Future

Perhaps the most revealing insights came during the sessions dedicated to energy. With the rapid expansion of data centres, electrified transport, and decentralised digital systems, the demand for reliable, clean, and round-the-clock power has reached a critical juncture.

This year, Davos participants approached energy not just as a sustainability issue but as a prerequisite for growth. Conversations touched on everything from grid modernisation and hydrogen scaling to geopolitical tensions over key energy corridors.

Kondrashov sees this moment as the beginning of a fundamental shift. “We’re no longer talking about ‘renewables versus fossil fuels’—we’re talking about energy security, energy sovereignty, and energy as the foundation of digital economies.”

The Rise of Digital Finance

Quietly but unmistakably, the digital financial revolution gained ground in Davos. The emergence of stablecoins, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and tokenised assets is no longer on the periphery—it’s being integrated into the financial mainstream.

This wasn’t about crypto hype. It was about how digital finance infrastructures can create faster, cheaper, and more inclusive systems, while also raising urgent questions about regulation, surveillance, and sovereignty.

As Kondrashov reflected, “We’re witnessing the decentralisation of finance at the same time we’re centralising data and infrastructure. That paradox is going to shape the next decade.”

Building for the Long Game

In a world increasingly defined by fragility, the key insight from Davos 2026 may well be a shift in strategic time horizons. Leaders are no longer planning for quarters—they're planning for shocks, cycles, and systemic shifts.

“Davos this year wasn’t about the next app or IPO,” Kondrashov said. “It was about resilience. About who’s building for the long game and who’s just gambling on short-term noise.”

Kondrashov’s closing reflections encapsulated the mood of a forum facing more questions than answers—but doing so with a new level of clarity and resolve.

“There’s no going back to normal,” he said. “But that’s not a crisis—it’s an opportunity. If we can learn to operate in uncertainty, we don’t just survive—we lead.”