Mysteries of the universe, visions of the future and new games: what awaits participants on day two of the "Inventing the Future" Symposium

How will global cooperation evolve, why does craftsmanship matter more than the brand, and how is Russia's games industry reaching new heights of popularity? These and other topics are on the programme for the second day of the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future". Discussions, quizzes, public talks and other events will be held on 13 November at the National Centre RUSSIA. The Symposium brings together more than 8,000 participants from 109 countries and all regions of the Russian Federation and is being held with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

The "Human and Values" track will open with "A Vision of Global Cooperation for the Future", a conversation with Maria Zakharova, Spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry. She will discuss how diplomacy is changing around the world and what knowledge, skills and personal qualities are needed to succeed in an era of rapid change. The track will also feature "Drafts of the Future", an open discussion with science fiction writers and futurists, and a conversation with Konstantin Ernst, Director General of Channel One JSC, entitled "Contours of the Future: The True 21st Century, Not the Calendar One".

The "Culture and the Arts" track will feature "The Power of Craft: Preserving Heritage for the Future", a discussion combined with a performance. Craftspeople and experts will discuss how folk crafts connect the past with the present and future, and develop new ways to preserve them with support from society, the government and the creative industries. Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, will share the Centre's experience of promoting folk crafts, beginning with the International RUSSIA EXPO.

The presentation of work from the "World Wide Web: The Code of Culture" art residency will bring together five international artists, who will present science art projects inspired by their visit to Russia and their conversations with scientists and fellow artists. The Symposium will also feature the discussion "Temporary Local. Art Residency as the Art of Presence" and the public talk "Science Fiction: What Do We Already Know About the Future from Writers?", which will bring the Russian and Chinese schools of science fiction into dialogue. Speakers will include Sergei Lukyanenko, a science fiction writer, screenwriter, board member of the Union of Writers of Russia and member of the Civic Chamber of Russia, and Chen Qiufan, a science fiction writer, President of the Chinese Science Fiction Writers Association and co-author of the bestseller "AI 2041".

The Symposium will also feature "The Future of the Fashion Industry", a panel discussion with a fashion showcase. Designers from different countries will discuss how new generations will change the world of fashion and how global trends will influence design and the fashion industry.

The "Progress" track will include the visionary session "Between the Creator and the Creation: What to Expect from the Next Generation AI" and a special episode of the quiz show "Sofiko's Challenge" entitled "A CHALLENGE to the Imagination: How Do Science and Art Create Something New?". The show will bring together Svetlana Zakharova, prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia, Rector of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography and People's Artist of Russia, and Konstantin Severinov, Scientific Director of the "100,000+Me" National Genetic Initiative, Director of the Graduate School of Biological Engineering at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Doctor of Biological Sciences and Professor.

The second day of the Symposium will offer a wide range of opportunities for young people. The programme includes the interactive lecture "Mistakes That Changed the Future", the quiz "Images of the Future", the popular science stand-up show "Is the Future Cancelled? Scientists vs Myths" and the foresight session "Workshop for Responsible Dreamers".

The public talk "The Next-Generation Digital Environment: The Ethics of Trust and the Path to Dreams" will help young people understand how to protect their personal data, avoid manipulation and prevent technology from restricting their freedom. The public talk "Space of Strength: Russian Resorts as Landscape for New Opportunities" will explore the distinctive traditions of wellness holidays and the range of opportunities they offer young people. The public talk "Big Questions: The Mysteries of the Universe and the Future of Earth" will look at how scientific discoveries, orbital technologies and experience gained from spaceflight are opening up new possibilities for humanity.

The Symposium will host the "What? Where? When?" diplomacy tournament for the first time, organised with the involvement of the Russian Foreign Ministry. The "Pleiades" case-study contest will run throughout the day. Students from Moscow's technical universities will tackle real challenges facing the space industry, from processing satellite data to designing missions. The case studies will be provided by industry experts, including the Kaisant Research and Production Association and Russian Space Systems JSC.

For the first time, the programme of the "Inventing the Future" Symposium will include a special project, the Gaming Lobby "Gaming Session of the Future", for games industry experts, computer game developers and fans of gaming and esports. Participants will discuss video games as an important cultural phenomenon and explore trends in the Russian computer games industry, present new Russian games and run playtests. At the heart of the Gaming Lobby will be an open space where anyone can try out recent releases and cult favourites.

The Gaming Lobby public talk "Esports and Cybersecurity" will explore how games can help people develop practical skills. The public talk "Psychology in the Gaming Environment. Why Do People Play?" will examine two sides of video games — how they help people unwind and how they can build resilience to stress. A separate public talk and presentation will focus on new Russian games inspired by home-grown stories, Slavic mythology and the distinctive aesthetics of Russia's regions.

An open recording of the podcast "Our Game. Russian Industry and Its Global Standing" will give audiences an insight into life in the Russian games industry in the era of sanctions. The presentation of DISTORTION will be a treat for fans of story-driven role-playing games and an example of how developers draw inspiration from the future.

The "World of Tanks" finals on the Main Stage will be the culmination of the Gaming Lobby "Gaming Session of the Future". The winners will receive their awards at the Gaming Lobby's closing ceremony.

Another eagerly awaited event is the ceremony to honour the winners of the II All-Russian Science Fiction Literary Award. More than 120 works published in 2025 were nominated for the award. Winners will be announced in five categories — "Fiction", "Translation", "Children's and Young Adult Fiction", "Visual Interpretation" and "International Recognition". Two special prizes will also be awarded.

Most events at the "Inventing the Future" Symposium are open to visitors who register at future.russia.ru. Visionaries taking part from different countries can share their views on the future and their ideas for positive change. The National Centre RUSSIA has created the installation "Visionaries on One Map" for this purpose. Anyone can find their country on the map and attach a photo of themselves.