Program

Probably for the first time in the history of mankind we can see radical changes in all spheres of society within one generation. The speed of innovation is nearing singularity, while the capabilities of companies to grasp the changes and adapt to them is rapidly declining. 

Sophisticated technologies and rapid worldview transformation change the rules of the game on the conventional markets, while economic dominance of cities and corporations challenges the old state functions.

Under the pressure of demographic and migration processes, new opportunities of mass production automation and increasing polarization of societies, the strength of the globalization, which once turned the world into a unified network of value chains, is now being tested by states urging for isolationism.  

The improvement of technological capacity, manipulation of public opinion, increasing economic inequality and a lack of willingness of the elites to change the existing social and economic models may lead to destabilization of democratic systems.

Climate change pushes rich countries to resolute actions towards making the world’s economy “green”, however for poor countries such policy may mean a complete conservation of their economic backwardness. 

Which key changes will influence the humankind most in the next decade? What awaits the countries that are not the frontrunners in this world? Which sectors will be the first to feel the change of business paradigms? What do country and business leaders need to do to use the challenges of the new era for the better?  

Over the past few years, there has been a growing interest in both Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency markets, which the financial regulatory authorities of developed countries have struggled to respond to. As high-speed mobile access to the internet is now available in even the most remote areas worldwide, the banking market has expanded and is now challenging traditional approaches. The rapidly increasing use of sensors, machine learning and Big Data is changing approaches to asset-based risk assessment, as organizations overhaul traditional management structures, reducing both the number of employees and labour costs, while increasing productivity. 

How can the traditional banking system adapt to constantly changing market demands? What transformations might the banking system undergo in the coming years? To what extent, and how quickly must the banking system be transformed in order to take full advantage of future opportunities? 

One of the main themes of this year has been the issue of protectionism. China, the EU and other export-reliant countries are worried about Donald Trump's policy of economic nationalism. Automation and digitalization have continued to disrupt the attractiveness of the cheap labor market in less developed countries, while technological breakthroughs mean that raw materials and foodstuffs have become practically worthless on world markets. These are just a few factors which have significantly reduced the competitiveness of countries that did not have time to restructure their economies to accommodate rapidly changing global trends.

What trends will define the future of the global economy? What should emerging countries focus on in order to remain competitive against developed countries in international markets? What should Ukraine’s strategy be in this rapidly changing environment?

In today’s world, transnational corporations are increasingly overtaking countries in terms of power, but still rely on megacities to exert their influence. The economically active population, capital and technology are concentrated in urban centers. Although countries at large provide critical legal, physical and security infrastructure services, a country’s development and success directly depends on the success of businesses.

How do we ensure cooperation between corporations, cities and countries? What kind of responsibilities do businesses have towards countries? What can countries do to achieve sustainable cities? How can cities position themselves as world leaders?

In times of increasing uncertainty and disorientation of all market players, when old rules are no longer effective and new ones are not yet formulated, visionary leadership becomes of the highest importance for the development of business, states and society.  

In anything from disruptive innovation to crisis management, a leader is expected to know how to encourage his team, how to lead them by his/her example, a leader needs to understand well all the project aspects and to tolerate stress well. There are numerous theories how to become a leader. But let’s better ask the leaders themselves.  

Where to get ideas and energy? How to find resources and talented people? Which mistakes to avoid and what to do in the first place? This and other secrets of success will be discussed at the Kyiv International Economic Forum.  

Our world is increasingly becoming more and more connected, through digital technology and the free movement of people and goods. Therefore, large investments in infrastructure development projects are a key factor for promoting wealth and prosperity in a country. Over the past decades, the planet’s population has more than doubled in size. Continued urbanization, a higher volume of goods and services, as well as increased availability of transport will trigger a massive demand for infrastructure, which is currently unable to cope with such rapid change.

Reports have forecast that the global cost for the infrastructure industry will reach $ 9 trillion per year by 2025. The development of infrastructure, therefore, could ensure the creation of millions of jobs.

What kinds of infrastructure should be focused on? Where should we be looking to find resources for this development? Who can we look to as our partners? 

Confindustria: Ukraine-Italy. Presentation

People Management in High-Tech World 

In today’s world, innovation is the primary driver of human progress and a key factor in transforming businesses. 

In transnational corporations, innovation plays a vital role in the corporate culture, with Research & Development offices making strategic business decision to promote it. However, despite this focus on innovation, corporations’ goals cannot always be achieved. 

For example, according to the Harvard Business Review, potential employees do not always react well to changes in the business market.

Despite the fact that the road to innovation is often difficult and filled with obstacles, it is necessary to make mistakes in order to succeed. 

