MAIN SUBJECT AREAS
The economy – a time of recovery
A new sustainable Europe – recovery and rebuilding. Tools, the available resources, and priority objectives. NextGenerationEU and the Multiannual Financial Framework. Economic prospects for Poland and Europe. The New European Bauhaus – an environmental, economic and cultural project aimed at sustainable development. The National Recovery Plan from the point of view of business and investors – the supported actions and new possibilities. Resilience and flexibility: How to create structures resistant to subsequent pandemics and crises (including the climate crisis)? The role of technology in shaping new development models. How to take advantage of digital acceleration? People, citizens and consumers – after the pandemic. Changes in social awareness and sensitivity; new expectations; and new models of behaviour and relations. The Polish Deal – a socio-economic programme for the time of recovery. Priority areas, goals and specific solutions. Tools and deadlines; beneficiaries and burdens. Investors, the market, and competition in the concept of the New Deal. Implementation costs and financing of tasks. The role of EU programmes and funds.
The European Green Deal
Green investments. Green finance. The Green Deal as a long-term development strategy. New regulations and new goals. 2021 – The year of a breakthrough in the process of the economy’s transition ‘to green positions’? Changes being implemented efficiently and fairly – the conditions for success. Transition versus competitiveness of the economy. Does the pandemic shift attention away from the consequences of the climate crisis? How is the global economy changing in the context of climate challenges?
International trade and economic relations after the pandemic.
Who recovers from the crisis strengthened? New roles on the global stage: China, India, USA and Europe. How much co-operation and how much competition is there? Dynamic exporters in a new reality. Supply and value chains, the international labour market, and safety standards: What has changed permanently? Agreements and global economic co-operation strategies at EU and national levels. Promising regions of the world – to harness the potential. Central Europe on the economic map of the world.
Digitalisation of the economy
What has the pandemic changed in the major trends related to digitalisation? Who benefits from acceleration and how to take advantage of digital acceleration? Technologies that are gaining importance: artificial intelligence, robotisation, the Internet of Things, the cloud, and Big Data. Their commercial use; implementation leaders; and staff and new competences. How to ensure the security of critical infrastructure? The role of bigtechs in the global economy.
Citizens and consumers in the era of ‘new normality’
The experience of the pandemic and its impact on social attitudes and consumer behaviour models. Potential consequences of those changes for the economy, trade, politics and social life. Lasting changes in citizen and consumer expectations in a post-pandemic world. The online consumers – new models of consumption in the world of e-commerce. The green turn of consciousness and its market implications. Ecoconsumers’ expectations and manufacturers’ response: resources, waste and emissions. Using, but not owning, or the culture of sharing. Sensitive customers – health and hygiene issues. Changes in the labour market.
THEMATIC SESSIONS
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ENERGY AND TRANSITION
The green transition of the power industry. Investment in low-carbon sources. The energy mix in the domestic market. How much RES should there be in the system and under what conditions? The green turn in strategies and actions of the largest companies in the Polish power industry.
Renewable energy in Poland and worldwide. Photovoltaics and wind power generation; hydrogen; and biogas. Trends, technologies, costs and regulations. Social and economic benefits. How to ensure system stability? Energy storage and ‘transition’ fuels. The auctioning that will support RES until 2026.
Poland’s energy policy until 2040 and a closer perspective – the future of the power industry after the coronavirus. Consequences for the state’s energy strategy and for companies: producers, consumers and energy prices, as well as for the market and investment in the power industry. Nuclear power in EPP 2040. Ambitions, needs, reality and time.
Nuclear power in a different manner. Is large-scale nuclear power the only option? Projects based on small modular reactors (SMRs). Why not begin with pilot plants? Cost comparison. New-generation factory-made nuclear reactors manufactured in series – an opportunity for Polish industry. Polish ambitions in the nuclear power technology race.
Distribution of energy – it is time to go smart. The big operation in the distribution sector – replacement of traditional meters with smart ones. The scale and tools of the implementation. Implications for the market, consumers and the energy sector. A vision of a smart power industry of the future: smart grid, smart metering, and smart devices.
