VIII Finathlon Forum "Professionals of the Future" Combines Science, Practice, and Career Opportunities
The VIII International Finathlon Forum "Professionals of the Future" that ended in Moscow is the main scientific and practical platform for young researchers in the field of sustainable development, finance and the digital economy. The final featured 503 research papers selected from more than 1,200 applications from 140+ universities in Russia and friendly countries, including the EAEU member states, China, and countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Moscow Polytech is one of the forum's co-organizers.
65 participants of the forum received first-degree diplomas, 119 received second-degree diplomas, and 223 were awarded third-degree diplomas. The final was held in a hybrid format, allowing participants to join the sessions online.
The forum program ended with the strategic foresight session, "Finathlon Foresight: The Future of Household Financial Behavior 2035–2040 – Scenarios and Roadmaps."
The VIII Finathlon Forum winners and invited experts took part in the three-hour intensive work. Together, they developed alternative scenarios for the development of household financial behavior, identified key drivers and barriers, and formulated practical recommendations for the state, the financial sector, the education system, and non-profit organizations.
The closing ceremony brought together members of the Board of Trustees and the forum's key partners. Albert Bakhtizin, Director of the Central Economics and Mathematics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Alexey Kuznetsov, Director of the Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, addressed the finalists and experts, emphasizing the strategic role of young-career researchers in advancing the national economy and science.
Shamil Alimkhanov, Executive Director of the "Sistema" Charitable Foundation, personally presented certificates for paid internships to ten of the forum's most active winners. The internships will give participants unique experience in leading companies within the "Sistema" ecosystem and the opportunity to apply their knowledge in practice.
The forum's partner, "Absolut Insurance", also presented a special award.
The best works of the forum will be published in the journal of the VAK (The Higher Attestation Commission) "World of Changes" ("Мир перемен"), and the works of laureates of the I and II degrees will appear in an electronic proceedings volume indexed in the Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI). The authors will also have the opportunity to publish their research in peer-reviewed academic journals.
The organizers have already announced that the IX International Finathlon Forum "Professionals of the Future" will take place between September and November 2026. Registration of participants and paper submission are scheduled for September 21 to October 9, 2026, while the final will begin on November 23, 2026.
The next forum is expected to expand its thematic areas, strengthen international participation, and further integrate the forum with the needs of the real sector, the financial system and public administration.
Background: The forum is supported by the Presidential Grants Foundation and the "Sistema" Charitable Foundation, with assistance from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, and the Bank of Russia.
