Preliminary agenda

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MAIN SUBJECT AREAS

New Union, young Union. We choose Europe

In search of a new Europe – a need for a fresh view. Conclusion from Brexit. An alternative for populism? Europe after elections – anticipations and projections.

How do young Europeans perceive their position? European integration, a Europe of nations – what projects they wish to be identified with? Cynicism and trust in politics – the young as the subject of manipulation or partners in a dialogue? Key problems of the young generation – a rational choice in a situation of excessive opportunities. New technologies – friendly, hostile, addictive?

European culture of innovation and knowledge – potential and use thereof. Attractiveness of the EU's development model in the world in view of globalisation trends and the growing power of supranational companies. Europe versus trade barriers and limitations.
Robots among us. Technologies and the society

A brave new world? Concerns and hopes of the digital era. The fourth industrial revolution – economic and social conditions related to launch of new (digital) technologies. Their economic potential.

Work in a different manner – how technologies change employment. Robotisation and automation versus changes in the educational system and in social life – in behaviour, needs and habits. Cyber hazards – sources and types. How can we protect ourselves? Artificial intelligence, access to data versus the need for privacy and security.
Succession and family businesses

What about successors to leaders with family/author's roots? Problems with succession a problem for the Polish and European economies – observed effects, future hazards and risks. Scenarios of transferring authority – in stable and mature economies and in young and fast growing economies. In a dynamic environment: external investors, mergers, restructuring. Business models and management styles: traditions versus challenges of modern times. Strategy of leader change – balance of losses and benefits. A change of generation as an opportunity for a development leap?
Cities, metropolises, regions. Dilemmas of sustainable growth

Urbanisation, society, the economy. Cities as growth generators. Investments and financing thereof – what should be supported, what tools should be used. Public and private partnership. Quality of life as a “development fetish” – at what price? Technologies in cities – experiments on a living organism? Urban centres and regions versus the environment – green, friendly, attractive. Sustainable transport in contemporary cities.
Power and power generation – revolution, regulations, market

Changes in the structure of fuel consumption – core trends in Europe and the world. The future of a common European energy policy.

Increasing energy prices – effects on the economy and competitive edge of companies. New technologies in power generation – storage of energy, electromobility, alternative fuels and energy generation techniques. Digitisation in power generation – new opportunities.

Importance of renewable energy sources and new opportunities related to their use; distributed generation. Prosumers on the energy market. The power market in Europe and in Poland. Investments in power generation. Security of systems.
Climate and the economy after COP 24. Where to now?

Decisions made at COP24 in Katowice and the future of global climate protection policies. EU emission goals and the EU ETS systems versus climatic strategies of other countries in the world. Developed and developing economies – different approaches to greenhouse effects and how to mitigate them.

Sustainable development in company strategies. Environmental responsibility versus competitiveness and consumers’ requirements. Adaptation to climate change. Closed circuit economy and waste disposal. Regulations and innovations protecting the climate. Emission sources of hothouse gases – what can the new “green” technologies change?

THEMATIC SESSIONS

EUROPE – A NEW START

Europe, what’s next? Strategic challenges

Reasons and manifestations of a crisis of liberal democracy in Europe
Pro-European “awakening”. Is there an alternative to anti-European populism?
New political movements in Europe. Choices by Europeans; their vulnerability to populism
Single- or two-speed EU? A community of values or an “association to protect the common market”?
Attractiveness of the EU’s development model (democracy, security, joint management, weakening of the power of supranational companies)
Dilemmas of expansion and closing. What eastern policy should the EU pursue?
Impact of migration on the future of the Community

European investments

Balance of Juncker’s Plan. Alternative for a two-speed EU?
Investments versus integration. Key programmes, instruments, development of interrelations, benefits from synergies
Modern infrastructure – the power of the community. Investment needs and barriers
Completion of key integration projects (banking union, Euro zone)

Europe in the global economy

Europe’s place and role in the global economy and international trade
Global free trade system versus “isolationist movements”
State as a corporation? Strategies of aggressive competition in global trade
Negotiated free trade agreements. Potential benefits
Geopolitics, business, stability. Jointly in spite of barriers?
Potential areas of cooperation: sustainable development, technologies, energy, safety

The EU and the UK after Brexit

How are you? The EU without the UK. Three months after the divorce
Reactions of the markets? The areas that suffered most
The future of political and economic cooperation between the EU and the UK
Brexit – a challenge for business on both sides of the Channel
Situation of employees on the EU and UK job markets. New directions of migration
Conclusion from Brexit. The other areas of cooperation

The euro in the new decade

How did the crisis change the Euroland? Does the euro unite or divide?
A common budget for the Euro zone? Political and economic consequences
Where do the problems come from: the common currency concept or ineffective economies?
Greece, Cyprus, Portugal – successful actions by the European Central Bank. Will Italians go back to the lira?
– What does the future hold for the euro? If Italians go back to the lira.
Poland versus the euro. Not now, then when? A need for a strategy
Scenarios for EU countries that stay outside the Euro zone

Poland in Europe

Heads of major parties about Poland's future in EU on the eve of the European Parliamentary elections
Poland's position in Europe and Polexit in internal public debate. Views, declarations, facts
Elites, interests and alliances. A Europe of particular options and different speeds?
Integration versus sovereignty. The Union as a community of interests or values?
New European Union budget for 2021-27. Poland’s standpoint in negotiations.
Costs and benefits from membership. What are the effects for the economy?