CSIRE – an IT breakthrough in the Polish power industry. Communication in the energy market – standards and needs. Establishment of the Central Energy Market Information System (CSIRE) – assumptions and objectives of the project. Consequences for the electricity market. Benefits for end users (including prosumers), the National Power System (KSE) and Power System Operators. The impact of the system on the usefulness of smart meters, process transparency and information security. Tasks of the Energy Market Information Operator.
Offshore. The Act and… what will come next? Five entities and eight projects – investors involved in the development of power generation in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea. The role of international co-operation and access to technology; and Polonisation. Manufacturing for offshore as a Polish asset. A schedule for increasing the share of Polish capital in offshore projects implemented in the Baltic Sea. Prices of energy generated by wind farms: Do they guarantee development of the industry? Investment costs.
Hydrogen – the fuel of the future. Futurology or a horse we should back today? Hydrogen as a successor to coal? Grey or green. Opinions and expectations – from the power industry to transport and the steel industry, to the mining industry. How to rationally and efficiently support the development of hydrogen technologies? From the laboratory to industrial scale and commercialisation of achievements, to technologies ready to be used on an industrial scale. Hydrogen as a stabiliser of RES-based power industry.
The energy market in Poland. Structure of the Polish market: the level of concentration in production, retail sales, and distribution; the market after the separation of coal assets from groups. Energy prices and their drivers; the costs of fuels, CO2, state aid, and energy imports – trends. Energy prices and wholesale market liquidity after lifting the exchange obligation. Regulations and opportunities for competition. Energy costs in the costs incurred by companies and in household spending. The release of energy prices for households – government plans. The power market after 2025.
The gas market in Europe and in Poland. Key investments. Visions of the diversification of supplies – a contentious area within the EU. The role of Russia and the USA. LNG as a powerful game-changer. Supply and consumption forecasts. The gas-based power industry – factors, scale and pace of development. Gas as a transitional fuel; its role in the green transition of the energy sector.
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DIGITALISATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Digitalisation. Digital transition of the economy. Acceleration and… what will come next? Does the pandemic verify technological progress? And if so, how does it happen? Which technologies have passed the test, and what new have we learned about them? What aspects of digitalisation should we pay particular attention to in a post-pandemic reality?
Technology, management and people. Automation of business processes and its consequences. New tasks related to the takeover of simpler aspects of manufacturing by technology. New key competences; changes in management in the labour market and in the social structure and education. Will new regulations be necessary? The issue of responsibility and decision-making.
The Internet of Things (IoT). Practical applications and new possibilities. 5G and the Intelligence of Things. Polish start-ups in the Internet of Things market – the most interesting implementation cases. Certification and what else? How to effectively take care of cybersecurity of the Internet of Things? IoT without developers? The role of low-code and no-code platforms in managing the Internet of Things in a company – the new requirements for employees.
Artificial Intelligence. More than just machine learning: How and what do machines learn? Advanced AI on small data sets – developments and prospects. Regulations are needed, but what should they look like? Ideas for legislation on the development, implementation and security of artificial intelligence. Talk to the machine, or how artificial intelligence tackles natural language. The potential of AI in Poland – in business and in scientific centres.
Democratisation of data. The use of databases as one of the key tools of competitiveness. The open data formula and new business models. Big Data: When does the use of voluminous data sets make sense? Business Intelligence: How to process data to make it useful in the decision-making process? Application of artificial intelligence mechanisms and data processing algorithms – from fashion to health, to cybersecurity. The cloud in the democratisation of data. Risks and pitfalls: data in silos; sensitive data; and access versus cybersecurity.
The digital factory. Industry 4.0 – the implementation phase. Between the lack of resources and necessity. Modernity as an effective remedy for the crisis. The role, progress and limits of robotisation in the modern world. Industry in the online version. The digital twin. Communication between machines, systems and people. The experiences of leaders.
Cybersecurity in the face of progressive dependence on technology. Are security and awareness levels keeping up with progress? Potential consequences of a cyber-attack on critical infrastructure in the current reality. Defence strategies and prevention according to the leaders. 5G versus cybersecurity – actual and apparent threats. How will the new Polish regulations work in practice? What does that mean for the free market, equipment manufacturers and investment lead times?
Financing innovation in the Polish economy. Public and private support – optimal mechanisms, proven models, and good practice. Investors and funds specialising in co-operation with knowledge-based business. The art of risk management. Innovations in the high-tech sector.
