The Annual Conference Russian Regions in the Focus of Changes to be Held in November 2019

15:35, July 22, 2019

The conference is going to take place on November 14-16, 2019

On November 14 – 16, 2019 the XIV International Conference «Russian Regions in the Focus of Changes» will take place in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

The conference is organised by Ural Federal University, UrFU Graduate School of Economics and Management, Analytical Center Expert, Expert Ural Business Magazine.

Co-organisers: National Research University Higher School of Economics, NRU HSE – Saint Petersburg, Regional Studies Association, European Foundation for Management Development, Ekaterinburg City Administration.

For many years, the conference has been one of the biggest discussion platforms covering issues of regional development, gathering representatives of academia, government authorities, top managers of medium-sized and large enterprises from various territories. More than 500 participants from Russia and abroad meet at the conference annually.

The event is held with the support and personal participation of the former Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Academic Supervisor of Higher School of Economics Evgeniy Yasin and Deputy Chairman (Chief Economist) – Member of the Board of Vnesheconombank, Andrey Klepach.

The programme includes business and academic days that comprise plenary sessions and round table discussions in the Sverdlovsk region Governor’s residence, research workshops with leading foreign scholars, open lectures and master classes of visiting experts, more than 20 research thematic sessions and a youth research forum.

Conference materials often serve as a basis for strategic decision-making and development plans of territories and companies. Media coverage of the conference and its results are an integral part of the project realisation allowing for a long-term effect and additional development of the discussion agenda.

Key topic of the conference – Regional development in the context of global trends of the world economy

The main challenge for regional elites is launching a new wave of economic development. Even the most efficient regional management teams that can withstand external challenges are not able to overcome the imbalances of budgetary, monetary and industrial policies.

What incentives are required to transform investors’ trust into economic development? What can become an additional growth factor for GRP growth?  What changes are necessary to catalyze the process?

Firstly, it is not enough to stimulate investments. The territories have already learnt to compete for funding, technologies and human resources. Their legislation and infrastructure geared towards fulfilling this task. At this point, an active policy is necessary to decrease borrowing costs, to subsidize interest rates, to protect the rights and property of entrepreneurs.

Secondly, it is not enough to invest in export promotion and import-substituting technology development. These models have only partially paid off. Structural changes are imperative. They will allow for development of high added-value sectors of the economy, for nurturing of national champions that can compete in open markets unaided.

Thirdly, it is essential to invest heavily in technologies and education, as well as an environment that would encourage innovative development. Technological revolution brings critical changes in the society. Digitalisation becomes a key trend in all industries. It creates vast opportunities for growth and transformation of the regions into innovation ecosystems. Competitiveness of the territories will depend on their abilities to define their digital specialization and the most promising markets.

Agenda:

• Development of the Russian regions in the context of key trends of the world economy development.
• Results of the 10-year period: key events, prognoses for the most important economic changes, vectors for management decision-making.
• Attracting investments to the regions: preferential regimes.
• Social aspects of economic development.
• New approaches to data analysis in economic research and regional development forecasting.
• Digital transformation and innovative infrastructure development: regional solutions for national problems.
• Fast-growing medium business and entrepreneurs of the new economy.
• Sino-Russian dialogue.
• Social programmes of businesses and philanthropy development in Russia and other BRICS countries.
• Mega-events and regional development (in preparation to XXXII Summer Universiade in Ekaterinburg).
• Comfortable city environment: cutting-edge solutions and best practices.
• The role of universities in human capital development.

Special events of the conference:

• Festival of best practice in education in Tochka Kipeniya (master classes for representatives of businesses)
• Events of the Forum «Cities-2030» (in cooperation with the Ekaterinburg City Administration)
• Online Education & Online Courses Development (in cooperation with European Foundation for Management Development)
• Round table discussion with representatives of the leading Russian and European business schools and corporate universities «Enabling models of Business Education: how to avoid or pursue disruptive curriculum»
• Spatial Development in Volatile Conditions (jointly Regional Studies Association, the leading European association of applied researchers in the field of regional development)
• Round table discussion on health economics with experts and authorities, as well as healthcare institutions representatives
• Workshop on Environmental Economics
• Russian-Korean workshop «Digital Technologies and Technology Transfer: Evidence from South Korea» (workshop of the Laboratory for Applied System Research in cooperation with Ural State Agrarian University and Chungwoon University).

The XI International Autumn School «Sustainable Business Development: Smart Future for All» is going to be held in November. The programme lasts for one week and give students a unique experience of interactive lectures by international lecturers, field visits to international corporations, as well as an opportunity to explore Ekaterinburg, a city on the border between Europe and Asia.

Academic Days – thematic sessions:

• International Research Workshop of the Laboratory of Applied System Research jointly with the Laboratory of International and Regional Economics «Applied System Analysis and Computer Science»
• Digitalisation of Marketing
• Increasing Competitiveness Based on the Concepts of Lean Production and Project Management.
• Legal Aspects of Business Operations
• Ecosystem of Finance, Monetary Circulation and Credit: Sustainable Development Goals
• Fiscal Tools of Stimulating Economic Growth of Territories
• Development of Territories and Cities, Infrastructure Projects and Real Estate
• Accounting and Analysis in Business Management
• Intelligent Management of Business Processes in Industry
• Joint thematic sessions with academic partners