Looking ahead: Future opportunities in the greater Eurasian space

Towards the end of 2017, young researchers, senior experts, and high-level policymakers had the opportunity to engage in vibrant discussions on possible futures for the greater Eurasian space in 2040, and the potential of youth to contribute to economic cooperation and sustainable economic development in the region.

As part of the IIASA Futures Initiative “Challenges and Opportunities of Economic Integration within a wider European and Eurasian Space”, IIASA hosted the International Youth Forum: Future of Eurasian and European Integration: Foresight 2040, from 4 to 8 December 2017.

The event was co-organized by IIASA and the Institute for Economic Strategies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, with financial support from the Russian Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund.

A total of 40 talented young minds, together with senior experts and high-level policymakers from the European Union, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and East-, and South-East Asia, engaged in a vibrant brainstorming session on possible futures for the greater Eurasian space in 2040. Discussions included issues pertaining to economic-, humanitarian-, and security dimensions. The young participants evaluated the impact that currently emerging trends such as demographic changes, digitalization of the economy, block chains, and 3D-printing are going to have on regional economic integration. A foresight report based on these deliberations will be published in 2018. As a highlight of the forum, the young participants buried a time capsule containing an appeal to the youth of 2040 to be opened in that year.

During the final day of the forum the young researchers took part in the high-level event, “Connectivity, trade, and economic cooperation in the European and Eurasian space”, organized by IIASA on the margins of the 24^th Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial Council at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna.

Recognizing the potential of youth to contribute to economic cooperation and sustainable economic development, OSCE invited a representative of the Forum to speak to the Council’s guests. Marina Steiniger, a junior economist at the Ifo Institute for Economic Research Center for International Economics, was selected to report on how young people perceive future opportunities for closer economic cooperation in the wider European and Eurasian space.