The time of the cloud. Cloud technologies in the context of digital acceleration. Business – remotely and on demand. Migration to the cloud. The market – its structure and development, new models, new applications, and the potential of solutions.
5G networks versus national economic development.The revolution related to the development of mobile networks – the need to process and transmit more and more information as quickly as possible. New technologies, the development of which depends on access to 5G (VR, autonomous cars, SmartCity, IoT, and broadly defined digitalisation). The impact of 5G networks on the competitiveness of the economy. 5G as a platform for the development of new businesses.
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INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTMENTS
The transport strategy for Poland. A year in which we largely ‘close’ the national road network. Infrastructure investments on the confluence of two EU budget frameworks – the end of the old framework and the beginning of the new one. Summary of implementation and plans for the new seven-year period. The target roles of the railway, road transport and intermodal in the strategy.
The green railway. 2021 – The European Year of the Railway. Modern and sustainable railway infrastructure and technologies that increase the attractiveness of rail transport. The railway compared to other modes of transport. Rail transport in the European Green Deal: The Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, legislation, the TEN-T network, and interoperability. Railway reconstruction in Poland – convergence with EU climate action. Technologies to reduce the environmental impact of the railway: energy efficiency, power from RES, and environmentally safe construction of rail infrastructure. The railway for (climate or epidemic) crises. Digitalisation as a tool to stimulate transport efficiency. The green railway versus the reconstruction of the passenger market and the development of the freight market after the pandemic.
Poland as a European base for e-mobility? The rapid development of technologies for electromobility. Manufacturing for electromobility: batteries, drive elements, or maybe engines? The recent achievements of investors and their plans. How is the Polish automotive sector changing under the influence of the e-mobility trend? Manufacturing of means of transport – Poland’s experience, knowledge of the European market, and innovation. How to develop Polish electromobility – through own solutions or through buying foreign ones? What do we have and what do we lack?
The Solidarity Transport Hub Poland (CPK). The state of preparations for launching the investment in the reality of a global air transport crisis. The CPK as a sustainable investment (energy supply and environmental impact). The impact of the investment on the target network of road and rail connections in Poland. The potential of the construction sector versus investment schedules. Associated investments and the areas surrounding the CPK – a list of projects and the land use strategy.
Polish seaports – an alternative to the largest sea hubs of north-western Europe. Opportunities to take advantage of and conditions to be met. The potential of Polish seaports – the possibility of using inland waterway transport. On the rising tide of investments – a review of plans and the status of key port investments on the Polish shore of the Baltic Sea. The role of projects making use of the potential of intermodal transport. Land at sea? Technical problems and the availability of land.
Air transport: Is there really no coming back to what once was? A reset of the industry according to new rules? What will change permanently? Directions and volumes of travel and freight transport; technologies and equipment; market structure; business models; regulations; standards; safety standards; or passenger and customer behaviour?
The construction industry – green investments. Waste in the construction industry: zero waste, recycling, and the circular economy. From idea to implementation. Green projects: modular, transformable, and resource- and energy-efficient, etc. Technologies for zero-energy buildings. Sustainable solutions in infrastructure investments – in the preparatory process, in materials and utilities, and in hydraulic engineering. Digital technologies supporting sustainable construction.
Infrastructure and the development of electromobility. How to co-ordinate the development of infrastructure with the rate of increase in the number of vehicles? Electromobility – the European way and the Polish way. Verification time: successful solutions, dead ends, and ideas for the future. How to stimulate development without spoiling the market? Subsidies for purchase of cars: Is it a good idea?
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INDUSTRY AND INDUSTRIALISATION
The New Industrial Policy. Industrial strategy – a remedy for the crisis, but also for the acceleration of development. Polish companies, Polish technologies and Polish products: Is it a turn towards autarchy or well-understood economic patriotism? Business identifies the barriers. The five pillars of strategy. The role of industry contracts. The feedback involving EU funds. The way to implementation: allies, obstacles, and far-reaching goals.
