Impressive Group - of Thought

The rASiA International Innovation Forum has taken place in Moscow for the sixth time. It impressively proved why global innovation leaders consider it one of the world’s most creative gatherings. Though it is time consuming the experts tend to come back because they “meet the right people”.

 It has much to do with Alexander Shulgin, a former Russian rock star, music producer and writer, who is a – and as I was told – successful global tech investor today. He is the brain and the engine behind the rASiA International Innovation Forum, a day building bridges from highly innovative global tech firms to analysts, investors, and yes, the society too! Among the speakers this year, only to name a few, were Dirk Ahlborn, CEO of Hyperloop, Gerald J. Inzerillo, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide, David Tunkl from his L.A. arts Gallery. London new media lawyer Ian Penman who was talking about the impact blockchain technology will have on the media industries and I were invited to debate with him and others on the issue. Not to forget to mention Andy Zmolek heading the Google Android team on a list that could be continued. Sports, finance, entertainment, transportation, logistics, these are only a brief insight in the wide range of topics that were – surprisingly –discussed in depth in the two forum halls in the Digital October event center. However, this was not the main reason to rate rASiA.com special! It is the entire setting and atmosphere of the event and the two previous days that create uniqueness: “The unique way Alexander Shulgin brings people together in his very personal way that alone makes it worth coming here. During my first time here I met people with an unbelievable professional background and after years we are still close or even do business together”, says Clark Parsons, senior consultant of Pflüger International in Berlin.

Indeed, the official festival started already on Saturday night with the Top 100 Global Creative Mind gala dinner, in the oldest gala hall from 1901 of the Metropol Hotel. Shulgin introduced each of the 25 participants individually to the ground explaining in detail why he invited them into this illustrious round. And he explained the concept of the forum making it obvious for those who attended for the first time why they didn’t get any info beforehand on their part in the conference: “We don’t want you to tell us things you have prepared in detail, we want you to be creative within our context.”  The result of these warm introductory words was that groups already mixed during dinner. Everybody literally talked to everybody, about projects and ideas. And this continued the next day with a trip outside Moscow, when we were on the university plateau with its breathtaking view on both, Moscow University and on the city, and ended up in the gardens of the late Czar’s summer residence. The sights were most impressive but more so the talks and the ideas and new friendships coming from it. The day closed with a traditional dinner in an old farm house restaurant were Gerald J. Inzerillo referred to Shulgin as to “our” renaissance prince and quoted Shakespeare’s Romeo: “The more I have of you the more I have.”

In this frame the following day’s conference was just an incentive or the climax. The concept however works very well especially in our fast moving world with little time to hold on, reflect or take time to get to know great new people. It’s a creativity booster, a true think tank on innovation and social transformation.