ASBBMC conference as a Dialogue Between Society and Technology: Building Bridges, Not Walls
From May 27 to 29, the RISEBA Architecture and Media Centre H2O 6 hosted the 18th Annual Scientific Baltic Business Management Conference (ASBBMC 2025).
For three days, Riga became a lively international meeting place for researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers from across the Baltics and beyond. Experts shared research, discussed current challenges, and explored how society and technology must interact to foster sustainable development. This year’s theme – “Human-Tech Era: Humans and Technology Shaping Sustainable Societies Together” – captured both the complexity and promise of our evolving world.
A Conference That Looks Beyond the Expected
In his opening remarks, RISEBA Vice-Rector Valters Kaže invited participants to see the event not merely as another academic forum but as a call for transformation:
“This is not just another conference – it is a sign of the times. A signal that we are now transitioning into a far more complex reality, shaped by deeper forces than the buzzwords of digital transformation alone.”
A Thoughtfully Curated Programme with Inspiring Speakers
Bella Butler, Associate Professor at Curtin University’s Faculty of Business and Law (Australia), praised the conference for its relevance and strength:
“This year’s programme is impressive and perfectly aligned with the times. All speakers focus on socially significant issues. I was especially pleased to see such an outstanding expert as Professor Jay Mitra among the participants.”
Professor Jay Mitra from the Essex Business School (University of Essex) presented a new, citizen-centred approach to entrepreneurship:
“I spoke about citizen entrepreneurship. While artificial intelligence wasn’t in the title of my talk, my point was this – only by actively engaging citizens can we make effective use of technology, including AI, for the public good. It’s a way to address major challenges like inequality, climate change, and poverty.”
Anders Paalzow, Rector of the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (SSE Riga), reminded the audience that as technology evolves, so must we:
“Technology is advancing – and that means we, as human beings, must grow alongside it. We need to share experiences, have meaningful discussions, and seek solutions together. Governments have a key role to play here, especially in supporting citizen entrepreneurship as a driver of societal progress.”
Sergio Arzeni, President of the International Network for SMEs (INSME), highlighted the importance of ethics in today’s world:
“Economics and international relations must be rooted in ethics. People must have the courage to speak truth to power. We need to learn how to build bridges, not walls.”
A Platform That Connects Ideas with Action
ASBBMC 2025 reaffirmed a vital message – collaboration is what strengthens society. Technology is only one part of the solution. To shape the future, we need to think ethically, act critically, and work together.
Over the three days, RISEBA’s halls echoed with ideas that have the potential to spark new initiatives, groundbreaking research, and innovative solutions.
The conference was organised by RISEBA in collaboration with the BA School of Business and Finance and the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga. The working language of the conference was English. The moderator was Dr. Aigars Ceplītis, Dean of the Faculty of Media and Creative Technologies at RISEBA.
