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
Program
Wednesday, 22 October 2025
13:00 – 13:15 Opening & Welcome
Ralph Riedel (Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Applied Sciences Zwickau)
Stefan Kolev (University of Applied Sciences Zwickau and Ludwig Erhard Forum for Economy and Society, Berlin)
Session 1: Theme: Global Challenges of Energy Security
(Chair: Lachezar Grudev)
13:15 – 13:45
Artur Avetisyan (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
Ralph Wrobel (University of Applied Sciences Zwickau)
“China’s Dominance in Rare Earth Markets: A Geopolitical Trap for Europe?”
14:15 – 14:45
Viktoria Kämpf and Lisa Strauch (University of Applied Sciences Zwickau)
“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
(Chair: Ralph Wrobel)
15:15 – 15:45
Stefan Kolev (University of Applied Sciences Zwickau & Ludwig Erhard Forum for Economy and Society, Berlin)
“Resilience-Oriented Supply-Side Policy for Germany and the EU”
15:45 – 16:15
Nurbek Madmarov (American University of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan)
“Do Institutions and Fiscal Discipline Matter for Public Debt Sustainability in Selected Transition Economies?”
16:15 – 16:45
Raul Parts (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
(Chair: Stefan Kolev)
09:00 – 09:30
Bernhard Seliger (University of Applied Sciences Zwickau & Hanns Seidel Foundation, Seoul, South Korea)
“The World Trade Organization and the Erosion of the Multilateral Order – A Case Study”
09:30 – 10:00
Lachezar Grudev (University of Applied Sciences Zwickau)
“International Trade and Balance of Trade Deficit: In Search of the Missing Link”
10:00 – 10:30
Philipp Schäfer (University of Applied Sciences Zwickau)
“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
(Chair: Ralph Wrobel)
11:00 – 11:30
Joost (Johannes) Platje (WSB Merito University Wrocław, Poland)
“Sustainability as a System Risk”
11:30 – 12:00
Monika Paradowska (University of Wrocław, Poland)
“Urban Mobility as Strategic Resilience: The HUMS Model and Sustainable Transport in the EU’s Geoeconomic Context”
12:00 – 12:30
Pylyp Udovenko (Ludwig Erhard Forum for Market and Society, Berlin)
“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 conference is jointly organized by:
