KURZEME BUSINESS FORUM
Who Will Work in Businesses in 2035?
People, artificial intelligence or robots? How will demographic shifts, technological advances and investment shape business competitiveness and regional economic growth?
27 November – The Kurzeme Business Forum will bring together business leaders, industry experts and decision-makers at the Latvija Concert Hall in Ventspils for strategic discussions on the future of the labour market, productivity and competitiveness.
8–9 December – At the COLOURS CoLab workshops, students and entrepreneurs will work together to develop solutions to real-world business challenges, turning ideas into practical innovations.
These events are organised as part of the COLOURS European University Alliance.
Pēteris Strautiņš
Moderator and Luminor Chief Economist
Jānis Vītoliņš
Chairman of the Ventspils City council
Igors Udodovs
Chairman of the Council of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Manager of the Ventspils Free Port
Roberts Idelsons
Chairman of the Management Board of Signet Bank
Zane Vārpiņa
Associate Professor and Researcher at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga
Gatis Romanovskis
Head of Animas Ltd
Una Libkovska
Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Management at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Dr. sc. admi.
Rimants Jeļinsks
Doctoral Researcher at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences
Jānis Paiders
State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science
Danuta Pīlapa
Acting Director of the Investment Attraction and Business Development Department at the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA)
Jānis Salmiņš
Deputy State Secretary for Human Capital Management and Macroeconomic Development at the Ministry of Economics
Mikus Brakanskis
Plant Manager at
Bucher Municipal Ltd
Andris Bite
Member of the Management Board of Karavela Ltd
Ēvalds Urtāns
Head of Asya Ltd and Chairman of the Latvian Artificial Intelligence Association (MILA)
Raimonds Lapiņš
Head of the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia
Betija Deina Muižniece
Head of Product and AI at
Animas Ltd
Edmunds Antufjevs
Head of Investment Banking at Signet Bank
Ilze Valdmane
Co-owner and Board Member of Aspired Ltd
Agenda
PEOPLE AND THE LABOUR MARKET IN 2035:
WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR LATVIA’S REGIONS?
WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR LATVIA’S REGIONS?
9:30
10:00
Opening SessionModerator: Pēteris Strautiņš
Registration and Coffee
Jānis Vītoliņš, Chairman of the Ventspils City Council
Igors Udodovs, Chairman of the Council of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Manager of the Ventspils Free Port
Danuta Pīlapa, Acting Director of the Investment Attraction and Business Development Department at the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA)
Roberts Idelsons, Chairman of the Management Board of Signet Bank
10:30
The Future of the Regions: How Many of Us Will There be, and What Will We Be Capable of?
Zane Vārpiņa, Associate Professor and Researcher at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga
10:45
How Can Regions Avoid Demographic Collapse?
Pēteris Strautiņš, Luminor Chief Economist
11:00
The year 2035 doesn't need to be predicted. It's already been calculated
Raimonds Lapiņš, Head of the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia
11:15
Where Will Labour Shortages Emerge by 2035, and What Should We Do Today?
Jānis Salmiņš, Deputy State Secretary for Human Capital Management and Macroeconomic Development at the Ministry of Economics
11:30
The Role of Workforce Forecasting in Effective Business Resource Management
Una Libkovska, Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Management at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Dr. sc. admi.
Rimants Jeļinsks, Doctoral Researcher at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences
11:50
Expert Discussion: People and the Labour Market in 2035: What Lies Ahead for Latvia’s Regions?
Moderator: Pēteris Strautiņš
Participants:
Zane Vārpiņa, Associate Professor and Researcher at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga
Raimonds Lapiņš, Head of the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia
Jānis Salmiņš, Deputy State Secretary for Human Capital Management and Macroeconomic Development at the Ministry of Economics
12:30 – 13:15
Networking and lunch*
*Event participants will be provided with free lunch by the organizers.
BUSINESS IN 2035:
TECHNOLOGY, PRODUCTIVITY AND INVESTMENT
TECHNOLOGY, PRODUCTIVITY AND INVESTMENT
13:15
Discussion: The Workforce of 2035: Local Talent, Foreign Workers or Robots?
Moderator: Pēteris Strautiņš
Panellists:
Mikus Brakanskis, Plant Manager at Bucher Municipal Ltd
Ilze Valdmane, Co-owner and Board Member of Aspired Ltd
Andris Bite, Member of the Management Board of Karavela Ltd
14:45
Human Capital and the Education Needed for 2035
Jānis Paiders, State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science
15:00
How do Technology Companies Use the Capital market globally and in the Baltics?
Edmunds Antufjevs, Head of Investment Banking at Signet Bank
15:15
A Decade of Skills in 10 Minutes
Betija Deina Muižniece, Head of Product and AI at Animas Ltd
15:30
Robotics in Construction
Ēvalds Urtāns, Head of Asya Ltd and Chairman of the Latvian Artificial Intelligence Association (MILA)
15:45
Panel Discussion: 2035 Starts Today: What Decisions Need to Be Made Now?
Moderator: Pēteris Strautiņš
Panellists:
Roberts Idelsons, Chairman of the Management Board of Signet Bank
Danuta Pīlapa, Acting Director of the Investment Attraction and Business Development Department at the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA)
Una Libkovska, Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Management, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Dr. sc. admi.
Gatis Romanovskis, Head of Animas Ltd
16:30
From forum discussions to real-world solutions –
CHALLENGE 2035
Forum language – Latvian. Interpretation at the forum will be provided by AI tool (please bring your own headphones).
Agenda – December 8
9:00
Introduction to the Day
9:15
Team Mentoring
10:30
Independent Teamwork
12:30
Lunch Break
13:15
Idea Presentations
15:15
Event Closing
10:30
Independent Teamwork
Lunch Break
Idea Presentations
Event Closing
Agenda – December 9
9:00
Workshop Introduction
9:40
Introduction of Entrepreneurs, Team Formation and Task Allocation
12:00
Lunch Break
13:00
Design Thinking Masterclass
14:00
Independent Teamwork
15:45
Closing of the Day
12:00
Lunch Break
Design Thinking Masterclass
Independent Teamwork
Closing of the Day
Organizers
Partners
.