Agricultural biotechnology stands before the major challenge of improving food security for a growing global population. As it stands in 2023, there are more than 8 billion people on the planet, and the population continues to grow, making efficient, sustainable, affordable food production a must. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development expect food consumption to grow by 1.3% annually until 2032. Agricultural biotechnology’s main objectives include increasing plant yields and animal productivity and reducing product losses incurred during storage and transport. Agricultural production is increasing in the Far East every year along with processing volumes, and new storage facilities for agricultural produce are being created. In 2022, agricultural output in the Far Eastern Federal District totalled RUB 321.3 billion, a 21.6% increase over 2021. Even so, there is significant potential to increase production and processing of all types of agricultural products in the Far East even further. What must we do to realize the full potential of the agro-industrial complex in the Far East? What can the Far East contribute to global food security? How can we maintain a balance between self-sufficiency and export? What stands in the way of increasing exports of high value-added products? Is infrastructure in the Far Eastern Federal District ready for increased agro-industrial production and export?

Moderator:
Artem Belov — Director General, National Union of Milk Producers (Soyuzmoloko)

Panellists:
Anatoliy Bobrakov — Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Stanislav Bogdanov — Director for Government Relations, X5 Group
Pavel Zarkov — Director of Investments and Development, Sodrugestvo Management Company
Denis Ilatovsky — Senior Vice President for Public Activities and GR, 'Delo' Management Company
Rustam Kamaletdinov — Director for Development and Interaction with Public Authorities, Molvest
Igor Moskovtsev — Chief Executive Officer, Korenovskiy Milk Processing Factory
Lyudmila Tekutyeva — General Director, Arnika
Nikolay Kharitonov — Chairman of the Committee on the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Front row participants:
Olesya Kalashnikova — Director of Large Business Department, Russian Agricultural Bank
Vladimir Sitnov — Senior Vice President, Sberbank
Oleg Shenderyuk — Director, Yakov and Parters

Global transformations of a political nature have created a new trend – Unmanned Systems. The introduction of unmanned systems will require the active development of normative standards and regulation of potential applications (aviation, motor transport, marine unmanned systems). Unmanned aerial systems are already hard at work in a number of industries (delivery, territorial monitoring, forest protection, and agriculture among others). Projects on unmanned motor transport and the use of drones in a marine environment are already underway. Expanding the application of unmanned systems throughout the economy would require that science, industry, and infrastructure be interconnected. Young scientists ready to fill the shoes of Korolev and Tsiolkovsky must step up if domestic unmanned systems are to have their breakthrough moment. It is the state’s job to bring together scientific developments and regulations to answer the following questions: Where should personnel receive training? How should science and technology centres be developed, and how can we measure demand and identify priority niches for domestically produced unmanned systems?

Moderator:
Pavel Golosov — Director, Institute of Social Sciences, Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation (RANEPA)

Panellists:
Alexey Varyatchenko — General Director, BAS
Konstantin Dolgov — Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Pavel Drogovoz — Vice-Rector for Science and Digital Development, Bauman Moscow State Technical University
Alexander Osadchuk — Head of the Main Department of Innovative Development, Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation
Dmitry Peskov — Head of Young Professionals Direction, Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects; General Director, Platform of the National Technology Initiative; Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on Digital and Technological Development
Vladimir Sivtsev — Minister of Transport of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

Front row participants:
Alexey Boreiko — Acting Director, Institute of Marine Technology Problems, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Konstantin Gibalo — Venture Partner, Voskhod Venture Capital
Polina Davidova — Director, Digital Transport and Logistics Association
Denis Kravchenko — Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Economic Policy
Maxim Kulinko — Deputy Director of the Directorate of the Northern Sea Route, State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom
Aleksey Raikevich — General Director, GLONASS
Oleg Shenderyuk — Director, Yakov and Parters

Over the past few years, AI technology has developed exponentially, and with it organizations and individuals have grown in their awareness of some of the ways AI-based solutions can be brought to bear. This technology can now be used to generate works of art – from text to music, increase process efficiency, capture patterns more accurately, and make predictions. At the same time, experts have begun to ring the warning bell concerning the ethics of artificial intelligence and possible dangers and call for a stop to systems training. The country and the world need an answer now more than ever to the question: is artificial intelligence evolution? Is it an opportunity or a threat to humanity? This session invites participants to engage artificial intelligence in a discussion on issues related to technological development and its impact on people.

