OREANDA-NEWS. December 24, 2015. An open discussion between Alexandr Auzan, Dean of the Faculty of Economics of the Lomonosov Moscow State University, and Ruben Vardanyan, Founding Partner of the Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO, businessman, philanthropist, and Head of the RVVZ Foundation, has been held at the SKOLKOVO Business School.

The discussion was moderated by Svetlana Mironyuk, a media manager, philanthropist, and former Chief Editor of RIA Novosti.

The topic of the talk was "Beyond the Horizon," and its participants' task was to determine the main assets of the Russian economy, consider the options of the country's economic development existing at the moment, the changes in technology, education, family and social relations we can expect in the near future, and the importance of having a long planning horizon.

During the discussion, the speakers agreed that it is important for Russia to choose an evolutionary way of development and learn to set and achieve long-term goals with a horizon of 20–25 years.

The Congress Hall of the business school was full; in addition, an audience of nearly 2 thousand people watched the progress of the discussion online thanks to the M24.ru online portal, the partner of the meeting. The event was part of a series of open lectures SKOLKOVO Speakers Nights.

The most powerful quotations from the open discussion "Beyond the Horizon":

Alexandr Auzan:
· In Russia, everything changes in five years, and nothing—in 200 years.
· There are many possible variants of the future, and which of them will come depends on how we behave and what we do today.
· Russia is not facing a collapse. But the slow development scenario is boring and embarrassing for our country.
· The areas we are competitive in are: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Natural Sciences, Arts, and sports. This is due to the cultural characteristic features of the country.
· We are involved in a turbulent process; it is difficult to predict what will happen in two years. But it is important to decide where we would like to get in 20–25 years' time and determine what we need to get there.
· China is the best student of the USSR. It is the picture of the better aspects of our past.
· Experts believe that private capitalism is the most desirable development option, but, at the same time, it is also the most improbable one.
· Anyone who wants everything at once, gets nothing and gradually.

Ruben Vardanyan:
· In the 21st century, the main asset is man. Man will affect the world around him, his environment.
· People who will be able to adapt to other cultures will become truly successful.
· The important question of today is who and how can change the mentality of people so that they will think ahead.
· Even if you can do just a little, do it rather than blame the appalling conditions you are living in.
· In the next 20 years, we will be facing a revolutionary problem: we will have to hand over what we own to the next generation. Not in cash but in the form of performing assets. This is one of the major challenges the country is facing.
· Social entrepreneurship is the real way to change the planning horizon.
· There is nothing impossible; one must believe in himself and his capability, persuade people to do their work, and hope for the best.
· We live for the sake of our children, and we must leave them a different country.