What does innovation really mean and what does it not? Can innovation help to save companies who are operating under the worst possible conditions? How does one develop innovation within companies, while constantly generating new ideas?

Organized by BUSINESS magazine.

Preliminary registration: Roman Fedin, tel. +380932275297, www.business.ua

Blockchain Art: A Long-Awaited Solution or a Reason for Concern?

While developing countries are increasingly focusing on creating conditions which are conducive to fostering a startup ecosystem, the world’s innovation centers such as Silicon Valley, New York City and London already have a sizable concentration of venture capital, highly-skilled professionals and experts on global innovation systems. Leading corporations should constantly be searching for new solutions and recruiting talented minds to implement open innovation platforms. Investors increasingly choose motivated teams with inspiring ideas instead of the perfectly written business plans.

What is the difference between an innovation system and an ecosystem? How do we interact with an ecosystem framework and an ecosystem of innovation? How should corporations, cities and countries overcome difficulties in order to become more innovative?

Over the past two decades, the advent of the fourth industrial revolution coupled with increased globalization, has divided the world into developed countries and countries which are lagging behind.

The Asian tigers have consistently sustained high-growth economic rate with the help of the competitive advantage that quickly becomes irrelevant. At the same time, rapid rate of change in the modern life is killing new strategies for development and cooperation.

Developed countries attract top talents, while reducing both their raw materials use and decreasing their cooperation with less developed countries. These few dozen countries, who are uniquely positioned and are the best prepared for the current industrial transformation are creating closed-loop supply chains and occupy monopoly positions in the field of innovative ecosystems.

Rich countries tend to practice protectionism while also promoting their products internationally. As a result, poor countries have fewer resources available to them, as well as a limited chance to protect their own interests in the global economic arena.

How can we promote cooperation between states and business in countries that are at very different stages of development? How can you ensure that you do not lose your chance to transform? How can a country enter global value chains?

Technologies that are helping to transform business

If machine technologies represent the future of work, where do humans fit in? Many fundamental changes still need to be made by employees to accommodate these changes. Merging AI and human minds could boost productivity, but will reduce the number of employees needed in almost all industries. Workers need to improve both their knowledge and skill level in order to cope with these changes. National systems of education, professional development, skills retraining, legal regulation and even existing ethical models may not cope with the results of such rapid development. 

The boundary between human and machine will become increasingly blurred, as devices continue to be interwoven into not only our economic systems, but also our private lives, as machines become our virtual assistants.

Big Data is manipulating social, economic and political processes. Artificial Intelligence already creates content and discredits information, while philosophers try to rethink human nature.

What are the opportunities and risks faced by countries and corporations due to the rise of AI? How should we apply artificial intelligence to businesses and our personal lives? How will these new technologies fundamentally change the world in the coming years?

Robotics, AI, cloud-based technologies, 3d printers and blockchain are gaining popularity in society. Smart cities, delivery drones, self-driving vehicles and 3d printed houses will soon become a reality. The growth of technologies has changed almost every aspect of business and industry.

What should business leaders, who currently do not know how to adapt to these changes in the business environment, do in order to meet the coming changes head-on? Working with big data as well as developing both technical and human skills bring their own challenges.

What should students be taught in order to become digital leaders? Which skills and knowledge bases need to be improved to ensure that we do not become irrelevant? How will Artificial Intelligence drive the digital world?

The development of renewable energies and robotics, as well as increased digitalization, changes in labor costs and the rise of protectionist policies all contribute to the current global investment climate. Previously, global markets have focused on industrial growth, but in today’s climate that it not enough: new investments, the cultivation of a talented workforce and innovation ecosystems are now as important as cheap labor and raw materials. 

What are the benefits for developing countries in this current investment climate? Which areas are the most attractive for investments and entrepreneurship? Where should we be looking in order to find resources to enhance our competitive advantage?

Organized by FinStream.

Contacts: Viktoria Kunitsa, [email protected], +380934067077, +380689374460.

Innovative corporate culture as a driver for innovative products and service creation

Brain-Computer Interfaces: Piloting a drone with your brain

Faced with rapid changes in the way business is done, entrepreneurs need to be more creative and aspiring. Company life cycles are getting shorter while business competition means that final products need to be launched faster. In the age of globalization, entrepreneurs need to comprehend a new set of rules for doing business, including identifying both consumers’ needs and market opportunities worldwide. The intense rivalry in global market requires creativity from entrepreneurs in order to spur their business performance.

What skills and knowledge do entrepreneurs need today to succeed? How do you find inspiring ideas, form a new team and favor consumers in the current climate? How do you start doing business in times of uncertainty?

