SPIEF 2014: technology, energy and Russia’s future development agenda
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to report the author’s observations and opinions during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2014. Discussions presented focus on recent technological developments and their impacts on society with three plausible future scenarios; the energy agenda with new technological advancements and future energy partnerships; and the dynamics of Russia’s future development agenda amid the Ukraine crisis.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper includes a commentary on the SPIEF 2014 Forum. Ideas presented are extended through the review of relevant references and future scenarios.
Findings
Technological development will continue to shape societies and may even result with the transformation of social classes. Energy will remain as a top priority area on the global and regional socio-economic agenda, with political implications across the world and in Russia.
Research limitations/implications
A number of research questions arose through the discussion on the relationships between science, technology and society; future energy technologies; and geo-politics.
Social implications
Technological development will certainly have implications on society. The paper explores those impacts through “visionary”, “negative” and “different” scenarios. Similarly, the transformations in the energy sector will have broader social and environmental impacts.
Originality/value
With the original ideas presented, this viewpoint paper addresses some of the grand social, technological, economic, environmental and political challenges that societies face today.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper was produced within the framework of the Basic Research Program at the National Research University HSE and was supported within the framework of the subsidy granted to the HSE by the Government of the Russian Federation for the implementation of the Global Competitiveness Program.
The paper is based on the observations and notes taken by the author during the SPIEF 2014. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the individual names and organisations mentioned through the text.
Citation
Saritas, O. (2015), "SPIEF 2014: technology, energy and Russia’s future development agenda", Foresight, Vol. 17 No. 3, pp. 233-239. https://doi.org/10.1108/FS-04-2015-0020
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited