Participants of panel discussion “Caspian Region 2021: Sustainable Development Trajectories” will discuss the major challenges for the Caspian macroregion in education, science and economy, listen to the opinion of federal and international experts on the importance of Astrakhan region as a priority geostrategic territory of Russia in building a dialogue with the Caspian countries to accelerate economic growth and innovative development of the entire Caspian macroregion.

Participants of the panel discussion will determine the role of scientific research in building economic models, taking into account the opinions of representatives of educational and scientific organizations, government agencies, businesses, innovation infrastructure and the expert community of the Caspian macroregion. The scope of discussion will also include the integration of efforts to adapt technologies of the future to existing industries and to develop the educational landscape of the Caspian Sea region.

Participants of the open talk will discuss the role of the youth in the Caspian countries in achieving national and geostrategic goals, ensuring sustainable socioeconomic development of the Russian regions bordering on the Caspian sea, and the issues of forming efficient mechanisms for staffing innovation processes and retaining the talented youth in the Russian part of the Caspian Sea region, including participation in the implementation of activities of national projects “Science and Universities”, “Education”, “Digital Economy”.

The meeting includes a scientific platform, where domestic and foreign scientists and experts will consider political and socio-economic processes of the Caspian region, contributing to the development of a single world economic order of the Greater Caspian Sea.

Section “International Transport Corridors and Logistics Centres” is dedicated to the key issues in the development of international transport corridors, playing a leading role in the formation of an integrated global market for transport services. The purpose of the discussion will be the current state of the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which connects India, Iran, the Persian Gulf countries with Russia and European states through the countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia. The main advantage of the INSTC is that most of the route passes by land and the route itself is shorter than the sea route, which accelerates cargo delivery significantly.

The section "Marine Engineering, Shipbuilding and Technologies for the development of the World's Oceans" will bring together leaders of scientific schools and experts (representatives of national champions of the industry) to discuss topical issues in the field of marine technology, innovative shipbuilding and development of the world's oceans. The field of expert discussion includes topics ranging from basic and applied research to commercialization of developments and technological partnerships. Educational technology and the training of specialists of the future will certainly be discussed. Experts from scientific centers, scientists and researchers from universities and research institutes from Vladivostok to Kaliningrad will take part in the dialogue. The format of the event is mixed, with the remote involvement of experts.

The section "Innovative bio-agro-industrial technologies for agribusiness of the Caspian Sea" will consider the issues of sustainable development of vegetable sub-complex with plant protection system as the basis for import substitution in the Caspian Sea region within the framework of the problem of organizing the transfer of breakthrough technologies in the agroindustrial industrial space of the region and the Caspian region countries; relevant problems of zootechny, veterinary medicine and veterinary-sanitary service in the Caspian countries; discuss innovative agro-engineering technologies in the conditions of arid zones of the Caspian Sea region; define the progress of innovative development of fodder production in arid zones of the Caspian region; adopt an algorithm for using an electronic platform of big data in agriculture, including the training of future specialists.

The section "Complex security of the Caspian macro-region in the digital age: socio-cultural, geopolitical, economic and environmental aspects" will discuss in a lively debate format the problems related both to the living standards and preservation of cultural codes of the region, optimal methods of intercultural communication, and the geopolitical situation in the Caspian region and prevention of conflicts of territorial, ideological and confessional nature. The creation and maintenance of a comprehensive security system requires scientific integration, joining efforts both at the research level and in terms of education. Efforts should be combined to create a new Caspian identity among young people that promotes a relationship to the region as a common home.

The Financial Cybersecurity section invites you to discuss the issues of combating financial cyberfraud, which has recently reached alarming proportions. This direction is socially important, and the topics of using digital solutions in financial cybersecurity and implementing educational activities aimed at improving the digital financial literacy of the population are offered for discussion.

• Track “Integrated Development of Territories” is aimed at considering key issues of integrated development of territories in the regions, depending on their socioeconomic and geographical peculiarities. Representatives of development institutions in the housing sector of Russia, community councils for the formation of a green comfortable environment and specialized universities will discuss the creation of mechanisms for the development of a comfortable urban environment, mechanisms of state support for the spatial development of regions, implementation of sustainable housing projects. The operator and finalists of the international competition for the development of the Master Plan of the Astrakhan agglomeration will present the results of their work.
• Track “Aspects of Regions’ Urban Planning Policy” is aimed at joining the efforts of the State, scientific community, commercial structures and public organizations in addressing the issues of the balanced and sustainable development of settlements and urban districts by improving the quality of the urban environment and improving the appearance, architectural, stylistic and other characteristics of the capital construction projects and advanced digital solutions in all areas of urban life.

The section "Priority directions of aquaculture development in the Caspian Sea region" will discuss the development of feed formulas, improvement of intensive aquaculture cultivation technologies, preservation of biodiversity of the Caspian macro-region, introduction of digital technologies in aquaculture.

The section "Musical Art in the Space of Modern Culture" will discuss the preservation of the folklore heritage of the Caspian Sea peoples, as well as issues of education and upbringing in the field of culture and art in the Caspian region.

The round table "5G Education: AZ, IR, KZ, RU, TM" is devoted to a discussion of key issues of digital transformation of education as an inevitable stage of updating training and education in connection with the introduction of digital technologies in all areas of our society. Scientists, teachers, and heads of educational organizations will discuss the prospects and consequences of digitalization of education, exchange innovative solutions in the field of didactics of offline and online education, and outline interaction horizons that will allow to monitor and manage the development of digital transformation of education.

The symposium will discuss the issues of distance learning for medical students: the challenges of time and limits of application; consider the methodological basis for the development of information educational environment for training of higher scientific qualification; present digital technologies as a means of implementation of practice-oriented training of future doctors in accordance with FGOS 3++ in the period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The main idea of the event is to preserve the memory of the outstanding personality of A.P. Guzhvin, the first governor of Astrakhan region, who left a large footprint on the sands of the modern times of the region, and to ensure the continuity of generations, civic and moral education of the youth.

You can get acquainted with the detailed program of the meeting of the Commission and register on the official website of the Commission at the link: https://caspscience.asu.edu.ru/caspian2021.

Participants of the panel discussion will dwell on the possibilities and forms of uniting educational institutions and the regional business community for increasing the investment potential of the tourism industry by creating clusters around natural and man-made objects in Astrakhan region in order to increase the internal and external tourist flow from the Caspian states.