Impact Investment - Global Trends and Local Examples

In today’s market, businesses are forced to adapt quickly. Innovation has become the basis of competitiveness. The world is changing and companies require effective strategies to deal with these changes. Ambitious challenges motivate employees more than money. Flexibility in business is required, as companies should be able to make whatever internal changes are necessary to respond effectively to the changing outward environment, as quickly as possible.

What will be the challenges facing businesses in the coming years? What changes should be embraced today? Which business model transformations have been successful on the global stage?

Innovative Future of Banking System

According to the UN, in 2018 almost half of the total volume of foreign direct investment in the world was affected by the US tax reform. Western governments have begun the process of global deoffshorization and anti-money laundering. Experts raise the alarm - trade wars and other political risks undermine market stability, and economic nationalism threatens global cooperation.

At the same time, China is strengthening the position of the economic leader in the world arena; the technologically backward sectors of the economy are at risk of disappearing, while the business models of new industries are in the process of their formation. Under these conditions businesses are forced to review their own strategies and have to constantly experiment. The risks are growing, not only the profits but the survival of companies in the future are at stake. Ukraine’s business faces new challenges and has to respond quickly to a new economic reality.  

At the Kyiv International Economic Forum, with experts and practitioners we will discuss how to attract resources and where to invest today. What risks threaten business in different regions and how to minimize them? Which development strategies are the most effective under conditions of uncertainty? How to diversify risks relying on already existing business models?

The interest to the industry 4.0 grows fast in Ukrainian industries, and at the same time current stage of development carries many mistakes, which is natural. Together with Alexey Shcherbatenko and Alexander Yurchak, various practical cases will be reviewed, and recommendations on the correct approaches to the the initial stage of digital transformation will be given.

The following topics will be also discussed:

1. DNA of 'Industry 4.0' - what is the relationship between business performance and 4.0 technology?

2. Which value drivers should be focused on, and how do they affect progress in different industries?

3. On maturity, or basic principles of the transition from 3.0 (2.0) to 4.0. What is fraught with the approach of setting the “rocket engine on the cart”.

4. Good, bad, ugly - good and not quite good practices that are already used by major Ukrainian industrialists in the digital transformation.

5. The strategy of transition to 4.0 in the context of obsolete assets and low culture: key priorities.

New generation of the apparel industry entrepreneurs: who are these people and what are their ambitions? How to become a competitive player in the Ukrainian market.

The future of the industry in the world and place of Ukraine in the global market.

The key topics of the dialogue are:

1. The competitive advantages of Ukrainian apparel industry business in the global market.

2. Guidance for aspiring entrepreneurs: how to effectively start and develop a sustainable business in the light industry.

3. The future of the industry: how the apparel industry changes in the world.

4. How to increase the Ukrainian product sales volume in the Ukrainian market, in comparison with the sales of foreign brands?

5. How to create a chain 'Production => Brand => Retail' - step by step instruction.

The world population will increase by more than two billion people within the next 30 years. Therefore, the global average food consumption will increase on a global scale by 60-100%. At the same time, climate change and non-negligent land use will cause the destruction of massive amounts of the planet’s fertile soil.

Under these conditions, it is crucial to use technology and innovation as tools for problem-solving. Productivity is growing in the agriculture sector, but is not accompanied by employment growth due to automation and technology. In developed countries, the total number of people employed in agriculture is only 2-3% and this will be reduced by an additional 15-35% in the next 15 years.

According to the World Economic Forum, there are 12 key technologies that will determine the future of the agricultural sector, minimize production losses and reduce resource consumption, whole improving productivity and increasing profits.

The agribusiness must become smarter and utilize less wasteful technologies, big data analytics, the internet of things, blockchain, precision agriculture and renewable energy.

Is the Ukrainian agricultural sector ready for such a challenge? Which primary technologies should we focus on? How do we implement these transformation, while not disrupting existing profitable business models?

Ukraine can export not just human and natural resources. Products and services of Ukrainian companies are popular all over the world. How to build a company that is not bounded by borders and can create products for export? To answer this question we invited co-owner of Banda agency Pavlo Vrzhesch, PR and Media Manager of MacPaw Julia Petryk and CEO of BetterMe Viktoriia Repa. Dasha Zarivna from media and content-studio Vector will moderate this discussion.

The future doesn’t come by itself, the future needs to be created. This is the paradigm the most successful people have been following in all times. However, the opportunities that the most active visionaries have at the moment are probably the biggest in the whole of human history – the speed of implementation of ideas, technologies and resources available in the world now are able to change the whole world within one generation.   

However, how do leaders get a vision of the future? What future do the people who are actually able to create the future see? We will talk about it at the final panel with the most successful business people in Ukraine.

Glenmorangie tasting session with Karen Fullerton Global Brand Ambassador. Pre-registration required.