The 18th Baltic Development Forum Summit was held in Stockholm on 8 November 2016, in conjunction with the 7th Strategy Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Taking stock of the current state of the Baltic Sea Region, the 18th BDF Summit explored how we can find common ground in a changing environment, looking closer at the regional economic affairs, the political climate, and the potential for business.
Organised by the Baltic Development Forum, the annual Summits have provided a high-level meeting place for regional cross-sectoral dialogue since 1999. See the full list of previous BDF Summits and related materials.
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Welcome Event, 7 November
An opportunity to meet and greet over a glass of wine and some snacks before the start of the 18th Baltic Development Forum Summit. During the mingle we will challenge a few regional profiles to a playful debate on Baltic Sea Regional identity and trends.
Lauri Rosendahl, President of Nasdaq Nordic
Andris Piebalgs, Chairman of the Unity party and former European Commissioner
Henrik Hololei, Director-General, DG MOVE, European Commission
Time: 18.00-20.00
Venue: Nasdaq Stockholm , Tullvaktsvägen 15, Stockholm
18th BDF Summit Programme, 8 November
08.30-09.00 Registration and Coffee
09.00-09.10 Welcome
Lene Espersen, Chairman, Baltic Development Forum
09.10-09.50 State of the Baltic Sea Region 2016
With the launch of the 2016 State of the Region Report we will provide an overview of the economic trends in the Baltic Sea Region, including outlooks on investments, growth and competitiveness.
Christian Ketels, Senior Research Fellow, Stockholm School of Economics, and Faculty Member, Harvard Business School
Helge Pedersen, Group Chief Economist, Nordea
Comments by:
Jan Vapaavuori, Vice-President and Member of the Management Committee, European Investment Bank
09.50-10.05 Special Address
Martina Larkin, Head of Europe and Eurasia and Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum
10.05-10.45 Business Responses to Current Regional Trends
What defines the business climate in the Baltic Sea Region in 2016? Is the region still attractive to invest in, and what is its biggest potential? In a world increasingly impacted by global trends and volatile business environment, how can we build on the momentum and secure accelerated sustainable economic growth? How can we best make use of well-established industrial experiences and new entrepreneurial thinking to define future strategies?
Janne Öhmann, CEO Siemens Finland
Ilja Laurs, Founder of GetJar and Nextury Ventures
David Zahle, Partner, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)
10.45-11.00 Key Note
Rickard Gustafson, CEO, SAS Group
11.00-11.10 Political State of the Region: Facing a new Reality in the Baltic Sea Region
Launch of the 2016 Political State of the Region Report
Jana Puglierin, Head of Programme, German Council on Foreign Relations
11.10-11.55 What Will It Take for Baltic Sea Regional Cooperation to Survive?
In a time of broader political conflicts and mistrust, can Baltic Sea regional cooperation be regenerated and play a positive role?
Jana Puglierin, Head of Programme, German Council on Foreign Relations
Andrei Kolesnikov, Senior Associate, Carnegie Moscow Center
Agnieszka Łada, Head of the European Programme/Senior Analyst, Institute of Public Affairs
Andris Piebalgs, Chairman of the Unity party and former European Commissioner
11.55 Closing Remarks
Flemming Stender, Director, Baltic Development Forum
Sessions at the 7th Strategy Forum of the EUSBSR, 8-9 November
BDF organises a number of sessions within the programme of the 7th Strategy Forum of the EUSBSR:
8 November, 15.00-16.20: Connecting for a digital market in the Baltic Sea Region
Inspired by the ‘State of the Digital Region Report 2016’, to be launched at this main session, a high level panel of government, industry, city and entrepreneurs will discuss how cities can be drivers for a digital single market in the Baltic Sea Region by offering attractive environments for digital startups and by supporting and connecting digital ecosystems. The session is co-organised with Swedish Agency of Economic & Regional Growth and Nordic Council of Ministers.
Speakers and panelists:
Jan Tore Sanner, Minister of Local Government & Modernisation, Norway
Damon Knight, Chief Architect, Microsoft
Niko Kyynäräinen, CEO, Turku Science Park Ltd, Finland
Rokas Tamošiūnas, Partner, Robos Capital, Lithuania
Moderator:
Monika Zamachowska,
8 November, 15.10-16.00: The Political State of the Baltic Sea Region – Facing a New Reality
How can we work together in the Baltic Sea Region in the current difficult political environment? Using the 2016 BDF Political State of the Region Report as a starting point, this hot seat will allow a senior researcher to reflect on the current situation in the Baltic Sea Region. How are we impacted by international events such as the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Russian domestic policy and East West relations?
Speakers:
Andrei Kolesnikov, Senior Associate, Carnegie Moscow Center
Per Carlsen, Senior Advisor, Baltic Development Forum (moderator)
8 November, 16.30-17.30: Internationalisation models for digital start-ups in the Baltic Sea Region
A workshop with a specific focus on internationalisation models for digital start-ups in the Baltic Sea Region. Three different policy makers will present pitches on stage and one will be selected as the best scale-up possibility covering the Baltic Sea Region.
9 November, 14.00-14.50: Achieving knowledge-driven innovation and growth in the Baltic Sea Region
Investments in research-industry collaboration help to boost growth in the Baltic Sea Region: investments in innovative capacity boost competitiveness and growth. This seminar explores how public and private sectors in the region can pool together for joint innovation and regional prosperity, and examines the structures and funding needed to stimulate a knowledge-driven economy. Organised in collaboration with Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Region Skåne, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (GEMS).
Speakers:
Uwe Sassenberg, Coordinator, DESY and Lead Partner of BalticTRAM (Transnational Research Access in the Macroregion)
Tobias Krantz, Director for Education, Research and Innovation, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise
Thomas Hansson, Chair of Region Skåne Regional Development Committee
Antonio Di Giulio, Head of Unit, Research Infrastructure B4, DG Research and Innovation, EU Commission
Registration
Registration is now closed.
Questions about your registration? Contact bdfsummit@meetagain.se
Press contact: Lovisa Selander, ls@bdforum.org
Venue
The Brewery Conference Centre
Torkel Knutssonsgatan 2
Stockholm, Sweden
7th Strategy Forum of the EUSBSR
The 7th Strategy Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) takes place in Stockholm, 8-9 November 2016, in conjunction with the 18th Baltic Development Forum Summit. More than 1200 stakeholders from all around the Baltic Sea Region will gather to discuss the future of the region within a 2030 perspective. The Strategy Forum is hosted by Sweden together with the Nordic Council of Ministers and in close cooperation with the European Commission. www.strategyforum2016.eu
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