9th Dialogue on Social Market Economy
Resilient Europe? Navigating Economic and Geopolitical Challenges from China and the United States
Date: 22 – 23 October 2025
Venue: University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, Campus Scheffelberg - house 5: conference room
Programme
(draft 23 September 2025)
Wednesday, 22 October 2025
13:00 – 13:15 Opening & Welcome
Session 1: Theme: Global Challenges of Energy Security
(moderator: Lachezar Grudev)
13:15 – 13:45
Avetisyan, Artur – PhD, Associate Professor, National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia
“Ensuring Energy Security of Armenia in a Multipolar World: New Tendencies and Opportunities”
13:45 – 14:15
Wrobel, Ralph – Prof. Dr. Dr., University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, Germany
“China’s Dominance in Rare Earth Markets: A Geopolitical Trap for Europe?”
14:15 – 14:45
Kämpf, Viktoria – M.sc., University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, Germany / Strauch, Lisa - M.sc., University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, Germany
“Hydrogen Engines as a Building Block of European Energy Autonomy: Acceptance Factors and Political Decisions”
14:45 – 15:15
Coffee Break
Session 2: Global Challenges for National Economic Policies
(moderator: Ralph Wrobel)
15:15 – 15:45
Kolev, Stefan – Prof. Dr., University of Applied Sciences Zwickau & Ludwig Erhard Forum, Berlin, Germany
“Resilience-Oriented Supply-Side Policy for Germany and the EU”
15:45 – 16:15
Madmarov, Nurbek – PhD, Assistant Professor, AUCA Kyrgyzstan
“Do Institutions and Fiscal Discipline Matter for Public Debt Sustainability in Selected Transition Economies?”
16:15 – 16:45
Parts, Raul – MA, University of Tartu, Estonia
“Strategic Resilience through Industrial Policy: Estonia in the Face of Multiple Crises”
16:45 – 17:30
Discussion & Wrap-Up of Day 1
19:00 – 22:00
Dinner at “LaVu” restaurant (Peter-Breuer-Straße 25, 08056 Zwickau)
Thursday, 23 October 2025
Session 3: Global Challenges of Trade, Tariffs, and Capital Flows
(moderator: Stefan Kolev)
09:00 – 09:30
Seliger, Bernhard – Prof. Dr. habil., University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, Germany, & Hanns Seidel Foundation, Seoul, South Korea
“The World Trade Organization and the Erosion of the Multilateral Order – A Case Study” (Online Presentation)
09:30 – 10:00
Grudev, Lachezar – Prof. Dr., University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, Germany
“International Trade and Trade Deficit: In Search of the Missing Link”
10:00 – 10:30
Schäfer, Philipp – M.A., University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, Germany
“Sustainable Capital Flows in Focus – Banks’ Materiality Analyses and Their Relevance for Achieving Regulatory Policy Objectives”
10:30 – 11:00
Coffee Break
Session 4: Global Challenges of Sustainability and Innovation
(moderator: Ralph Wrobel)
11:00 – 11:30
Platje, Joost (Johannes) – Prof. WSB dr hab., WSB Merito University Wrocław, Poland
“Sustainability as a System Risk”
11:30 – 12:00
Paradowska, Monika – PhD, Professor (Assistant), University of Wrocław
“Urban Mobility as Strategic Resilience: The HUMS Model and Sustainable Transport in the EU’s Geoeconomic Context”
12:00 – 12:30
Udovenko, Pylyp – Ludwig Erhard Foundation, Berlin, Ukraine
“Innovation under Fire: Ukraine’s Asymmetric Warfare and Its Implications for the European Union”
12:30 – 13:00
Final Discussion & Closing Remarks
15:00 – 17:00 (optional)
Visit to the August Horch Museum, Zwickau
Afterwards: Departure of the participants
This is a joint conference of:
