The Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum is held in the city on the Neva from the 2nd to the 5th of June. World’s leading experts and representatives of the authorities, the public, the business, science and education sectors meet on one platform. Aleksandr Sergeev, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and other members of the academy are taking part in the forum. Also, several cooperation agreements with companies and regions of Russia have been signed.
The day began with the signing of the agreement between the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI). The document provides for joint science and education projects to be developed, including for implementation in regions of Russia. Read more in “SPIEF-2021: RAS signed an agreement with the Agency for Strategic Initiatives.”
The session “Is knowledge truly power?” followed, where the participants discussed the significance of science and new knowledge for the development of humanity. The article “Is knowledge truly power? SPIEF-2021. Session Organizer: RAS and its President A. M. Sergeev” outlines the key points of the discussion. The article “Is knowledge truly power? Significance of science and new knowledge was discussed at a SPIEF session” presents the opinions of the speakers of the session. Wrapping up the session, President of the Academy of Sciences Aleksandr Sergeev emphasized: “In the 21st century, the technology race replaced the arms race. It’s about the ability to take new knowledge, throw new technologies onto the market, and then use the excess profit to invest in science. Economies that managed to create this chain are winning the technology race. Russia has nothing to boast about so far. But we have companies and corporations that have learned to do it. I believe that the future of this country can only be technology-oriented. We need each other. The link between science-oriented business and the science sector may become our only trump card allowing Russia to catch up with the rapidly evolving world.”
Further on, the RAS President met with Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov, the leader of the Republic of Ingushetia. During the meeting, the participants discussed active science areas of Ingushetia and signed a cooperation agreement.
Aleksandr Sergeev also gave an interview on the topic “Science application possibilities” at the studio of the Society “Znanie” on the SPIEF platform.
Then the RAS President met with Aleksandr Larin, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Tavolga Science and Culture Development Foundation, and Vitaly Tushinov, Deputy Governor of Vologda Region.
The day on the SPIEF platform closed with a panel session dedicated to world level science and education centers. Today, such centers are viewed as drivers of regional economies.
Commentary from Aleksandr Mikhailovich Sergeev, following the Academy’s first day at the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum 2021
