PRELIMINARY AGENDA

PLENARY SESSION

15 years in the European Union

Benefits of being an EU member. Experience of Poland, Baltic states and Slovakia
In search of a new Europe. A need for a fresh view
After the European elections – power structure, expectations and projections
Europe versus protectionism, trade barriers and limitations
Eastern neighbourhood in a new Europe. Opportunities and threats for Poland and the Baltic states
How will the EU’s future budget respond to social challenges and expectations?
Fifteen years of Eastern Poland – effects of changes. The role of support from the European Union

Eastern Poland – challenges for the future

Utilisation of EU funds – an attempt at assessment
Content, coverage and potential expansion of the “Eastern Poland” programme
Impact of major infrastructural north-south investments on regional development
Development models, support models. Metropolitan and non-urbanised areas of Eastern Poland
Major investments in Eastern Poland
Role of local government in creating conditions for economic development

THE SUBJECT MATTER

Foreign direct investments (FDIs) in Poland

Factors determining the location of FDIs in Poland
Eastern Poland in the eyes of foreign investors
Relations between local authorities and foreign investors
Cultural differences, formal legal issues, tax system
Prospects of FDI inflow to Poland
Experience of foreign investors

Start-ups in Eastern Poland

Effective tools to implement start-up solutions. Risks and threats
Success of start-ups and what’s next? In search of a universal formula
Potential of local institutions to support start-ups
Development trends and directions of young entrepreneurs in Poland
Start-ups and investors. Risk of losing independence versus development opportunities
Innovations as support and an alternative to agriculture. Start-ups in villages?

Dry Port on the Euro-Asian transport route

Transport and logistics infrastructure between Europe and Asia
Eastern Poland on the global trading map – how can the existing infrastructure’s potential be used?
New Silk Route. Experience, prospects, limitations
Podlaskie – a dry port on the European-Asian route
Renaissance of railways and development of multimodal transport. New technologies in logistics centres

New trends on the food market

Where is the market heading? Millennials, growth of affluence, development of digital technologies. Preferences of informed consumers
On a carousel of trends. A new offer for food producers
Top quality food, superfood, unprocessed and natural products
Marketing strategies, packaging and distribution versus life styles. Known brands newly presented

Business and science

Potential and competitive advantages of universities in Eastern Poland. Leading majors
Science in cooperation with business – big and small, domestic and foreign
Commercialisation of research, cooperation models with companies. Role of spin-offs and spin-outs
Science and employers in dialogue to improve the quality of education and the labour market
Constitution for Science and other reforms – the role in the education system, commercialisation of research and innovations in the eyes of practical scientists
A network of universities in Eastern Poland?

Digitisation and new technologies

Technologies that change the world. Fourth industrial revolution as a sum of opportunities and threats
Digital transformation as a challenge to companies
Industry 4.0 – available technologies and conditions related to implementation
New tools in business – e-commerce, 5G, broadband networks
Crime and threats in cyber space – learn, protect, prevent

IT Sector – Silicon Forest

ICT sector in development strategies and economic reality of Eastern Poland
Achievements and emerging IT centres in the macroregion of Eastern Poland
Conditions to develop the sector. What are the expectations of the IT sector?
A system of local and central support. Investors, incubators, accelerators, clusters and technological parks
“Silicon Forest” as an example of comprehensive efforts to develop an environment for creative business based on IT technologies

Logistics and cross-border infrastructural investments

Eastern Poland at a crossroads of transcontinental road and railway routes
Large infrastructural projects – concepts, the reality of cooperation, prospects, place in the EU’s transport policies
Via Carpatia – the road that will connect the Aegean Sea with the Black Sea, the Adriatic and the Baltic Sea basin
Railway to the East – Rail Baltica. Progress status
Connecting Western Europe with the Baltic states – Via Baltica

Future of the food market. Innovations now!

Agri and food industry in Eastern Poland – Advantages and competition today and tomorrow
How can exports of food be expanded? Who will replace Russia? In search of new markets, products, business models
Automation and digitisation. Investments in technologies and effects. Agricultural Valley 4.0
Combination of natural aspects and tradition with modern developments in the food industry
Family food businesses. Will the generation of young entrepreneurs revolutionise the market?
Foreign investments in food industry – a threat or an opportunity?