Europe and migrations

Migration from Africa and Asia to Europe. Current situation
How to untie the knot? Humanitarian aspects – safety – politics
Reinforcement concepts of European borders. Verification of the asylum policy
Demography and needs of economies. Can Europe develop without employees from outside the continent?
Map of labour migration in Europe. What is the risk of a brain drain?
Immigrants – a way to cover labour shortages? How to keep them?
Regional disproportions and domestic labour migrations. Local policies and regulations

A difficult dialogue. The future of Euro-Atlantic relations

The balance of Transatlantic policies of the last decade
Cooperation in the sphere of security and defence. A conflict in the Euroatlantic community?
Areas of competition. Operating methods. Action and revenge?
European actions against the dominant role of US technological corporations
Will pragmatism win? Scenarios of limited cooperation
Poland's role in the development of US-EU relations. Economic and political aspects

SUCCESSION IN BUSINESS

Generation change in business

Demography versus ownership aspects in private businesses. Problems with succession
The generation of Polish transformation and successors. A sum of experience, know-how, skills
How to prepare the process of handing over power? Security and stability
The process of handing over power in family businesses. The generation gap
Companies in the process of change and under new leadership. Hazards and risks
The law that supports succession. Tested solutions

My kingdom. Models, styles, generations vs. company management

Scale of business and company structure – impact on the succession method and decisions of “successors”
Succession paths in the families of the richest Poles
The strategy of change – family constitution, trust, external manager?
How to prepare successors – practical methods for SMEs. The role of education
Age and experience – an advantage or obstacle to Management 4.0?
Technological changes which support management
The team versus leadership change. Communication, staff policy, adaptation

FOREIGN MARKETS

International expansion of Polish companies

How to develop entry strategies suited to specific markets?
Sources of success. Effective in fighting stronger competitors
Economic diplomacy and support to companies in practice
Learning from failures – one's own and other people’s. The art of retreat and return
The role of know-how and competencies, flexibility, cooperation and support
Attractive sectors, promising markets, paved paths

GoGlobal – expansion of Poland's cosmetic sector

Cosmetics sector as an example of the Polish company export phenomenon
Know-how of successful expansion. Choice of an optimum route to foreign markets
Regulatory challenges in EU and non-European markets
Modern sales systems (e-commerce, influences sale)
Ownership changes: specific nature of M&A and JV transactions in the cosmetics sector

International trade in the digital world

Digitisation in foreign trade – core phenomena and trends
Potential of blockchain technologies in trade
Trade digitisation versus new regulations

Easter Partnership and the infrastructure

Transport and infrastructure – basis and reality of cooperation on the frontiers of the Union
Airports, ports and border crossings
Investments and cooperation in railway transport
Infrastructure financing in Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia

The future of economic cooperation within the Eastern Partnership (EP)

Trade and investments
Problems with access to the market of EU and EP services and goods
Future of the labour markets
Technologies and innovations as a prospective area of cooperation

Expansion step by step

Entering foreign markets – core reasons for a difficult decision
How to get prepared – tools for studying the market
Institutional support, financing, insurance and transactional and FX risk management
Logistics and distribution. On your own or with a local partner?

Central Europe-Africa Forum

Prospective areas of cooperation – needs, potential, tools
Social and economic foundations – health protection and education
An opportunity to accelerate or investments in the ICT sector
Agriculture, Technology, know-how, cooperation

Poland-Maghreb Forum

Poland-India Forum

Central Europe-China Forum

WORK. EDUCATION. MIGRATION

Migrations in Poland's and the EU's labour market

Demographic processes in the societies of developed countries. Needs of economies
Map of labour migrations in Europe. What is the risk of brain drain
How to make emigrants come back?
Immigrants a way to cover labour shortages? How to keep them?
Poland A and B? Regional disproportions and internal labour migrations. Migrations within provinces (to local capitals).
Government, local authorities, regulations on migration policies

Trends in the labour market

Challenges of the labour market. Effective methods for labour shortages
The young at the beginning of their careers – how to attract them for a longer time?
Employers facing generational changes: loyalty, working conditions, forms of employment
Baby boomers, X, Y, Z generations – a generational Tower of Babel in the company. How to manage such companies?
Flexibility in the labour market – a fashionable trend or a necessity?
Technological revolution versus new professions

Personnel management in a time of transformation

Digitisation and technological changes versus problems with personnel
Does the young generation of employees require a new management model?
Turquoise assault. Are Polish companies ready for the change?
The carrot and the stick to be forgotten. Motivation 3.0 in the offing
Leader and commander in the transformation process

Foreign students at Central European universities

The market for foreign studies in Central Europe. Values, trends, prospects
“Demand” on the part of university education systems. The extent of internationalisation
Attractiveness of Central European universities for foreigners
Dominant nations, preferred faculties. Professional plans versus the labour market
Erasmus in Poland and in the region. An attempt at evaluation, comments for the future
New outlays on integration and educational programmes in the EU

Education for the labour market

Professions in short supply today and tomorrow. Who is missing on the labour market?
Universal educational system – levels of primary and secondary schools vs. employees’ qualifications
A demand for practical skills. Alignment of employees’ competencies
Vocational schooling a response for business needs and changes to the labour market
Employee’s commitment and the role of local authorities in educating future staff

Reform of tertiary education

Assumptions underlying the reform of tertiary education in Poland. Starting point – a need for change
Dispute about Act 2.0. A development impulse or a hazard for Polish science?
Centres and peripheries. Good ones and bad ones. How to assign to categories so that no one suffers?
Autonomy of universities – concerns of the environment, the role of politicians. Rector or manager?
“Sensitive” issues: personnel versus scientific level, parameterisation, costs

POWER GENERATION – MARKET, REGULATIONS, FUELS

Integration of the energy market in Europe

Core assumptions underlying the energy union. What has been achieved?
Energy market in Europe – integration level, transparency, differences in national regulations
Efforts supporting energy safety. Successes, failures, conclusions
Common infrastructural investments in European power generation
Cross-border trade in energy. Legal, organisational, technical and infrastructural limitations

Energy market and power market

Growing energy prices – crisis status?
Reasons and effects for the economy. Forecasting and projections
Reactions of buyers and new regulations
Power market in Poland. Shape of the system and participants’ expectations
First auctions and first conclusions
Costs of the power market. Benefits for the power sector and the economy

Costs of energy – effectiveness now

How to manage in a time of expensive energy? Company strategies in view of growing energy costs
Change of energy provider. Purchasing groups. Power Purchase Agreements (PPA)
Technologies and operating models supporting energy effectiveness
Industrial power generation. Energy clusters. Outsourcing of utility supplies
Who is protected by regulations?