Moderator:
Maхim Yeremenko — Vice President – Director of the Department for the Development of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Technologies, Sberbank

Panellists:
Anatoliy Bobrakov — Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Tigran Gevorkyan — Deputy Director for the Implementation of Federal Projects, N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Boris Korobets —
Edward Maas — Head of Digital Laboratory, Gazprom-Media Holding
Elena Martynova — Deputy Head,The Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography (Rosreestr)
Anna Mesheryakova — Chief Executive Officer, Third Opinion Platform
Dmitry Pristanskov — State Secretary - Vice President, Norilsk Nickel

At present, several nations have significantly altered their approach to the value of human life and health, employing double standards. Never before, even in the context of world wars, has the provision of medicines to the populations of countries been placed under such critical conditions in terms of global drug policy. The global framework for drug availability has been shattered. This is a result of demands from political elites to halt cooperation and the supply of medicines from unfriendly states, transforming the refrain of 'keep medicine out of politics' into a tactic of 'medicine as a political tool.' Today, many countries have adopted new national strategies that prioritize drug safety and sovereignty. In the global system of drug safety and health protection within a multipolar world, it seems highly necessary to establish drug-sharing agreements among specific unions of states or individual large countries. These agreements would involve the mutual provision of medicines in the event of changes in the political situation. This is crucial because the primary responsibility of any state in varying geopolitical conditions is to safeguard the lives and health of its citizens. Within the framework of alliances with friendly states, the objective is to ensure drug safety at all stages of distribution. Such alliances are feasible with countries in Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Eurasian Union. Is it possible to build a global system of drug safety? Should each country produce all medicines? How can we establish efficient logistics systems that can adapt to changing political situations? How can international collaborative research be sustained? What steps should be taken to foster effective relationships between government agencies in different countries, ensuring their operational functionality? What key aspects should be prioritized when harmonizing regulations concerning the movement of medicines across borders?

Moderator:
Aleksandr Petrov — Head of the Expert Council for Regulating the Circulation of Medicines and Medical Devices, Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Health Protection

Panellists:
Tigran Gevorkyan — Deputy Director for the Implementation of Federal Projects, N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Alexander Demyanov — Member of the Board of Directors, Center for the Development of Advanced Technologies
Grigoriy Kuranov — Deputy Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District of the Russian Federation
Aleksandr Turkov — Managing Director of the Investment Business Unit, VEB Infrastructure
Victor Fisenko — First Deputy Minister of Health of the Russian Federation

Front row participants:
Victor Dmitriev — General Manager, Association of Russian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers; Chairman of the Public Council under the Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare (online)
Kirill Kaem — Senior Vice-President for Innovations, Skolkovo Foundation
Alexandra Mukhotina — General Director, Medicine. Obstetrics. Gynaecology; Chief Physician, Primavera Centre for Endocrine Health and Reproduction;
Tadzio Schilling — Chief Executive Officer, Association of European Businesses (АЕВ)

The creative economy has become vital to Russia’s economic development. According to the numbers for 2022, the creative industries contributed 4.87% of GDP to the national economy, with the indicator increasing to 2.0% over 2020 (1.9%) in the FEFD and showing clear sustainability in growth trends. In August 2023, the President signed a series of orders in support of the creative economy directed towards the development of individual creative industries as well as the economic spill over to related industries and the social sphere: the development of SMEs, the recognition of Russian brands, added value, territorial development, and youth migration. How can the Russian economy make the most of the creative class? What strategies for developing the creative economy in the regions have been effective? What can industry and project development programmes do to spur on the development of the creative sector in Russia? What additional measures of support are needed? How can the creative sector help to rebuild Russian projects and products and take them to the international market? What role should the government play in creating a sustainable link between the creative industries, IT, and business?

