Maxim Oreshkin: the Open Dialogue is the first step from an original idea to a practical solution
The II Open Dialogue "The Future of the World. A New Platform for Global Growth" has opened at the National Centre RUSSIA. Participants were welcomed and the in-person stage was officially launched by Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of the Russian Federation and Deputy Chairman of the Organising Committee of the National Centre RUSSIA. This year, 102 authors from 43 countries advanced to the in-person stage following interviews. The large-scale three-day programme brings together expert discussions, presentations by authors of the best essays from around the world, and informal engagement with experts. By decision of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, the event has become annual.
"We are meeting at a time when the familiar map of the world — economic, political and technological — is undergoing significant change: centres of growth are shifting, connections between countries and markets are being reconfigured, and competition between development models is intensifying. Technology is accelerating these changes, and with it grows the demand for solutions that not only describe problems but help move forward. That is why the Open Dialogue is especially important today — not as an exchange of general declarations, but as a conversation in which ideas are tested for originality, realism and their ability to work in different conditions. We need not only accurate assessments of what is happening, but also proposals on how to develop human potential. This is the logic behind our platform in the new environment," said Maxim Oreshkin.
He noted that the Open Dialogue brings together people from different countries, professional backgrounds, generations and cultures, each with their own experience, perspective and language for describing the future. According to him, it is precisely this diversity that makes it possible to see problems more broadly, question familiar answers and find solutions that prove stronger than any single point of view. This year, the essay competition has reached a new level — more than 1,600 submissions. As Maxim Oreshkin emphasised, this is not just an impressive figure, but 1,600 attempts to answer the question: where is the world heading, and which ideas could form the basis of the next stage of growth. Behind these texts are researchers and students, entrepreneurs and representatives of the public sector, non-profit organisations and the media. Such a geographical and professional diversity makes the discussion multifaceted and closely aligned with real-world practices across different countries.
"Our task is not simply to listen to initiatives one after another. It is important to understand where an idea has real strength, what makes it new, how well it is developed, whether it can be applied in practice, and what partnerships and conditions are needed for its implementation <...> For essay authors, this format is an opportunity not only to present, but also to test their ideas in a strong professional environment, to receive questions that help refine their thinking, to see new directions for development, and possibly to take the first step from an original idea to a practical solution," he added.
The most popular essay topics include: the role of the person in the economy of the future, artificial intelligence and the transformation of different spheres of life, the urban environment and services, connectivity as a foundation for sovereign development, demographic shifts and the emergence of a new society, technological sovereignty, spatial development and new settlement models.
On the first day, closed pitching sessions will take place. The 102 essay authors who advanced to the in-person stage will present their ideas across four key vectors: "Investment in people", "Investment in connectivity", "Investment in technology", and "Investment in the environment". Each presentation will be limited to seven minutes. At the end of the day, voting results — involving both jury members and the essayists themselves — will be announced. Four best works in each vector will be selected.
On the second day, the official opening ceremony will take place. Maxim Oreshkin will present a report on global megatrends expected to shape the world economy in the near future. This will be followed by panel discussions where the top essayists from the first day will present their vision of the future.
On 29 April, experts and essayists will summarise the results of the II Open Dialogue "The Future of the World. A New Platform for Global Growth" at the National Centre RUSSIA. In addition, Maxim Oreshkin will hold a meeting with young people and lead the final session — the epilogue.
An important feature of the Open Dialogue is its principle of continuity: essayists from previous years will take on the roles of experts and jury members. In this way, a distinct intellectual community is formed, where participants not only present ideas but, over time, become their propagators. The main goal of the event is to create a space where ideas capable of shaping the future do not remain within narrow expert circles, but become the subject of open, honest and multidimensional discussion, so the future is not predicted, but designed together.
The Open Dialogue "The Future of the World. A New Platform for Global Growth" was initiated by the National Centre RUSSIA in 2025 in partnership with the Centre for Cross-Industrial Expertise "Third Rome", with the support of the Presidential Executive Office of the Russian Federation.
Event photobank
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The large-scale three-day programme will bring together expert discussions, presentations by authors of the best essays from around the world, and informal networking with experts.