Poland's energy policies

EU climate package 2021-2030. Implementation framework and tools
An integrated plan for energy and climate – obligations, purposes, methods to achieve them
Poland’s energy policies and the target energy mix
State role in power generation. Ownership, regulations, self-sufficiency
Energy prices. Long-term prospects

Distributed generation

Regulatory framework, economic, organisational and technical conditions for decentralised energy generation
Solutions for prosumers: small biogas stations, home PV panels, home energy storage
Prospects for distributed power generation, impact on systems, the market and prices

Power infrastructure versus new phenomena

Major challenges, opportunities, hazards for power infrastructure
Factors affecting the condition and future of energy infrastructure: electromobility, RES, trade in energy, power market
New behaviour of users. Smart grid
Investments need to be carried out

EEC Green / Green energy in Europe

Renewable energy sources in the new situation. Incentives to sector development
Accessibility of technology – dropping costs
When RES make business sense? On the edge of profitability
RES in the energy market. Regulations motivating to invest

EEC Green / Renewable energy market in Poland

Mix of renewable sources in Poland – current situation and prospects. Preferences, support, domestic and local specific features
The future of photovoltaics in Poland – market conditions. Investments and investors
Development prospects for marine wind power generation. Regulatory and economic aspects
Development of prosumer power generation in the context of increasing energy prices. Consequences for the market
Industry and production for the RES sector in Europe and in Poland – current situation and prospects

Polish heat

Heat generation in the course of changes. Will it manage to be adapted to new emission standards?
Technologies, fuel mix, prices
Need for modernisation of the industry. Scale and expenses
Competitive advantages of systemic heat generation
Will the new support model to co-generation contribute to a growth in investments?

Tech / Technologies of the future in power generation

A review of modern solutions in power generation. Promising research areas
Digitisation versus power generation. Power and demand management. New effectiveness tools
Development directions of RES technologies – sea, outer space?
Generate and store – an offensive of home prosumer power generation
Ubiquitous photovoltaics? Integrated solutions in construction, micro power generation, consumer electronics
Nuclear power in a “pocket” version
The potential of blockchain in power generation. New opportunities. Regulations are required.

Electromobility – implementation now

Polish electromobility – the time for the first verification. Costs and prospects
Core trends, areas of activity, effects. Polish solutions for e-mobility
Barriers to electromobility development
The role of business, innovators and administration. Preferences, incentives, expectations
Electromobility in Polish cities. Completed and planned investments
Is international cooperation required for electromobility? Transfer of technology, know-how

Electromobility, gas, hydrogen – what should be developed?

Electromobility, gas, hydrogen – what should be developed?
A review of technologies, innovations and operating models supporting the development of electromobility
What has to be done so that electromobility indeed becomes... ecological?
Charging infrastructure – condition and development prospects
Purchase of vehicles that use alternative fuels – what is decisive for fleet customers?
Funding sources of infrastructure and vehicle purchases – Low-Emission Transport Fund or commercial financing?

Raw materials policy

State policies vis-a-vis natural resources – a new look
Concessions vs. the market. Relations between companies and public administration
Planned domestic and foreign investments in Poland’s mining industry
Use of natural resources vs. environmental protection standards and the idea of a sustainable economy

Mining

Polish mining and coal-based power generation in times of decarbonisation
Market growth is not here forever. Trends on the world coal market
Poland's coal market after restructuring. Condition and forecast
Demand for coal and import. Mining and investments
More effectively and safer. New technologies and organisational solutions in mining
Polish sector of mining machinery and equipment. Competition, expansion, diversification

New applications of coal

Carbon fibres. Advantages, popularisation, prospects of demand
Coal as a source of clean fuel. Technologies, experience, forecasts
Use of hydrogen in fuel cells. Potential from the viewpoint of power generation, mining, energy safety
Acquisition and use of methane accompanying coal mining
Other technologies and alternative uses of coal. Pilot studies, investments, opportunities for commercialisation

Global LNG market

LNG prospects on the global market. Changes to the structure of fuel consumption
Development of infrastructure (LNG terminals, fleet, gasification installations)
Import of LNG as an area of cooperation between the USA and the EU
The role and place of the European Union on the global LNG market

Polish gas hub

LNG expansion in the world – situation on the global market
Where does LNG come to Poland from? What about the Russian direction?
Gas from across the Ocean? Long-term import prospects from the USA
Investments in infrastructure. Can Poland become an LNG hub in the region?

CLIMATE, EMISSIONS, ENVIRONMENT

Trading system of emission rights

Situation of European and Polish power industries after 2020
Reform of the EU ETS system. Free rights for power industry
What next for the prices of CO2 emission rights?
Is this speculation? Who benefits, who loses, who protests?

