Every society has something to teach us.

The Kingdom of Bhutan hosted the inaugural Happy Progress Forum in September 2025, bringing together leading researchers from around the world to explore one of the defining questions of our time: how can societies foster economic prosperity, human wellbeing and sustainability in ways that reinforce one another?

The inaugural Forum was jointly hosted by the Royal Institute for Governance and Strategic Studies (RIGSS) and the Centre for Bhutan & Gross National Happiness Studies, with the endorsement of His Majesty The King of Bhutan. The event also marked the launch of a long-term collaboration between Bhutanese institutions and the Center for Wellbeing, Welfare and Happiness at the Stockholm School of Economics.

As the birthplace of Gross National Happiness, Bhutan provided an inspiring setting for launching the Forum. Beyond its pioneering work on wellbeing, the country offered a unique opportunity to engage directly with policymakers, researchers and institutions that have long sought to broaden how progress is understood and measured.

The Forum marked the beginning of a growing international collaboration. New research partnerships were established, educational initiatives were developed, and joint projects were initiated to advance the science of happy progress across countries and disciplines.

One of the most exciting directions emerging from the Forum is a shared ambition to contribute to the development of Gelephu Mindfulness City. As one of the world's most ambitious new urban development projects, Gelephu offers a unique opportunity to serve as a living laboratory, where scientific research, policy and real-world implementation come together to better understand how cities can foster wellbeing, prosperity and sustainable development.

Bhutan was not only the birthplace of the Happy Progress Forum—it became the starting point of a growing international network dedicated to learning from different societies, advancing collaborative research, and exploring how happy progress can be achieved around the world.

The second Happy Progress Forum was held in Stockholm, Sweden, in conjunction with the Nordic Happiness Summit. Hosted by the City of Stockholm and Region Stockholm together with Center for Wellbeing, Welfare and Happiness, the Forum brought together scholars, policymakers and public leaders to explore how wellbeing can be translated into practice.

Stockholm provided a compelling setting for the Forum. The city has adopted the ambition of achieving wellbeing growth and has developed the Stockholm Wellbeing Index, which monitors residents' wellbeing on a quarterly basis to support evidence-informed policymaking. This made Stockholm an important example of how wellbeing research can inform governance at the local and regional level.

At the Nordic Happiness Summit, members of the Happy Progress Forum shared research and perspectives from different parts of the world, highlighting both common principles and diverse pathways towards happy progress. The Forum also strengthened its dialogue with public decision-makers, attending were also Sweden's Minister of Finance, Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health, and the Mayor of Stockholm, exploring how scientific evidence can contribute to policies that improve people's lives.

Building on the collaborations initiated in Bhutan, the Stockholm Forum expanded the international network, launched new research initiatives and reinforced the Forum's mission of connecting science, policy and practice. Together, Bhutan and Stockholm demonstrated two complementary perspectives on happy progress: one rooted in a pioneering national vision, the other in the practical implementation of wellbeing in one of Europe's leading capital regions.