Moderator:
Ekaterina Cherkes-zade — Creative Economy Director, Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects

Panellists:
Roman Karmanov — Chief Executive Officer, Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives
Ilya Kuznetsov — Producer, Animation Studio Mechtalet
Aisen Nikolaev — Head of Sakha Republic (Yakutia)
Elvira Nurgalieva — Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Alexander Chernikov — Director, Siberian Institute for the Development of Creative Industries

Front row participants:
Indira Zharova — Head, Ruptly
Afanasiy Savvin — General Director, Sakha Republic Development Corporation
Grigory Solomin — Managing Partner, Novaya Zemlya

The state today has clearly a trajectory towards achieving technological sovereignty. The development of Russia's domestic critical technologies is both a priority and a prerequisite for the transition to an innovation-oriented economy. Simultaneously, big businesses, investors, and technology firms continue to explore effective models of collaboration amongst themselves within the scope of the overarching objective of technological independence. What are the most important technologies today for the state's sustainability? How can we best collaborate with all actors in the innovation chain to achieve technological progress? What role can and should the regions take on in this process?

Moderator:
Vladimir Pirozhkov — Head, Engineering Center of High-Complexity Prototyping "Kinetica", National Research Technological University MISiS

Panellists:
Igor Drozdov — Chairman of the Board, Skolkovo Foundation
Viktor Evtukhov — State Secretary – Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Vladislav Ivanenko — General Director, SPUTNIX
Vladimir Komlev — Chairman of the Management Board, Chief Executive Officer, National Payment Card System
Pavel Lyakhovich — Member of the Management Board, Executive Director, SIBUR LLC
Dmitry Peskov — Head of Young Professionals Direction, Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects; General Director, Platform of the National Technology Initiative; Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on Digital and Technological Development
Aleksey Raikevich — General Director, GLONASS
Ruslan Sarkisov — General Partner, Voskhod Venture Capital
Anatoly Semenov — Minister of Innovations, Digital Development and Communication Technologies of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
Alexey Chekunkov — Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic (online)
Ruslan Yunusov — Co-founder, Russian Quantum Center

Today, high-tech healthcare can significantly improve the quality of life for people in need of medical care due to: high-tech operations, informative modern diagnostic methods, personalized rehabilitation technologies, remote consultations, as well as the remote monitoring of patients’ health. High-tech healthcare can only develop with an industrial and technological base for the production of: modern diagnostic equipment, original medicines and innovative medical materials, and the development of genomic technologies. The use of advanced technologies to prevent diseases is equally important. Modern clusters and centres of preventive medicine in Russia already offer a high level of treatment based on advanced healthcare technologies. What new tools are currently being used in the Far East to improve the provision of medical care? What priorities exist for developing high-tech healthcare to improve people’s health and quality of life in remote and hard-to-reach regions? What are the most effective forms of cooperation in healthcare between the state and business in Russia and Asia-Pacific countries?

Moderator:
Evelina Zakamskaya — Chief Editor, Doctor TV Channel

Panellists:
Igor Borisevich — Deputy Head, Federal Medical-Biological Agency of the Russian Federation
Elena Zhidkova — Head of the Clinics Network, Russian Railways-Medicine – A Branch of Russian Railways; General Director, Russian Railways-Medicine
Aleksey Kedrin — Chairman of the Board, Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) (online)
Azer Mamedov — Director of the Investment Department, Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF)
Alexander Sergeev — Scientific Supervisor, National Center for Physics and Mathematics (NCFM)
Victor Fisenko — First Deputy Minister of Health of the Russian Federation
Irina Yarovaya — Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Front row participants:
Olesya Mishina — Head, Navigator medicine
Maxim Chernin — Co-Founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Doctor Nearby