EEC Green / Sustainable development in company strategies

Trend of sustainable development here and now. Scale and depth of changes. Nature of adaptation processes
Motivation to implement a “green” component to business strategies
Regulatory pressure. Why are certain companies ahead of regulations and standards?
Wait or react? The risk of failure by companies to align to the changing market and new consumers’ preferences
Transactional or relational economics? The role of cooperation with partners, the market, science

EEC Green / Still in the smog

The problem is more difficult than expected? The effectiveness of the actions taken so far
Within the chaos of programmes and subsidies. Support only to those who are resourceful?
Healthy or inexpensive? A disastrous alternative. The scale of energy poverty and remedial measures
Law and enforcement thereof. Economic barriers to fighting low emissions
Control and sanctions at municipality level. Services and expenses
The heat generation sector fighting the smog. Prospects of thermal upgrading

EEC Green / Waste management

Expensive waste reform. Do we have to pay more? Local governments facing the waste chaos
Recycling – EU regulations versus Poland's reality. How do Polish municipalities manage waste recycling?
What about incineration plants? New solutions, alternative fuels

EEC Green / Closed circuit economy

EU policies. Regulations Priority areas of closed circuit economies
First – less waste. Reappearance of returnable packaging
Economic and GDP growth versus circular economy
Challenges for industry. Who will win, who will lose?
Closed circuit economy in Europe and in the world. Will Poland stand up to EU requirements?

EEC Green / Local authorities and climate change

Local authorities in the face of climate change and natural catastrophes
44 urban plans to adapt to climate change. Purposes, implementation status, assumed results
Preparations for the effects of climate change in non-urbanised areas
Cooperation between local authorities and provincial crisis management services
Preventive actions. The role of spatial planning, condition of water supply and sewage discharge infrastructure

DIGITALISATION AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Tech / The future of digital Europe

EU on the global digitisation map of economies and societies
EU programmes for economy digitisation in EU
Business reality of digital transformation – opinions of European companies
Where should the boundaries be set? Regulations versus freedom, privacy versus safety
EU law and institutions in relation to cyber hazards

Tech / Industry 4.0 – revolution goes on

Final version of Industry 4.0: engineering, IT, marketing, logistics, management
Information, data, value. Technologies that change the world
Revolutionary changes in employee skills, educational system and social life
Needs and reality – 4.0 in different rhythms. Leaders, followers, cooperating parties, sceptics

Tech. European Start-up Days / Blockchain in the economy

Not only crypto-currencies. Blockchain as a new decentralised environment
Will the new technology change the world of finance and trade?
Revolution in public administration, potential use in health service
Distributed power generation. Prosumers in the blockchain model
Information in the supply chain. Benefits for consumers
Records, access to data, security, tax system

Tech / Data is everywhere

Digitisation, automation, robotisation as a powerful source of data. Big Data – risk of a deluge?
What should be done with the growth of data quantity generated in Industry 4.0?
Information management in industry, services, finances, medicine
Not only statistics. Data Science in search of the most important answers
How can artificial intelligence help in data aggregation, storage and processing?
The infrastructure and energy required to use data. Where are the limits?

Tech, European Start-up Days / Attention, artificial intelligence

Robots and artificial intelligence. A brave new world or a trap?
Rise of the Machines. SF or a real hazard in the future
AI – an inclusive concept and a source of misunderstanding. From a robot to artificial life
Humans (not) replaceable? Advantages and uniqueness of natural intelligence
Robotisation of the army and conflicts. Playing with fire?
An independent technology, responsibilities, ethics. Identification of problems
Artificial intelligence versus legal systems. Are we ready? How to get safeguards?

Tech, European Start-up Days / VR/AR – a broad outlook

Augmented reality – extended opportunities
Remote problem solving. Training. Simulations
Virtual reality in trade, marketing, promotion
From playing to commercialising. How to expand… profit?

Tech / Drones – a promising sector

Drone market – development of the technology and a broad range of applications
Economic basis to use of unmanned aerial vehicles in various areas of economy
Regulatory framework. Today's conditions, needs, expectations
Silesia as a testing ground for drone techniques? Involvement by companies

Tech / Robot sector on the rise

Prospects of the robot sector and its growth potential
Directions of applications. Where are robots’ tasks the largest?
Far from leaders, but … Achievements of robotics in Poland
Popularisation of robots and the costs of their production
Artificial intelligence, other technologies and materials used by robot manufacturers

Tech / Automation and robotization versus the labour market

Professions threatened with production automation
What professions will be created by automation?
Robot as an employee. Flexible like a human?
How to get ready for future challenges on the labour market? Role of education

Tech, European Start-up Days / Machines, robots, cobots

Modern devices for everyone. What technologies in the Industry 4.0 area can be implemented by smaller companies?
Barriers to robotisation – Mental, competence, financial, organizational. How to overcome them?
Impact of robotisation on the labour market, remuneration, safety
In what sectors do cooperating robots (cobots) have the broadest applications?
Trade automation. Customers’ expectations, relations, the human factor
A robot at home and in daily life, in trafe and in leisure industry

Tech / Robot and budget

Consequences of automation and robotisation. Forecast changes on the labour market
Effects of changes to employment for the State budget and pension systems: unemployment, tax revenues, requalification costs
New work definitions, new forms of employment and social security models
Scenarios, ideas, opportunities. Should robots be taxed?

Tech / Cyber hazards and cyber security

Act on the national cyber security system – core assumptions and tools
Statutory duties for key service operators
Opinions, reactions and first actions in the financial sector, power industry, transport, health service and public institutions
Risk analysis, response teams, rules and procedures. Security strategies in the form of case studies

Future of infrastructure. Infratech

Technologically advanced infrastructure (infra-tech). Core development directions
Infrastructure digitalisation in various sectors and industries
Smart grid and more ... Power grids of the future. Electromobillity
More and faster. Telecommunications infrastructure – G5, broadband networks
Intelligent systems in cities. Communication, information, management, media
Infrastructure of the future – where are we heading to?

