03.11.2021 - GLOBSEC AT EXPO 2020 DUBAI - Theme week: Urban & Rural Development, 31 Oct – 6 Nov 2021

• Róbert Vass, President of GLOBSEC

Diseases shape cities. But what if we were able to shape our cities to better fight diseases? The last months of the pandemic have seen life disrupted in every city around the world. The variety and imagination of responses to this crisis have given urban planners and policymakers a huge source of insight. How can we improve our access to real-time information that helps cities survive a crisis? What can urban planners do to reduce the impact of a crisis on disadvantaged communities? How should public services be designed to cope with surges in demand? How bold can Mayors be in reshaping sustainable behaviour using incentives and restrictions?

• Juraj Droba, Regional Governor, Bratislava
• Martina Slabejová, Group Leasing Director, HB Reavis
• Martin Rapoš, CEO Akular
• Led by: Vazil Hudák, Vice Chair, Board of Directors, GLOBSEC

By 2025, there will be approximately 1.5 billion cars on the roads worldwide. Electromobility is an important contributor towards addressing the growing mobility needs. To help shape the booming green transport market while supporting the implementation of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, we need to develop low-carbon value chains for batteries. Batteries are a core technology underpinning the shift to energy decarbonization and transport systems and could be a game-changer in efforts to curb climate change. What are the opportunities associated with a circular economy for batteries? What does it take to build stable and transparent raw material supply chains, characterized by good working conditions and providing shared prosperity? How to support the electrification of transport in low and middle-income countries?

• E. Richard Sulík, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of the Slovak Republic
• E. Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, European Commission
• Markus Kaune, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO, ZSE & VSE
• Marián Smik, Chairman, Slovak Battery Alliance
• Led by: Vazil Hudák, Vice Chair, Board of Directors, GLOBSEC

Digital technologies have proven to be crucial in tackling the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Many innovations that emerged during the crisis are here to stay for the long term, including those in digital healthcare, online schooling and remote work. Yet countries and regions without widespread broadband access didn‘t get to fully benefit from the digital age. During the coronavirus crisis, inadequate access to broadband coverage has worsened the development gap between urban and rural areas even further. What will it take to achieve universal, affordable and good quality broadband in less developed areas? What are the most promising solutions by governments and businesses to improve connectivity in rural settlements? The speed of technological progress is not matched by the skills offered on labour markets or the evolution of education systems – how do we address the widening digital skills divide?

• Peter Balík, Director, Department for Innovations, Strategic Investments and Analyses, Ministry for Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic
• Amnah Ajmal, EVP for Market Development, MEA, Mastercard
• Endre Ascsillan, Vice President at GE Global, General Electric
• Vazil Hudák, Vice Chair, Board of Directors, GLOBSEC
• Led by: Alena Kudzko, Vice-President, GLOBSEC & Director of GLOBSEC Policy Institute

• Róbert Vass, President of GLOBSEC