Welcome speeches by RISEBA Rector Prof. I.Sennikova, BA Rector Prof. A.Sarnovics, SSE Riga Rector Prof. A.Paalzow, Director of the Institute of Economics of Latvian Academy of Sciences Dr. N.Linde, State secretary of Ministry of Economics R.Aleksejenko, State secretary of Ministry of Education and Science L.Lejina, Representative of Ministry of Finance

Latvia’s future is embedded within global structures, although not entirely defined by them. The configuration of the global system during the Belle Époque produced rapid economic growth, with the Baltics being among the leading areas of technological change. The Cold War saw Latvia forcibly withdrawn from its previous role connecting regions across Eurasia, but nonetheless on the leading edge of industrial development in the USSR. Latvia re-emerged onto the global stage as the USSR collapsed, and again was inserted into global circuits of commerce, but no longer as an agent of technological (productivity enhancing) change. Moreover, not only was Latvia no longer on the leading edge of technological change, but productivity in the post-Cold War period was slowing generally, as the global system moved into a new globalized neoliberal configuration.

Participants: Prof. J.Sommers, A.Rostovskis, E.Labanovskis, J.Berzins, A.Ozols, R. Baumanis Moderator: A.Ceplitis

Due to global challenges, we are forced for the first time in the history of humankind to seriously consider our economy from a wider perspective than pure economic growth and efficiency. Even if economic growth has been the main enabler of a better life in many parts of the world, we have to ask if it can be the answer for tackling future challenges. In his presentation, Dr. Kaskinen will deal with the effects different future signals like megatrends, trends, weak signals and non-linear developments have on the economy. He will explore the possibilities of the bio-economy, the circular economy and the sharing economy from the standpoint of sustainability, climate change, population growth and urbanization and look at the role of digitalisation, robots, extreme data and machine learning. Can they help humankind avert the destruction we are facing if we continue the short-sighted exploitation of our non-renewable resources and also most of our renewable resources?

Participants: Dr. J. Kaskinen, Prof. A. Sauka, V. Celmins; S. Balina, V. Levcenkovs Moderator: A. Ceplitis

Participants: Prof. I.Sennikova, R. Dlohi, representatives of Latvian innovative companies and the IT technology sector

EURAXESS Latvia - a platform for researchers, entrepreneurs, universities and businesses to interact with each other. Dace Purina, State Education Development Agency

Feedback from session moderators, Best Paper Award, acknowledgements