TRADE, MARKET, CONSUMERS

European Start-up Days / The Future Of The Market – new consumers

Trends and consumer preferences affecting our reality
Procurement processes and generational differences. New models of behaviour
The youngest consumers shopping – online or stationary?
Personalisation, uniqueness, brand – what counts for young customers?
Reactions to various forms to enterprises. Trust, loyalty, privacy

Smart consumers on the market

Big Data in trade. Big Brother looking into Polish shopping baskets
Evolution from price to quality. How will the disappearance of the “hunter’s instinct” change the market?
The online generation affects the offer of shops. What about the needs of the silver generation?
The end of the era of mute consumers. It is customers who decide about offers in shops
New technologies, e-grocery, e-loyalty – challenges of digital trade
Self-service stores as the future of convenience stores?

Co-sharing economy

I use, I do not own. Bicycles, cars, properties, services
Pressure by young users. The role of technologies and communication
How is co-sharing changing the economy, metropolises, social relations?
Benefits for the economy and environment. Logistics, organisational, legal problems

Trade 4.0: ecology, premium, digital

Ecological products and equipment. A new opening in network – consumer relations
Development of shopping experience. What is important – technologies or a smiling salesperson?
Premium but in a different way. How to develop a limited offer in the economy of abundance?
Personalisation of promotion as a response to lack of loyalty
Pleasant shopping? According to retail chains and consumers

European Start-up Days / Digital marketing

Most recent trends in marketing. Single- and multi-directional message. The role of social media
Digital marketing. Know your customer, personalisation of tools, mobility
From campaign to conversation. The role of PR tools – blurring the differences with marketing
The art of influencing. Followers, influencers, celebrities
Marketing in a time of fake news. Trust as capital
Often or intensively? Marketer and customer facing the excess of content

Tech, European Start-up Days / E-sport in the economy

The market worth billions. E-sport and its impact on the economy in global and local terms
E-sport versus other disciplines: arrangement costs of competitions, revenues, athletes’ level in Poland, work related to e-sport
E-sport players and fans as customers of other sectors and consumers
Great e-sport events – a driver of the sector, a communication tool, a forum to develop relations

INDUSTRY

Industry in Europe

Re-industrialisation in a new way? The need to develop industry in the times of Industry 4.0
How much of production, how much of services? Structural changes. What kind of industry in Europe?
High energy consumption industry in Europe. Support policies in European countries and in Poland
Reducing energy consumption by increasing energy effectiveness
Science, R&D sector. Can digitisation save the EU's heavy industry?
Automation and robotisation. Dilemmas of the labour market and employees’ awareness

Metallurgy

Pressure of climate protection policies and stricter environmental standards
Metallurgy facing barriers in international trade
Growing energy prices and effectiveness limits of production processes in metallurgy
New technologies – an adequate response to challenges?
Niches, technologically advanced products and materials, specialist steel processing

Oil and chemical sector

Consolidation of Poland's oil sector. Impact on competition on the domestic and European markets
How will electromobility change the domestic fuel market?
Polish petrochemistry. Large investments and the underlying rationale
Specialisation now? “Non-mass” products an opportunity for success?
Experience from foreign expansion of Polish companies. Can that be successful?

Motor sector in Europe and in the world

Motor market in Europe against the global background – most important phenomena
E-cars, hybrid and Diesel cars in the strategies of the largest producers. How does climate protection change the motor market?
New large markets. Scale of demand
Automotive sector in Europe versus US customs policy
Automotive sector after Brexit

Tech / The world of autonomous vehicles

Autonomy and barriers thereto. Barriers in developing autonomy in mobility
Safety, regulations, responsibilities. Experience and conclusions
Digitisation in traffic control. Autonomic component – benefits for traffic flows
The future of the automotive sector. Car production or assuring mobility?

Defence industry

The condition of companies in Poland's defence sector. The degree of use of most recent technologies
Potentates of the world defence industry in Poland's market
Modernisation policy of Poland's army. Assumptions, outlays, implementation
Tenders and purchases for the army – simpler, faster, more effectively. What change will be triggered with the Armament Agency?

Tech / Space industry in Europe and Poland

Space technologies – a European specialisation? Far-reaching objectives and results of activities to date
Condition and prospects for the sector. Leading companies, investments and institutional support
Poland's sector of space technologies in cooperation with ESA – achievements and plans
Polish specialisations. Upstream (nanosatellites) or downstream (terrestrial services, data processing)?

INVESTMENTS, INFRASTRUCTURE, CONSTRUCTION

Infrastructure investments

Investments in road and railway infrastructure in Poland and in the region
Key projects and their importance. Priorities. Financing. International cooperation
Tenders – progress, conflicting interests, procedural barriers, good practices
Cost inflation in construction – a hazard to programme implementation

An economic zone spanning the entire territory of Poland

A year since amendments to regulations related to tax benefits and functioning of economic zones
Economic zones as a tool of economic policy – still effective? Only tax benefits and low labour costs?
The role of local authorities in developing the business environment (labour market, infrastructure, spatial planning)
Investment structure in SEZ. Do such zones contribute to technology development?

25 years of French investments in Poland

The scale and specifics of involvement of French capital in Poland's economy
Most important sectors and investments. Their economic and social effects
Technology transfer. Impact on Poland's labour market – yesterday and today
Prospects for French business presence in Poland. Promising conditions for cooperation and investment specialisations

Infrastructural investments – from the Baltic to the Carpathians. Cooperation between Central and South European countries

Cooperation in transport infrastructure development in North-Eastern Europe. Basis, common goals, coordination of actions
The role of Rail Baltica in international trade. Potential, progress status, most difficult sections, completion prospects
Baltic States vs. Via Baltica and Via Carpatia. Priorities and expectations
Further financing. New EU financial perspective
Railway and road projects in the region in the context of the cohesion desideratum of the Trans-European Transport Grid

