The session “Business as usual or need for a new thinking” explored the business attraction and business-making models in the Baltic Sea Region. Four messages were stressed by the panelists: Firstly, we need to consider new thinking and more focused approach. Our focus should be on entrepreneurship and start-ups. There is a need for robust start-ups systems and more long-standing…
The discussions in the session “The Baltic Sea Region: Challenges and Game Changers” was based around a paper by Tobias Etzold and Christian Opitz, Stiftung Wissenshaft und Politik. The paper suggests that a meaningful cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region involving Russia is still possible and recommends a step-by-step approach as a possible way forward. This approach would entail stabilizing…
Join us in Copenhagen on 23 November for a full day of inspiring presentations and discussion at the 17th Baltic Development Forum Summit. The 2015 edition of the State of the Region Report will provide a comprehensive review of the latest economic trends and developments. We will also discuss how the Juncker Plan might boost investment in the Baltic Sea…
President of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, was guest of honor at the Confederation of Danish Industry on 6 November. The Confederation had invited selected partners, including BDF, to an exclusive business round table to discuss digitization and the Digital Single Market with the President. Estonia is well known as a digital frontrunner and President Ilves is personally warmly engaged in…
On 2 Sept BDF had the honor to host a visit by Estonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Marina Kaljurand. BDF took the opportunity to invite some of our members and partners in the digital sector to an exclusive round table with the minister. The meeting discussed digital strengths and challenges of the Baltic Sea Region, including how we can…
We are pleased to announce that the 17th BDF Summit will take place in Copenhagen on 23 November 2015. Since 1999 the annual BDF Summits have provided a meeting place for top representatives for business, politics, academia and civil society, offering a high-level and well-known platform for policy formulation, business matchmaking and cross-sectorial dialogue in the Baltic Sea Region. Exploring…
On June 30, partners and friends of Baltic Development Forum gathered at the BDF office in Copenhagen to welcome ambassador Per Carlsen as new senior advisor in Baltic Development Forum and to bid farewell to Hans Brask, former BDF Director, leaving for Riga to become the new Danish ambassador to Latvia from August. The guests were welcomed by BDF Chairman…
Shipping has contributed to the Baltic Sea Region’s prosperity since the Vikings. Today the region is home to some of the world’s leading shipping companies and maritime equipment manufacturers. Growth potential exists in other parts of the blue sector as well, from coastal tourism to off-shore energy. This conference marks the start of the elaboration of a dedicated EU Master…
BDF took part in the 6th Annual Forum for the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region in Jurmala, Latvia on 15-16 June. The Annual Forum was a great opportunity for networking with many of BDF´s good and close collaboration partners, for inspiration, and for discussion on the future direction for the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea region. With…
Programming in school should be on top of the agenda! That is one of the recommendations in a discussion paper published by “Top of Digital Europe”. The paper, “Coding the Future – The challenge of meeting future e-skill demands in the Nordic-Baltic ICT hub”, deals with the emerging gap between demand and supply of ICT specialists. In Europe, this gap…