Chemistry versus energy transition and sustainable manufacturing. The use of renewable energy sources, improvement of energy efficiency, and efficient utilities management. The green trend in chemistry – pressure from the market and consumers. Clean manufacturing and clean technologies – environmentally beneficial and profitable solutions: How to reconcile them? The new EU quality and safety requirements for fertilisers and plant protection products – a revolution in the companies’ product offers. Europe as a market for global manufacturers. What about the competitiveness of European manufacturers? The potential role of the ‘carbon tax’.
The mining industry and transition. Gradual abandonment of the use of coal for energy generation in Poland – economic and socio-political aspects of the process. National energy security versus the schedule of planned power cuts in the system. A social contract – the principles and pace of the liquidation of hard coal mining in Poland in the light of the objectives of the fair transition process and the available means. Protective action, public aid for the sector, and consequences for the environment, the region and the labour market. Separation of mining assets from the power industry: Is it just an idea, or maybe compulsion? Situation in the mining facilities – strategies pursued by companies connected with the mining industry.
Emissions in the economy. How to effectively reduce the impact of manufacturing on climate change? Strategies and actions of companies – a wide range of projects. Best practice overview. Decarbonisation in practice, with the support of knowledge and advanced innovative technologies. The European taxonomy: Will it work? Greenwashing, or temptation: How to verify companies’ environmental policies?
ESG – a breakthrough in reporting. The role of ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) criteria in the relations with stakeholders and in building goodwill. A revolution in social responsibility, approach to sustainable development, and corporate governance. Burdensome obligation or investment? Benefits and new opportunities for stakeholders and reporting entities. The role of ESG reporting in obtaining funds. How to report effectively and efficiently? Professionalisation, useful tools, and education. ESG reporting requirements in the supply chain.
THE ECONOMY, PEOPLE AND DEVELOPMENT
The New European Bauhaus. A project combining the economy, culture and environmental issues. How to live better together after the pandemic? Ideas to help stop the climate crisis and ensure a higher quality of life. The New Bauhaus as an innovative framework aimed at supporting, facilitating and accelerating the ecological transition in the economy and everyday life. What should the New European Bauhaus focus on to translate into real change and produce tangible results?
Is Europe dying off? Demography, the labour market, and the economy. Ineffectiveness of the government support programmes. Migrations. The European labour market after the pandemic. New phenomena and new directions
Smog is still there. The battle for clean air: legislation, funding, and enforcement of regulations. Programmes and actions – practice and efficiency. The energy transition is forcing action from energy companies and district heating operators, but also from actors such as end users, the government, local authorities, and industry as a whole. How to make their actions effective?
The labour market. What has been changed permanently by the pandemic? New models of work – pros and cons; standards and practice. Volatility as the only certainty – labour in an unstable world. How to find oneself in the new reality of the labour market? The dilemmas experienced by employees, managers, leaders and HR specialists. The role of technology and education.
Family businesses – towards effective succession. Do traditional leadership and business models work well during an economic crisis? Values of the family business model in a changing economic context. How to efficiently transfer power in a company – organisational culture, new challenges, and the leadership transition process and associated risks.
Towards the circular economy? Extended producer responsibility and the security deposit system: How will they change waste management? What will be there instead of plastic? EU directives are to discourage us from using plastic: What will be the effect? Lessons learnt from the past: Did the waste revolution of 2013 fail and do we need another one?
Tourism – a new opening. The condition and plans of tourist communes and municipalities after the pandemic. Infrastructure conducive to tourism development – examples of well-conceived investments. The hotel industry in a new reality: new requirements of guests and a new range of services – adaptation. The meetings industry as a generator of tourism development. Business tourism according to post-COVID standards.
The MICE industry. The meetings and events industry during the pandemic – an assessment of the most difficult year to date. Event venues; hotels and catering; and operators – the situation in and the prospects for the industry experiencing a see-saw of unfreezing and lockdowns. Strategies: from survival to innovation and creating new value for customers. The online formula, and hybrid and outdoor events – benefits and limitations. The need for dialogue and education – pandemic experiences and new safety standards, or the potential for reconstructing the industry. The role of government and local authorities in stimulating the industry’s return to normality.
The Green Deal in agriculture. The EU ‘Farm to Fork’ Strategy – a healthier and more sustainable EU food system as one of the pillars of the Green Deal. Requirements for growers and food exporters. Machinery manufacturers and chemistry in the face of new challenges. Necessary investments – readiness, support, and potential benefits.