Energy in local authorities

Power engineering in villages and towns. EU programmes as a form of fight against exclusion and low emissions
Programmes improving energy effectiveness and their beneficiaries. Thermo modernisation
Use of communal waste for energy purposes. Co-generation, geothermal energy, systemic heat. What will local authorities focus on?
financing possibilities for projects related to energy management

Investments by local authorities and how they are financed

More difficult funds – EU funds yesterday, today, tomorrow
Alternative non-EU tools to finance investments. Models, arrangements, partners
Public-Private Partnership as an opportunity to accelerate infrastructural investments
End of investment, beginning of troubles? Road management in the region

Cross-border cooperation – experience and prospects

status and future of cross-border cooperation programmes
Poland's economic cooperation with Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. A view from both sides of the border. Special investment zones
European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTCs) “Eastern Poland”. Utilisation of funds from cooperation programmes
Regional Intelligent Specialisations as a priority for cross-border cooperation
Poland's eastern border as the EU's border. Cooperation between local authorities, the government and Frontex (EU)

Labour market

Challenges of today's labour market – new professions, new technologies, demography
Professions in demand – who is missing on the labour market in Eastern Poland
Vocational training as a response to the needs of the labour market. Employers’ expectations and involvement
Flexibility on the labour market as a response to changes – a fashionable trend or a necessity?
Labour Code and new migration policies – when will new solutions be implemented?
Employment Offices in the new market reality. Their role in Eastern Poland

Financing, organisation, HR – several difficult questions about the health service

additional funds for health services as part of the “Six percent” Act by 2024 – in which areas are funds most badly needed?
Health care structure in the regions of Eastern Poland
Number of hospitals, wards, bed designation and utilisation versus rational spending; what should be changed in the organisation of in- and out-patient clinic treatment?
The role and place of basic health care (POZ) in the health care system; are the competencies of doctors in the basic health care system used appropriately?
Financing of hospitals. Possibilities to provide funding within the lump-sum system; share of salaries in the costs
Situation on the market of medical personnel and its impact on the functioning of health services in regions – what are the projections?

EU funds after 2020

Use of EU development funds – a challenge for the region. Successes and shortcomings of regional programmes
Support mechanisms in EU programmes after 2020. Prospects for Eastern Poland
What will change? Repayable funds, methods and potential for use. Priority investment areas
Financing of territorial cooperation with EU funds – possibilities, needs, potential effects
Education and new competencies. Universities versus soft regional projects

Renewable Energy Sources (RES) for Eastern Poland

A green light? Regulatory framework for distributed and prosumer power generation
Energy clusters – have they proven their worth?
An investment boom in photovoltaics. Reasons, progress, effects
Biogas plants, biomass, use of communal waste for energy generation – lost potential?
RES as a way to energy independence for local authorities

Climate for investors

The art of encouragement. Attractive for investors – what does that mean?
Local authorities as a partner to business. What do companies expect, what do they get?
Sites, infrastructure, transportation – an offer of less urbanised towns and areas
Multimodal transport centre in Podlasie. With investors for investors
Labour market – resources, future
Local regulations and incentives for investors
The role of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and clusters in the macroregion. Local leaders, environment and cooperation

Family businesses

Time for the new generation. Business facing changes
The process of handing over power in family businesses. Hazards and risks
The law that supports succession. Proven solutions?
Succession scenarios. New models of management. The role of external investors
Specific features of family businesses and attracting new personnel

Globalisation, expansion, cooperation

Companies from Eastern Poland on global markets – achievements, practice, ambitions
Strategies for entering foreign markets. Leading sectors, specialisations, leaders
Available tools supporting economic expansion and their use

Time for green business

Ecology – does it make business sense? Sustainable development as an offensive trend in the economy
The renewable energy sector in Eastern Poland – generation and services
Technologies in waste management. Idea of the circulating economy
Monitoring first. Technical tools in support of environmental protection
Eco-construction, thermo modernisation, energy effectiveness – an opportunity for the sector
Healthy because its natural. Certified products in food industry

Mediation and arbitration

Economic mediation that is friendly to enterprises
Application of mediation clauses in trade
Role of the Arbitration and Mediation Centre
Meaning of settlement resulting from mediation
Education on compromise and innovative ways to settle disputes
Mediation versus reform of the justice system

Social dialogue in public space

The Act on the Social Dialogue Council has been in effect for 4 years
How and whom should be listened to so that dialogue can be effective?
Effectiveness and plans for the future
The invaluable role of WRDS in developing public space

Strategies in regional development

Actual impact of strategies on regional policies and the life quality of inhabitants
Do/how strategic plans stimulate economic growth?
To who, for whom and what for – addressees of the useful aspects of strategies
New conditions and new development directions of provinces
Draft update of the Podlaskie Voivodeship Development Strategy