III International Symposium "Inventing the Future" to bring together participants from 107 countries

Representatives of 107 countries, including China, India, the United States, the UAE, South Korea, Germany, Italy, South Africa, Egypt, Venezuela, Mexico and Indonesia, will take part in the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future", which will be held on 12–13 November at the National Centre RUSSIA and bring together more than 7,000 participants. People from different continents will work together to develop positive scenarios for the future. The event is being organised on the instructions of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin as part of the Decade of Science and Technology.

This year, the Symposium will welcome representatives from more than 40 African countries, including Algeria, Angola, Gabon, Ghana, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Madagascar, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa and others. Participants are also expected from 30 Asian countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, India, Jordan, Yemen, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Korea. More than 10 European countries will be represented, including Hungary, Germany, Greece, Spain and Italy. Countries from North and South America will include Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Peru, the United States and others.

For example, Ferdinand Omanyala (Kenya), African record holder and champion in sprint and Diamond League silver medallist, will speak at the Open Lecture Hall and share his story of success. The family talk show will feature Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, Malaysia's first astronaut, who took part in a space mission to the International Space Station and is an orthopaedic surgeon and member of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, together with his sons, Sheikh Adam and Sheikh Noah. Speakers at the science fiction writers' and futurists' discussion "Drafts of the Future" will include Chen Qiufan (China), science fiction writer, president of the Chinese Science Fiction Writers Association and co-author of the bestseller "AI 2041"; Ozcan Saritas (Turkey), Director of Foresight Research and Strategic Planning at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Dubai and Editor-in-Chief of the international academic journal "Foresight: The Journal of Futures Studies, Strategic Thinking and Policy"; and Jean-Paul Pinto Morales (Ecuador), professor at UTEG University and researcher in strategic foresight, science fiction and innovation processes.

The Symposium programme includes more than 40 events across three thematic tracks: "People and Values", "Progress", and "Culture and Art". Special attention will be given to formats for young people. Public talks, science stand-ups, an intellectual tournament and a case-study competition will be held with the participation of senior school students and university students.

The Symposium programme will also feature interviews, visionary sessions, a technology show, film screenings, practical self-development workshops, the II Museum Congress, the International Film Project Pitching Session, the presentation of the II Russian Science Fiction Literary Award, and many other events.

The Gaming Lobby "Game Session of the Future" will open as part of the Symposium, introducing participants to the world of Russian computer games. The lounge will host presentations, open discussions with gaming industry experts, podcast recordings and large-scale team competitions. The project will bring together young people, experts and game developers.

The Symposium's experts will include government officials, scientists, futurists, and representatives of the cultural, artistic and media sectors, as well as public organisations and other fields. Russian speakers will include Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office; Alexander Alimov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; Valery Fedorov, Director General of the VCIOM Analytical Centre and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Mass Communications at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation; Konstantin Ernst, Director General of Channel One JSC; Alexei Goreslavsky, Director General of the Internet Development Institute (IRI); entrepreneur, creator of the "Sveta Around the World" programme and founder of the "Action!" charity foundation Svetlana Bondarchuk; science fiction writer, screenwriter, member of the Board of the Union of Writers of Russia and member of the Civic Chamber of Russia Sergei Lukyanenko; Andrei Zolotarev, creative producer at NMG Studio, screenwriter and showrunner; and journalist, interviewer, media executive and blogger Laura Dzhugelia, among others.

Continuing the traditions of the first two International Symposia, the programme will place particular emphasis on tangible practical outcomes. Following the II Museum Congress, a digital booklet will be produced showcasing the most important expositions of the participating museums. An agreement is expected to be signed between specialist museums of science and technology and the National Centre RUSSIA. The programme will also include a presentation of traditional crafts entitled "The Power of Craft: Preserving Legacy for the Future", alongside other initiatives and outcomes.

Another key outcome of the Symposium will be the creation of a community committed to continuing international dialogue and cooperation and jointly developing positive scenarios for the future. To support this, a dedicated app for communication and networking will be launched during the Symposium.