Companies that renew the world’s resources. Development instead of growth? The self-limiting economy versus the economic bases for business. Offsetting past emissions as a new approach to the carbon footprint of one’s operations. Does size of a business really matter? How to equitably distribute the burden of anti-carbonisation efforts? Co-operation, motivation, and new climate benchmarks.
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THE PROPERTY MARKET
Warehouses. The warehouse boom: A lasting change or just a pandemic trend fuelled by e-commerce? New models in logistics; new supply chains and customer requirements. The inflow of investors to Poland. A digital warehouse? New organisational and technological trends in the sector? Will Poland become a logistics hub and one of the leaders of the warehouse market in Europe?
Offices redefined. Office buildings without offices. A year marked by home office. Office, home or hybrid – which model will win? An office where employees would like to work: How large will the scale of changes be? Solutions and amenities in the post-pandemic workspace. Flexible model of work and the demand for office space. Adjustments to investment plans?
Retail redefined, or accelerated transition. The retail market has been through a lot. Retail – what types and where? Arcades, centres and streets. A great revival of shopping streets? Shopping arcades in a new role? Arcades versus online? Will e-commerce breathe new life into shopping arcades? How to bridge the gap left by tenants? Investors’ plans in the retail property segment – verification time. Platforms instead of shops, and experiences instead of purchases.
Housing and the market. The current state of play and forecasts. Support programmes for residential construction development (the Housing Package) from the point of view of developers. New regulations and EU standards (improvement in energy efficiency of buildings, and thermal efficiency improvement) – an opportunity and a challenge for the sector. Housing – the state and local government. Support programmes for residential construction development. Major trends in the housing market – investments, renting and financing. New expectations of tenants – quality of life; sustainable housing estates and contact with nature; and green technologies in the construction industry.
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LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, METROPOLISES AND REGIONS
Finance of local governments. The most difficult local government budgets in practice – experiences, ideas, and proposed changes. The impact of changes in PIT and CIT taxes and the pandemic on local government budgets. Unstable revenue plans versus growing expenses. Tasks implemented ‘regardless’. Sources of additional funding: Government programmes, loans or an increase in local charges? What will be left of the budget plans at the end of the year?
New mobility models in a post-pandemic reality. Prospects for public transport, and alternative solutions – individual e-mobility measures, car-sharing, and city bikes. Strategies pursued by cities and metropolises. EU policies for a new and sustainable mobility.
Investments in cities and metropolises. What investments do big cities need? Changes in urban development strategies – new priorities; shifts in the hierarchy of actions. Investments improving residents’ quality of life. How to plan and implement investments in conditions of shock to the finance of local governments? According to what key should they be selected? Impact of the Green Deal as well as national and EU legislation on the scope of local government investments. The role of private partners in financing and managing urban investments.
The city for climate. The idea of a green city. How local governments are preparing for the consequences of climate change – strategies, necessary changes, and investments. The climate forecast prepared by the Institute of Environmental Protection; the special-purpose Drought Act, and controversies surrounding the planned investments. Resilient cities in various aspects – water, greenery and urban planning.
The circular economy – actions taken by residents, service providers and industrial plants.Smart city. Smart city in practice – examples of urban strategies and specific implementation cases. What does ‘smart’ mean? Technologies, functionality, and benefits for residents. Digitalisation of city services and crews. Energy and mobility in the city – support for efficiency and savings. Intelligent management: planning, conditions for investors, residents’ participation, and security. E-services in the e-office. Society 5.0 – the high-speed municipal Internet. Cybersecurity of administration.
Fair transition. How to program and implement it – the role of central and local government administration. Transition of the mining industry from the point of view of cities. Billions from the EU for shifting away from coal: Who should decide how to spend them?
Public-Private Partnership. There have been 160 contracts since 2009: How to break the deadlock? Local governments’ fears and their sources. The PPP formula versus the dwindling stream of EU funds and the prolonged pandemic and the ensuing crisis. How to correctly estimate the risk? In search of good examples: the requested and actual role of the state in the development of PPP.
The dilemmas of the metropolis. The metropolis as a civilisational development project. Quality of management and quality of investment. The metropolis’s influence on the region’s economic development. The potential and efficient co-operation – joint investment for local ambitions.