Major challenges for the modern business services sector in Poland

In what direction is Poland’s BPO/ SSC sector heading? Sector and market evolution
In- or outsourcing? Company needs versus new types of services. The cost aspect
The issue of shortage of labour, ways to attract labour. Increasingly more complex processes
How to raise the education level and change its nature without losing competitiveness in the region and the world at large
Robots now? Automation of BPO services

Construction 4.0

Robots at construction sites. A cure for shortage of labour?
Revolution in investment processes – BIM solutions and managing life cycles of buildings
Implementation examples of innovative solutions: prefabrication, 3D printing, Lean Construction, VR
Intelligent working tools and protective measures at construction sites

Industrial and power construction

The end to large investments in power construction
An uncertain future for companies specialising in the sector
Alternative? How and where experience and competencies can be used?
New strategies of businesses. A need for diversification, export

Power revolution in construction

New EU regulations concerning new buildings
Clean, effective, energy saving. Users’ requirements and expectations
Are public institutions and local authorities ready for changes?
Facilities with zero consumption of external energy. How is that done? Reactions of the contracting market
New technologies in construction. Intelligent buildings. Smart grid. Integrated photovoltaics

Polish railways

PKP Group investments under way and planned. Time schedule and financing
Scale of investments, impact on the construction sector, anticipated effects for the economy
Innovations in railways. Cooperation with technology providers and the R&D sector
Ideas for space. Development of land and other railway properties

TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS

Modern logistics and warehouses

Warehouse boom in Poland continues. Where does the appetite come from for storage and industrial space in Poland?
Polish warehouses targeted by international investors. What products do funds look for?
How large investments change the market? Ports on the Baltic, the New Silk Route, the Central Airport and Railway Hub (Centralny Port Komunikacyjny – CPK)
New technologies in logistics centres. Automation and robotization.
Changes to the supply chain. Market reaction to the new reality (e-commerce, customers’ expectations)

Direction: interoperability

European transport (roads, railways, air) – achievements and missing elements in the integration of domestic systems
Applied solutions (packages of directives). Effective dates in Member States. Anticipated effects
Opening of the railway passenger transport market in Poland. Who will benefit, who will lose?

Logistics between Europe and Asia

Trade between China and the EU versus the condition and development of infrastructure
Transportation “bottlenecks” between Asia and Europe
Chinese investment programme (One Belt One Road) – its size and potential significance. Anticipations and concerns
Development prospects of long-distance railway connections
How can the new potential be used effectively? Competition in logistics in our part of Europe

Central Airport and Railway Hub (Centralny Port Komunikacyjny – CPK)

Poland on Europe's transport map. Perspectives.
CPK – a vision and implementation. Preparations and expectations. Schedule of activities
CPK potential for the economy. Scale of investments and impact thereof
Poland – a hub for air cargo?

FINANCIAL MARKET

Employee Capital Plans (Pracownicze Plany Kapitałowe – PPK)

Act on Employee Capital Plans. A revolution in the pension system and State finances?
Demography, potential of the social insurance system and PPK
Social response and market reactions. How to effectively encourage saving for pensions?
Anticipated effects of the programme – for capital market and future pensioners

Employee Capital Plans – economy and investments

Investment funding sources. The role of domestic capital
The effects of Employee Capital Plans for employers
What about the Open Pension Fund (Otwarty Fundusz Emerytalny – OFE? Market image when PPK have been launched
Impact of PPK on the economy, investments, financial market (WSE)

Cashless Poland

Development of the cashless payment market. New directions?
How do new technologies change the financial sector. Customers’ viewpoint
Regulations, rules, standards on the financial market. What needs to be changed?
Changes to the functioning of entities in the sector. Projections

Tech, European Start-up Days / Fintech sector – bright and dark sides

New tools, new opportunities – development of the fintech market in Europe
Demand for innovative services. Traditional products in new packaging?
Specific features of new entities as opposed to traditional financial sector companies
The aspect of responsibility. Risks, hazards, remedial measures
Cooperation between fintechs and corporations. Towards a new model of the financial market

Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego – tradition, responsibility, future

Everyone wins? Initiation of cooperation between business, the public sector and financial institutions
How to equalise opportunities and catch up with the best. The role of BGK in the development of regions and rural areas
Initiatives focused on absorbing EU funding. Relations with local authorities, social economy entities, organisations. Experiences and practices
Tools and programmes to support the housing sector and local communities. Family on their own”, “Home for the Young”, social and tenant housing
SMEs and young business as beneficiaries of BGK’s operations. Case studies, opinions, conclusions
Support for investments and exports in BGK’s policies and in the eyes of business. Recommendations by companies
Mission and vision. New challenges facing Poland’s economy versus the Bank’s strategy

Tax dialogue – looking for a compromise

Tax safety for Polish companies versus tightening of the tax system
Potential sanctions for companies and penal fiscal liability
Impact of technologies on transparency in the tax area
Dialogue between fiscal authorities and taxpayers – practices versus models in other countries

Long-term funding for the Polish economy

The development of the Polish corporate bond market in recent years
Funding for the longer term: What alternative should there be to the issuance of corporate bonds?
The investment gap in Poland – innovation for competitiveness
Leveraged loans and the encumbrance of balance sheets
Patient capital: Does it exist?

CITIES. REGIONS. DEVELOPMENT

Metropolis – how is that done?

From agreements between municipalities to statutory regulations. Metropolis – bottom-up and top-down
Effective cooperation within a metropolis
Will the Upper Silesian and Zagłębie Metropolis remain the only one? Pomorze, Wrocław?
Public transportation, data platform – priority tasks
Polish and world metropolises. Learning from the best ones

Cities – development generators

Cities like cars – economic, ecological but also family-focused and comfortable. Smart or agile?
Cities as companies? In a sense... What may administration learn from the private sector?
Mobile applications in transport. How to do that effectively?
New (digital) technologies in managing city organisms. Good practices

Attractive city

What is decisive for selecting the place to live? Cities and related advantages
Culture? Infrastructure? Free time industry? Shopping malls above all?
A real city centre – inhabitants’ requirements of public space
A second life for post-industrial sites. How to use the potential of “difficult” sites?

