"Inventing the Future" Symposium to unite science, business, and society to advance breakthrough medical technologies
Breakthroughs in medicine are anticipated by the Russian society more than innovations in any other field, noted Valery Fedorov, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Mass Communications at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation and Director General of the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM), during the educational project "Dialogues about the Future." For this reason, experts at the II International Symposium "Inventing the Future," to be held at the National Centre RUSSIA in October 2025, will pay special attention to discussing the prospects for medical technology development — a key priority for Russian citizens.
"Medical technologies of the future are number one on the list of priorities that, according to our people, should be the focus of both the state and business today. As the saying goes, just what the doctor ordered. People expect far more breakthroughs, discoveries, new medicines and treatment methods than new cars, planes, wheat varieties or tea blends. That’s why the future of medicine will take centre stage at the 'Inventing the Future' Symposium," said Valery Fedorov.
The Symposium will serve as a platform for dialogue between representatives of various sectors of society. Without such alignment, breakthroughs are simply not possible, Fedorov believes.
"Without cooperation, interaction and mutual understanding between different spheres of society, it is unrealistic to expect any breakthroughs. I am confident that the 'Inventing the Future' Symposium will become a convergence point for the exchange of ideas and will play an important role by bringing together representatives of different yet crucial fields and sectors — science, medicine, government, patient communities, technologists and business leaders," explained the head of VCIOM.
One of the key objectives of the II International Symposium "Inventing the Future" is to popularise scientific and technological advances and initiatives that shape the future of the country and the world. To achieve this, it is essential to engage everyone interested in discussing the future — regardless of age, gender or even citizenship, Fedorov emphasised.
"It is important to combine all available formats at the Symposium to ‘infect’ as wide an audience as possible with a dream of the future, belief in the future and hope for the future," the expert concluded.
Valery Fedorov serves as moderator of the "Dialogues about the Future" discussion series held in preparation for the II International Symposium "Inventing the Future." These discussions bring together science and futurology, where bold predictions meet real technological advances. During the second meeting, which focused on medical technologies, experts explored revolutionary developments in healthcare: how nanorobots may transform diagnosis and treatment, what ethical dilemmas may arise with life extension technologies, and where the boundary lies between therapeutic intervention and artificial enhancement of the human being.
The overarching theme of the II International Symposium "Inventing the Future" is to unite the world's leading minds to collaboratively design positive scenarios for the future.
The Day of the State Flag of the Russian Federation is celebrated annually on 22 August.
The lecture "Whoever Writes the Past Controls the Future" will be held at the National Centre RUSSIA on 28 August at 19:00.
