Vilnius Conference: Insights from International Leaders on What Will Determine the Political and Economic Situation
On September 7th, the conference "Vilnius 700: Creating a Better Future in a Turbulent World" organized by the "Investors' Forum" association began. The event, dedicated to the 700th anniversary of Vilnius, has brought together experts from Israel, the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and, of course, Lithuania, to discuss the most pressing issues in economics, climate change, energy, and science. The conference will take place on September 7-8 in the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.
"We have managed to assemble a distinguished lineup of speakers - experts in economics, finance, biotechnology, education, international organization leaders - this conference is a wonderful gift from Vilnius to the world," says Rolandas Valiūnas, Chairman of the Board of Investors' Forum and Chairman of the Conference Committee.
The conference will address critical issues in economics, climate change, cybersecurity, education, and energy, as well as their solutions and future vision. The program of the event was inspired by renowned humanist, leading expert in economics and management, and the recipient of the 2020 Israel Prize, Prof. Avishay Braverman. A total of 36 speakers will share their insights during the event.
One of the conference's partners, representing Vilnius University, Pro-Rector for Partnerships Dr. Artūras Vasiliauskas, welcomed the attendees on behalf of Vilnius University and highlighted the unique location for the gathering: “Historically Vilnius has been a place where cultures interacted, ideas met and European future was co-shaped by creative collaborations among the people of most diverse backgrounds. It is hardly surprising then, that Vilnius emerged as a critical intellectual hub, holding symbolic significance in Jewish, Polish, German, Belarussian, Ukrainian, and Lithuanian cultures. It has always been an outpost of European ideas and values, whilst simultaneously mediating between civilizations.
It was also a city where University played a huge role in shaping its development of society and state. Current geopolitical events demonstrated that Vilnius is not only a city at the eastern EU frontier, bordering with some rogue neighbours, but also the place where the search of how to foster democracy and its values by all means, including the intellectual ones gains the strong international voice. We know from history that often the border region is not only the area of imminent conflict, but also a zone of contact. I am convinced that Vilnius has the potential of a European intellectual metropolis, where the important European narratives emerge and big political decisions are made. And, undoubtedly the universities are an intellectual force that shall play one of the leading roles in that process.“
You can read more about the conference here.