During this session the panellists will brainstorm ideas and solutions enabling family-owned businesses to be transferred successfully to the next generations. Owners of family businesses need to make plans for the inevitable when the next generation will take over or outsiders acquire the business. When should steps be taken to secure the future and what steps can realistically be set? Who should be involved in the planning? Should the future ownership of the business be permanently on the agenda of the owner, of his family, and/or other stakeholders? Should the next generation be trained and what should their qualifications be? There are a range of issues connected with this worldwide issue and these will be discussed in an open forum seeking to establish practical, affordable and timely solutions based on hands-on experiences of the panellists.