The modern digital economy represents a transition to fundamentally new formats of the exchange of information, the organizational restructuring of business and of the administration of government, and the emergence of qualitatively new legal challenges and requirements for the legal protection of business in the digital sphere. Boosting the openness of communications opens up new horizons for entrepreneurial activity, but at the same time means that new approaches must be developed in order to ensure the required level of security for SMEs and state corporations. Unfortunately, the current level of legal protection of businesses in the digital sphere can hardly be seen as sufficient. Despite the fact that in recent years particular attention has been paid to measures to support and stimulate digital business, it remains the most vulnerable part of the digital economic space. This is largely because the formation of the technological regulatory environment takes place outside the framework of understanding of the legal boundaries of business security and the development of models for the protectability of digital entities. What are the legal risks associated with conducting digital business in Russia? How can cybersecurity be guaranteed? Can the law adapt to modern digital technologies? How can we reduce the vulnerability of digital business? How do digital technologies help protect entrepreneurs? And is it possible to say that a branch of digital law is beginning to emerge in Russia?

Moderator:
Elina Sidorenko — Doctor of Law, Professor; Director of the Center for Digital Economy and Financial Innovation, MGIMO University

Panellists:
Yaroslav Aleynik — General Director, Omega
Artem Vasilyev — Rector, Synergy University
Artem Kononenko — Deputy Head of the Main Directorate for the Supervision of Federal Legislation Execution – Head of the Department for Supervision of Observance of the Rights of Entrepreneurs, Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation
Sergey Morozov — First Deputy Chairman, Committee of the Russian State Duma on Regional Policy and Local Self-Government
Dmitry Pristanskov — State Secretary - Vice President, Norilsk Nickel
Yakov Sergienko — General Director, Yakov & Partners
Aleksey Serko — State Secretary – Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters
Danil Filippov — Deputy Head, Investigative Department, Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation
Alexander Shenderyuk-Zhidkov — Senator of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Alexander Shokhin — President, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs

For Russia today, ensuring technological sovereignty is of paramount importance, while boosting local industries and expanding the relevant expertise has become a top priority. In this regard, it is crucial to accelerate the development and introduction of advanced Russian technologies that could become a driver for the country’s various industries and regions. The Far East and the Arctic, with their enormous economic potential and unique geographical features, have a special place on the agenda of Russia’s strategic development priorities. The implementation of major investment projects in these regions requires a holistic and interconnected approach that entails reliable sources of electricity, the use of efficient industrial solutions, as well as the integrated development of infrastructure, particularly in logistics. What advanced technologies are most in demand when implementing projects in the Far East and the Arctic? How can we effectively stimulate the development and introduction of Russian technologies in the region? What effect will this have on the development of the Far East and the Arctic?

Moderator:
Dmitry Peskov — Head of Young Professionals Direction, Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects; General Director, Platform of the National Technology Initiative; Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on Digital and Technological Development

Panellists:
Konstantin Beirit — President, Seligdar
Anatoliy Bobrakov — Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Yuriy Korsun — Deputy Chairman, VEB.RF
Denis Kravchenko — Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Economic Policy
Alexey Likhachev — Director General, State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM
Alexander Popov — Vice President, Head of the Trans-Baikal Division, OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel
Viktor Khmarin — Chairman of the Management Board, General Director, RusHydro

Biosecurity risks are evolving rapidly. Factors such as globalization, economic integration, and the development of synthetic biology and genetic engineering are largely shaping modern epidemic processes. In the current conditions of increased biological threats, it is crucial to have the capabilities required to independently manage the risks posed by epidemics. The countries of the Asia-Pacific region not only have the necessary capacity to manage such risks, but are also actively implementing it, as they rapidly and effectively develop science and technology to combat infectious threats. Russia shares the desire of Asia-Pacific states to build a modern system to counter biological threats. Russia has been implementing joint cooperation projects with China, Vietnam, and Mongolia for several years, and is currently developing cooperation with its partners from Thailand and Myanmar. What are some of the strategic areas of cooperation that will help respond to the constantly changing challenges of various infections? What are the main components of biological sovereignty? What are the specialized agencies of Asia-Pacific countries focusing on in particular to develop their own capacity to combat epidemics? How can we ensure that Russia remains independent of external assistance in matters concerning biosecurity?