Demography and city policies

Depopulation – scale and effects. Fastest depopulating cities
Cities officials’ ideas for stopping the escape of inhabitants
The role of local programmes to support fertility, families, seniors
How to build and transform cities into being more friendlier to the youngest and to the elderly?
Time for silver power? An older city but full of energy, interesting, attractive

Sustainable development of cities and regions

Deglomeration in regions – spreading of cities. Prevent, cure, accept?
From the centre to suburbs. Transportation, infrastructural problems, examples of solutions in Polish and European cities
The city supports, initiates, encourages. Rules and practice of cooperation with investors
Sustainable development of cities and regions – environmental protection and mobility in rural and urban areas

Local investments with support

The last wave of investments? Financing after 2020. What will change?
The role of public-private partnership in expanding infrastructure
How do investments affect local communities?
Local Road Fund. From planning to implementation
Home plus – first effects, problems, challenges. Support for housing for rent

Town planning, space, law

Good architecture and chaos – spatial planning in Polish cities. What do we miss?
Profit versus spatial order – within conflicting interests
Growth or development? Disputes among new legal solutions
First – do not spoil. Public space as a value. What kind of city for ordinary people?

Tech / Digital offices

Polish offices – modern offices. Where are we?
The experience of local authorities in implementing e-services
Digitisation in public offices – are employees ready? The meanders of implementations
How does e-administration affect the image of public offices?

EU funds continue to be attractive

EU funds after 2020 – scenarios for Poland. How to finance local authorities’ tasks?
Regional Operational Programmes. Will they retain their significance?
How to shorten development distances between the regions?
A stable and ambitious EU budget? Reform of the financing system

EEC Green / Sustainable transport in cities

Air quality, less expensive low-emission technologies in transport, investments
Public transport: new, low- or zero-emission stock. Direction and rate of changes
Clean transport zones in cities. European experience. Their impact on urban logistics, business and trade
Car rental networks, carsharing. Smart solutions in traffic control
Restriction to private car traffic in European metropolises
A farewell to Diesel? The future of commercial vehicle fleets and business services

PROPERTY MARKET

Commercial property market in Poland. Status, trends, core players

Poland's promotion in the FTSE Russell index versus investors’ reactions and plans
Poland targeted by foreign capital? Projected volumes of transactions and capitalisation rates
Offices, warehouses, shopping centres or hotels – what opportunities can be found by investors in the near future? Deficit of the most demanded assets
Where is the glass ceiling? For how long will the commercial property market in Poland continue to beat records?

The legal and tax environment of the commercial property market in Poland

Income tax, ban on retail trade on Sundays, end of perpetual usufruct right or the Act on REITs. How does the legal and tax environment affect development business?
Capital is fond of peace and predictability. What facilities are expected by business?
Local authorities in cities and regions – cooperation with investors. Regulatory environment at local level
Fight against stereotypes. How do foreign investors perceive Poland's commercial property market?

Housing market

The boom in the housing market is now over?
The shrinking bank of investment sites, problems on the construction market, higher costs, legal changes
Government programmes and institutional support to housing. Home+ programme. Assumptions, effects, assessment
Demand, supply, prices – where to construct not to lose?
Apartments with history, smart-investments or maybe luxury. What do Poles want?
Revitalisation of housing – potential, costs, investment models

Office property market – regulations, investments, management, Office 10.0

Not a desk and not open space. How are 21st century offices created?
Changes to management models, increase in the role of design, use of various competencies. What makes traditional offices anachronistic
Outlook and arrangement of places of work versus work effectiveness and team work
Modern offices – not just the design. Technological “must haves” for each office building

OTHER SUBJECTS

Restructuring

Restructuring to solve problems. Stereotypes around the timing. When and how to restructure?
Restructuring as an investment in the company’s future and not a rescue plan
Scope and development of restructuring processes. The role of analysis and consulting
Sensitive areas: liquidity, disinvestment, employment, communication, trust
Rational use of new legal tools. How to reduce restructuring costs?

European Start-up Days / Polish start-up scene

Young innovative entrepreneurship in Poland – basic data and trends
Start-up and success. Looking for a universal formula
Institutional support and acceleration. A review of opportunities. Opportunities and traps
Innovation versus risk mitigation and acceptance. Effective tools and models
Dilemmas of independence and development – or start-ups and investors. Partnership despite disproportions?

Culture and economy

A reflection on the economy of culture. Impact on life quality, attractiveness of cities, social and economic development
Contemporary sponsorship. Culture as a plane for communication. Creative industry
Culture in corporate CSR strategies. Planning of sponsorship cooperation
New technologies and forms of communication as an opportunity for cooperation between business and artists

Management in culture

Specific features of managing private and public institutes of culture
Manager in culture. Specific predispositions, organisational, marketing competencies
Artists, officials, business people. Team management in cultural institutions
Culture as a product. Finances and market versus values. Tough decisions
Sponsorship and independence. The art of developing relations with sponsors

Contemporary sport in the economy

Sport as a great business. The scale of phenomena, trends, prospects
The role of sport in world politics and economy
The best, the richest and… richer and richer. Hierarchies, stratification and domination in sport
Spanish Primera División played in the USA? Globalisation and what’s next?

Meetings industry in Poland

Potential of the MICE market in Poland and in the region
Political and economic, sports, cultural? The sector is flourishing - sources and effects of the boom
Transport, congress centres, hotel base. Impact of business tourism on the economy. The role of local authorities
Acceleration, simplification, optimisation, personalisation. How do event organisers compete?
New technologies and new event formats. Changing expectations of participants
How to attract events effectively? How to use their potential?