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION
Poland as an exporting power. What determines Polish advantages? Where does the potential lie? How to make use of the new opportunities related to relocation of manufacturing in connection with experience gained from the coronavirus pandemic? The support for exports – development of foreign missions, and the role of loans and export insurance. Development and diversification of the export offer – technologically advanced products, high-margin products, and new segments. The development of export to non-European markets – promising markets and major entry barriers.
Global economic co-operation – distant markets with a lot of potential. South America as an increasingly important economic partner for Poland – electronics, technologies and machinery. Opportunities for importers. Customs barriers and logistics. Polish companies in the emerging and fast-changing markets of Africa: How to make use of the experience gained to date? Africa as a region where global powers compete. South-East Asia – the self-integrating market as an opportunity for European and Polish exporters. China – an opportunity for a new opening?
Discussing foreign markets. Development prospects and potential of selected regions of the world from the point of view of a European investor. Criteria for evaluation. Analysis of opportunities and risks in practice. The role of institutional support. Financing and insurance. Promotion. Cultural differences. Experience, relations and co-operation. South-East Asia and the Indo-Pacific. The Republic of Korea and Japan. The Middle East. South America. Africa
The USA, the EU and Poland – a new opening? EU trade agreements in the new global reality. How will the relations between the EU and the USA change? What do the shifts on the global map of economic powers imply for the Polish economy?
Foreign investments. Attractive Poland in the eyes of investors. Labour market strengths: Are they still relevant? What types of investment does the Polish economy need? How does that compare to investors’ plans in the most dynamic industries?
BPO shared services centres. The potential of the Polish modern business services sector. How will the BPO/SSC pandemic change the industry, working style and demand for offices? The great move from Asia to Europe? How to win the race for multi-billion investments and thousands of jobs? Potential advantages – investment incentives, labour costs, access to employees, legislation, attractive offices, and technological infrastructure.
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E-COMMERCE
Commerce and digitalisation. Technology at the service of commerce, or artificial intelligence holds all the cards. Digitally loyal – data knows better what the consumer wants to buy. Social commerce, or e-shopping made even easier. Omnichannel – multi-channel communication, service and sales.
E-commerce on the green way. Sustainable shopping – the challenge of a new era of consumerism. Well-being, convenience, transparency and personalisation – the expectations of the new consumer. Environmentally friendly products; packaging and second-hand goods. The impact of changes in consumer behaviour on companies and the economy. A climate-friendly supply chain: warehouses, parcel machines and couriers all fight for low emissions.
Anywhere Commerce is changing the rules of the game. Digital consumers are always shopping. Giant Connectivity versus the new shopping experience. Technology, sociology and psychology of consumption. Clickless shopping and social commerce.
The success of marketplaces – the synergy of trade giants and local companies. How do the key players reconcile the need for hyperlocalism with globalisation? The world of commerce in 2025: Who will have a place in it?
Human resources for e-commerce. IT specialists, logistics specialists and couriers in demand. The role of new competences – from a salesperson to a specialist in building customer experience.
Revolution in logistics caused by the surge of e-commerce. Automation and digitalisation. Changes in the trading system and supply chains. The role of warehouses; their new locations and technologies used. Green logistics – green warehouses.
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THE FOOD INDUSTRY
Food exports in the shadow of the pandemic. Record-breaking figures despite the pandemic. What products are in demand on global markets? Has China already gone too far? Brexit, protectionism and the pandemic have caused Polish food companies to revise their expansion plans. Exports getting greener – the growing ethical and environmental requirements as a challenge for Polish food exports
The food industry on the way to sustainable development. How do Polish companies operating in the food sector fit into the objectives of the Green Deal? Emissions – reporting and reduction. Energy efficiency – implementation and effects. Reduced water use, photovoltaics and green technologies in agriculture and food processing. Sustainable food production in the supply and dependency chain. Packaging and waste. Extended producer responsibility, the deposit system, and the ban on plastic cutlery – new regulations versus strategies pursued by food companies.
Food business under pressure. The industry in the reality of the pandemic and in a spiral of new fees, taxes and legislation. Higher costs of doing business – the effect of rising energy prices and minimum wage. The circular economy as a challenge for the food sector and retail. The sugar tax: Who loses and who gains? What do the media have to do with food? The advertisement tax versus the food industry.
