International Leadership Conference 2021: Recovery, Innovation and Partnership

The event became one of the key international events of the year dedicated to the development of an innovative economy, building cross-sector partnerships, developing human capital, and deepening international dialogue between business, science, education, culture, and state institutions.

Purpose of the conference

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The conference aimed to form a common vision of future development by bringing together leaders and experts from various fields, ranging from entrepreneurship, technology, education, and science to art, sports, and ecology.

The main idea behind the event is to create a new architecture of international partnership based on professionalism, sustainable thinking, innovation, and responsible leadership.

The conference was based on the IBA's mission, as defined in the Association's Statutes: to promote the development of entrepreneurship, science, education, culture, and sports by creating a space for knowledge exchange, innovation, and international cooperation.

Participants and format

The conference was attended by over 200 delegates from six countries, including representatives of governments, international institutions, financial organizations, universities, arts centers, technology startups, and cultural foundations.

Speeches and key messages

Opening the conference, IBA President Dmytro Kulynich emphasized:

“The future is built on people who can see beyond their own industry. Today, business, science, culture, education, and technology are coming together as one. This is the foundation of sustainable global development.”

Speakers included :

- Rostislav Vovk (Kormotech) — on innovation in manufacturing and the global leadership of Ukrainian brands;

- Academician Ella Libanova (National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine) — on the role of human capital in the social reconstruction of society;

- Igor Gut (business consultant, Sweden/Ukraine) — on systems thinking in entrepreneurship;

- Maria Gavrilyuk (Gunia Project) — on cultural diplomacy and the development of art in international partnerships;

Key areas of discussion

- Economic stability and international investment.

- Innovation, technology, and business process automation.

- Education and science as drivers of sustainable development.

- Culture, arts, and creative industries as part of the global economy of influence.

- Social programs, sports, corporate responsibility, and environmental safety.

International agreements and signed documents

IBA and UkrInvest Holding signed a memorandum on the creation of an investment platform to support startups in the fields of green energy and production automation. A special program, Innovation Acceleration 2021, is planned to be launched, targeting technology companies in Ukraine and Central Europe.

The IBA signed a cultural partnership agreement with the European Art Council, which provides for the joint organization of exhibitions of products, startups, and technological solutions of the association's members.

Agreements were reached with the GreenTech Alliance on the implementation of joint pilot projects to introduce energy efficiency systems at Ukrainian enterprises.

Conference results

At the end of the conference, participants adopted the Kyiv Declaration of Innovative Development, which sets out common principles for cooperation:

1. People are at the heart of development. Human capital, education, and talent are the main investments.

2.    Innovation without borders. Exchange of knowledge, technologies, and cultural ideas between experts and industry leaders.

3.    Sustainable development. Responsible use of resources, energy conservation.

4.    Interdisciplinarity. Interaction between business, science, art, sports, and the state.

5. Responsible leadership. Transparency, partnership, and trust as the basis for international dialogue.

During the final meeting, the IBA Innovation Development Council was established to coordinate project implementation and interaction with international institutions.

Conclusions

The International Leadership Conference 2021: Recovery, Innovation and Partnership brought together leaders and experts from various fields and industries who are shaping the new modernity. The event became a symbol of Ukraine's openness to the world and its desire for an innovative future based on partnership between business, science, culture, sports, and society.

The next stage is the implementation of planned initiatives and support for the projects of the Association's members with the aim of developing the industries.