BelSU Academic Brings Global Digital Insights Home from SPIEF’s Future Day

A young academic from the Institute of Economics and Management of Belgorod National Research University (BelSU) has brought fresh perspectives back to campus after taking part in Future Day, the special youth programme of the 2026 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). Daria Gordya, Associate Professor in the Department of Innovative Economics and Finance at, attended as a member of the Rosmolodezh delegation.

The programme, held at the ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Centre, focused on building new competencies, developing talent, and drawing young people into the most urgent debates of the digital economy.

Discussion sessions ranged across the transformation of economy and society in an era of rapid digitalisation. At a session titled “The Attention Economy as a New Market Infrastructure,” experts argued that human attention has become one of the most valuable resources in the modern marketplace. They examined how digital environments shape consumer behaviour, how trust is built between brands and users, and how organisations can manage audience attention when everyone is fighting for it.

Equally compelling was “Digital Immunity of Youth,” which put financial and digital security under the microscope. Panellists explored the rise of AI-driven fraud, the growing sophistication of cyber threats, and the challenge of protecting personal data. The session underlined the need to equip young people with durable skills for safe online behaviour and called for financial security to be woven into mainstream education.

Artificial intelligence also commanded the agenda. In “Agents in Focus: From Trends to Practice,” the conversation turned to autonomous AI agents and multi-agent systems. Participants reviewed the latest research, debated the potential for intelligent agents to automate complex business processes, and acknowledged the barriers that still stand in the way of real-world adoption.

Natalia Bykanova, Acting Head of the Department of Innovative Economics and Finance, said the experience would have a lasting impact.