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This 8th International Scientific and Practical Conference took place in a mixed format, bringing together experts, scholars, and young researchers from various regions of Russia – including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk, Apatity, Veliky Novgorod, and Rostov-on-Don—as well as international attendees from Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

The primary aim of the conference was to establish an expert platform for scientific discussion and facilitate the exchange of findings from both fundamental and applied research on current trends and challenges in territorial spatial development.Belgorod State National Research University (BelSU) organized this significant event in collaboration with several Russian and international institutions, including Shukhov Belgorod State Technical University, South-Western State University, Karaganda University of Kazpotrebsoyuz, and Yaroslav the Wise Novgorod State University. The involvement of organizations from the Russian Academy of Sciences underscored the high caliber of scientific discourse during the conference.

Professor Elena Stryabkova, Head of the BelSU Department of Applied Economics and Economic Security, welcomed the participants and highlighted that the Russian Federation’s Spatial Development Strategy to 2030 prioritizes geostrategic territories, with special emphasis on the Arctic zone. Among the notable presentations, Chief Researcher Tatyana Skufyina from the Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences addressed the legal and regulatory challenges facing the economy and social sphere in the Russian Arctic. Vasilisa Gorochnaya, a specialist in educational and methodological work at Southern Federal University and a research fellow at Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, discussed the cyclical dynamics of regional innovative development.

Sergey Baranov, a chief research fellow at the G.P. Luzin Institute of Economic Problems at the Kola Science Centre, presented insights into the specifics of digitalization in Arctic regions, particularly focusing on the issue of skilled personnel outflow from the IT industry. Additionally, a senior research fellow from the Laboratory of Socio-Ecological-Economic Systems at the N.P. Gagarin Federal Research Centre for Integrated Arctic Study examined the dual nature of the shadow economy in the Russian Arctic – both as a threat and an opportunity for regional adaptation to instability.

Olga Gubina and Anna Provorova from the Laverov Laboratory of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences shared their findings on “Digital Intelligent Systems for Searching for New Models of Economic Growth.” Inna Manaeva, a professor at Belgorod State University, and Denis Zhuravlev, director of the Research Institute of Social Systems at Lomonosov Moscow State University, also presented their research on this topic. They introduced a digital tool developed to evaluate the progress of Russian regions toward their National Development goals, revealing that the Belgorod Region ranks 10th in this assessment.

The plenary session concluded with a comprehensive report delivered by Professor Elena Stryabkova, who outlined the research focus areas of the International Research Laboratory for Spatial Economics. Her presentation emphasized the importance of exploring “smart” industry specialization within regions, setting the stage for deeper discussions throughout the conference.

Following the plenary, the conference proceeded with five dedicated sections that addressed pressing issues related to the digital transformation of Russian regions. Topics included innovative forms of spatial economic organization, strategic territorial planning, and the spatial challenges faced across various economic sectors.