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FINANCE. MANAGEMENT
The cashless economy. The revolution in payments, and digital money. Cashless transactions in the era of omnichannel and e-commerce. Online and mobile payment systems in e-commerce, including cross-border e-commerce. The fin-tech industry and applications – consumer convenience, speed and security. What about ‘new money’? Blockchain – Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
State budgets. The crisis burdens, limits of endurance, and ways to cure the finance. Aid packages versus debts and budget deficits. Debt as a stumbling block to the global economy? Several ways: new taxes, cutting expenditure, and money printing. Stimulating the economy at all costs, or multiplying incomes. What will happen to inflation? Is there a bubble growing in the financial markets? The euro area during the pandemic. The monetary and fiscal policy: healing the state’s finances according to classic and new rules.
Tax systems: Are there limits to the system’s efficiency and effectiveness? Where are we heading? What can a taxpayer/entrepreneur expect? ‘Levies and fees’ instead of taxes – a proliferating formula with a new label. The tax system as a driver of economic development? Effectively, remotely, quickly and transparently, i.e. taxes versus digitalisation.
Resetting tax liabilities – changes announced in the Polish Deal. From assessing developments to proposing specific solutions. Implementation of tax concepts of the Polish Deal and their potential consequences for the economy and entrepreneurship in Poland. Who will benefit, and who will bear the costs of change?
The National Recovery Plan – reforms, programmes and investments. Polish government’s priorities versus fund distribution mechanisms. Grants and loans. The role of consultation. The expected effects. Anti-crisis mechanisms in the European Union – experiences, projections and effects. The specific nature of the new financial framework.
The PPK versus the financial market. Between disappointment and hope – a summary of the effects of the programme to date. The difficult problem of future pensions. What will the funds from the PPK be invested in and what economic and social consequences of doing so may arise? Society, capital and the future – the inclination towards saving and its stimulation.
The financial market versus the economy. Poland’s strategic problem: ‘frozen’ capital of companies and citizens – stagnation in private investments. The situation of banks is getting worse. The stock exchange: An operational boom or a structural slump? Bonds, or an undervalued opportunity. Investment funds in the current reality. What instruments in Poland (absent or emerging) may contribute to the revival of investment in the financial market? The financial market: post-pandemic forecasts.
The capital market. WSE – a spectacular rebound during the pandemic. Turnover and liquidity in 2020 and 2021. Sources, signs and consequences of the recovery on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The stock exchange versus the imminent transformation of the open pension funds (OFE). The Employee Capital Plans (PPK) – high but so far unfulfilled hopes. Will the pandemic permanently change the structure of the capital market and force innovation? How to keep that trend? Trust, surrounding institutions, and education.
The franchise market in Poland. More than just the restaurant and catering industry and retail – the franchise model in new services. Will it become the foundation for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises? The number of concepts versus market capacity. Advantages and disadvantages of franchising in Polish economic and regulatory reality. Brands, support, and knowledge transfer. Independence and creativity of franchisees. Business ethics in the relations between franchisors and franchisees.
Law in the face of challenges of the changing economy. Are there acute regulatory deficiencies? If so, in which areas is this true? The pace of technological development – new areas that require standardisation. Blockchain and other out-of-control technologies – advantages and risks. How to regulate so as not to overregulate? Legal solutions for the pandemic – necessary revision and verification.
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THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
A vision of healthcare after the pandemic. The ‘Programme for rebuilding the health of Poles’ – a review of new system solutions to facilitate patients’ access to healthcare. Healthcare: Will it finally become a priority after the pandemic? Expenditures on healthcare. What weaknesses of the Polish healthcare system have been exposed by COVID-19?
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the perception of the healthcare sector by politicians – new challenges and redefinition of priorities in development strategies pursued by particular countries.
From start-ups to market giants – the faces of innovative medical technology development in the era of the pandemic.
From industry to pharmacy. The pharmaceutical market in the era of the coronavirus – selected issues. Engaging modern pharmaceutical technologies in Poland – factories, R&D centres, Data Centres, and the Warsaw Health Innovation Hub.
E-health in the era of COVID-19 – the forced acceleration of digitalisation of the medical sector.