Empathy and effectiveness thereof in business

Poles and Polish business in social trust rankings. A lot to do
Empathy versus success of the organisation. “Hard” values correlated with growth and productivity
What comes under the heading of empathy and how is it to be measured? Opinions, parities, relations, reactions
Empathetic communication in companies – a valuable asset
The role of emotional intelligence with contemporary leaders
Empathetic or habitual behaviour? How should empathy be taught? The role of HR and coaches

Women in business

Women on the labour market. Women as leaders
Stereotypes, cooperation, operability, partnership. What helps and what interferes on the road to success?
Does business have a gender? Communication skills, development of relations, negotiations
Psychology and strategy. Development of position in a man's world

New media

New media are no longer new… Evolution of tools, channels, business models
How do digital civilisation media change users? How are they changed by users?
Advanced interaction. Marketing, information and social aspects
Advantages and traps of automation. Originality, ownership, law
Impact of digital media versus responsibility and credibility. Dilemmas of freedom, control, reception
Being up to speed – a fetish or necessity? The media versus dependence

Risk in business

In an unstable world. Types and sources of political hazards
Cyber hazards. Potential effects for business, critical infrastructure, public security
Climate change and extreme weather phenomena as a risk factor in business
Regulatory risks versus coincidences. What can and what cannot be predicted? Risk intelligence vs. black swans
Strategies to mitigate risk in foreign expansion and international trade
The role of the insurance sector in the economy – new situation, new challenges

Prepared for a crisis

There is something in the air … Potential sources and possible scenarios of a global downturn
Slow down? Interruption? Catastrophe? The nature of cyclical changes in the contemporary
Economy
Ready for the unknown. Prevention of potential crisis effects
Resilient, armoured, flexible. How to develop resilience to changes in market conditions over the long term?
Anti-crisis regulations. More benefit or harm?

Humanitarian aid

Contemporary challenges to the humanitarian aid sector. World regions with potential conflicts
Specific nature and intensity of events – armed conflicts, mass migrations, natural calamities and weather anomalies
EU Civil Protection Mechanism and other elements of the EU humanitarian aid system
Tools and operating methods – standard and non-standard. Assessment of the situation, coordination, logistics
Time for professionalism. How to do that effectively? The role of volunteers, partner organisations, media and communication
How can business be involved in humanitarian aid? Cooperation with administration and organisations

Justice system and business

Stability of law, system transparency – unrealised dreams of Polish business
Directions of changes in Poland's justice system and the potential effects for the economy
Concerns of domestic business and foreign investors. Attitudes, arguments, emotions
Effectiveness of courts in economic matters. Level of economic knowledge in courts and prosecutor’s offices
Economic effects of legal errors, excessive length of proceedings, no professionalism

HEALTH MARKET

Medicine and economy – numbers, potential, reality

Medical sector on Poland's economic map. Employment, investments, value of infrastructure
Medical entities or enterprises with a special mission – or just non-profit?
Market of providers of health care entities in Poland
Investors’ expectations and plans for the medical sector

European Start-up Days / Images of new medical technologies – opportunities and challenges

Research on new medicinal and non-medicinal technologies – selected trends
Place for innovative medicine in the Strategy for Responsible Development
Pharmaceutical industry – is it a driver for innovative economy in Poland?
Biotechnology development. How do we use the potential?
Digitisation of the medical sector. Are we prepared for the revolution?
Institutional support and the role of the state in implementing new medical technologies to clinical practice and commercialisation

Doctor's offices, clinics, hospitals – a difficult puzzle

Health care service in Poland – what model are we heading for?
Basic health care, ambulatory specialist care, hospital treatment – relations and proportions between core system elements
The effects of the implemented solutions in coordination of health care in Poland
In what direction are hospitals heading – Polish reality versus trends in selected European countries

Local authorities in the health care system

Local authority units as owners of hospitals and other health care units
The scale of local investments in health care
Local health care programmes and educational campaigns
Role of local authorities in pursuing the National Health Programme

Financing of the health care system – the art of spending money

What stems from the 6 percent Act? More money on health is a challenge
Fund allocation in the health care system. A review of solutions
Health insurance in Poland – a supplement or alternative to the National Health Fund?
New maps of health needs. Will it become an effective tool to plan investments in the medical sector and to finance benefits?

FOOD MARKET

Food market. Consolidation time

The wheels are in motion as regards consolidation – a review of the most important transactions
Not only organically. Who has an appetite to grow through acquisitions?
Which categories and segments are ripe for acquisitions? Titbits on the market
Succession a strong determinant of mergers and acquisitions on the food market
Funds, sectoral investors – who is interested in transactions?

Great acceleration. Future of the food market

Business decisions on the carousel of trends. Keeping up with informed and demanding consumers
The art of reaching. Marketing strategies aligned to consumers. Known brands in a new presentation
New products, new needs, new packaging. Innovations and tradition
Will the generation of young entrepreneurs revolutionise the food market?

Food and eating – fashion and style

Eating as an element of pop culture – opportunities and challenges for the food sector
The value and pleasure of eating. Boom and future of the foodie culture
Cooking is big now. Blogosphere, social media and culinary trends directly affect the food market
Cooks and dieticians as new authorities. How to use the potential?
HoReCa sector fuelled with fashion and trends
Cooperation potential of food brands and catering. How can that be done?

ACCOMPANYING EVENTS

Investors Without Borders

Another edition of awards granted to the most effective Polish investors pursuing foreign expansion and active, responsible foreign investors in Poland, having a positive impact on the economy and the labour market.

TOP Municipal Investments

Prestigious awards for the best investments in Poland. A periodic project that identifies the best investment practices as well as people who have been successful in investments as a result of bold, pro-development decisions.

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