Moderator:
Anna Popova — Head of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing – Chief State Sanitary Physician of the Russian Federation

Panellists:
Sergey Balakhonov — Director, Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East
Andrey Kuznetsov — General Co-Director, Joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technology Center (Tropical Center) (online)
Andrey Rudenko — Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Tatiana Stepanova — Director, Tyumen Research Institute of Regional Infectious Pathology
Zsuzsanna Jakab — Acting Regional Director for the Western Pacific, World Health Organization (online)
Irina Yarovaya — Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Front row participants:
Pornchai Danvivathana — Secretary General, Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD)
Kirill Kaem — Senior Vice-President for Innovations, Skolkovo Foundation
Olga Trotsenko — Director, Khabarovsk Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology
Mikhail Shchelkanov — Director, Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology named after G.P. Somov

Modern technologies are being dynamically introduced into everyday life. The volume of investments in future technologies is increasing, and states are adopting national strategies and programmes for developing them. Adoption of technologies and the launch of pilot projects ‘on the ground’ is becoming critical. Technology companies are in constant search of industrial and regional partners. One of the key points of growth has become the Far East, where numerous initiatives to develop the territory are being put into action. Are the regions ready for a technological boom? Can technology steer them down the wrong path? And will there be room for people and human relationships?

Moderator:
Ruslan Yunusov — Co-founder, Russian Quantum Center

Panellists:
Konstantin Abramov — General Director, All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center Foundation (VTsIOM); Chairman, Public Council under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation
Anatoly Wasserman — Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Alexey Likhachev — Director General, State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM
Alena Mastiukova — Research Fellow, Laboratory of Quantum Information Technologies, National University of Science and Technology MISiS
Natalya Popova — First Deputy General Director, Innopraktika
Ilya Semerikov — Researcher at the Laboratory "Optics of Complex Quantum Systems", Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Hailong Xue — Executive President, Xuanyuan Group Industrial Development

Front row participant:
Igor Drozdov — Chairman of the Board, Skolkovo Foundation

Currently, the domestic economy faces the challenge of achieving technological sovereignty while also enhancing interregional and intersectoral cooperation. One of the most effective mechanisms for developing and strengthening cooperative ties in the face of economic pressure is the use of industrial clusters. When using this instrument, the initiator can implement projects aimed at producing import-substituting industrial products of the industrial cluster resulting in a significant reduction in costs. This can be achieved by attracting state support measures at both the federal and regional levels. Furthermore, purchasers of these products may qualify for support measures, including a subsidy that covers up to 50 per cent of the costs associated with acquiring initial batches of these industrial products. The industrial cluster serves as a means to identify potential investment projects, as it enables the understanding of the requirements of enterprises for imported raw materials, materials and components. At the same time, this mechanism enables the effective utilization of existing state support measures to enhance the efficiency of project implementation. As part of the implementation of the President's instructions, a new preferential regime for industrial clusters was launched on 1 January 2023. This regime includes support measures such as preferential financing for projects related to the production of priority products, a reduction of insurance premium rates to 7.6%, and the unconditional right to apply tax and customs monitoring procedures. How does the mechanism of industrial clusters contribute to the achievement of Russia's technological sovereignty? How can the new support measures help facilitate the sale of industrial products in foreign markets? What federal and regional support measures are in place to promote the implementation of import-substituting investment projects? Which path should be chosen: creating new domestic enterprises for import-substituting products or establishing new production chains with enterprises possessing all the necessary competencies? How can we address the limited awareness among businesses regarding the benefits of the industrial cluster mechanism and encourage their participation in its creation? How can we enhance the accessibility of new state support measures for industrial cluster participants, especially among industrial enterprises?

Moderator:
Mikhail Labudin — Director, Association of Clusters, Technology Parks and SEZ of Russia

Panellists:
Konstantin Dolgov — Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation
Kamo Karoyan —
Andrey Misyura — General Director, Development Corporation of Middle Ural
Vladimir Morozov — General Director, MetallStroyEngineering
Valeriy Smirnov — Head of Investment Department, Far East and Arctic Development Corporation (online)