Annual Intellectual Fair of the Samara Region Directors Club - 2026

On July 4, the annual Intellectual Fair of the Samara Region Directors Club (KD SO) was held at the country complex “Russian Hunt”. The event traditionally served as an important platform for exchanging experience, knowledge, and business contacts between heads of leading companies in the region, government representatives, and experts.

This year, the Fair was supported by the Higher School of International Business of Samara University. Participants discussed current issues of business management, scientific and technological development of the region, economy, and innovation.

Key Highlights of the Event:

Plenary session with the participation of top regional officials

Signing of an important agreement between KD SO and “Samara 450”

Awarding of the winners of the “Innovative Leaders of the Samara Region 2026” contest

Winners:

JSC “RKC Progress” - Aerospace cluster

Clinics of SamSMU – Medical and pharmaceutical cluster

Kuibyshev Railway (a branch of Russian Railways) - Transport and logistics cluster

Speakers and Reports:

Mark Shleenkov (Acting Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Samara Region)

Denis Gurkov (Acting Minister of Industry and Trade of the Samara Region)

Yulia Krasina (Director of the Industrial Development Fund of the Samara Region)

Eduard Kharchenko (Business Ombudsman of the Samara Region)

Svetlana Shishkova and Svetlana Strelkova with relevant reports on healthcare and the competency model of business leaders

As part of the Fair, four thematic sections were held on marketing, HR management, legal technologies, and creativity. There was also a master class for participants’ family members, test drives from “Samara-Auto”, and consultations with specialists from Dr. Chirkova’s Clinic.

The event concluded with a formal banquet featuring live music by Evgeny Razin and a raffle of valuable prizes from the partners.

What Participants Liked Most:

What impressed everyone the most was the maximum honesty and practicality of the discussions. Business owners openly shared real problems, performance indicators, their personal vision of the situation, how they solved complex issues, and what results these solutions brought.

Government representatives, in turn, frankly outlined the current realities and tasks facing the state and business, and gave practical advice on how to effectively build dialogue with government structures.

No empty slogans - only real-life examples and genuine experience.

Special thanks go to the country complex “Russian Hunt” for the wonderful atmosphere. The beautiful nature and comfortable setting helped drop the formal tone. Many executives came with their families, so they managed to combine business with pleasure: strengthen professional contacts and spend quality time with their loved ones and children.

Such events truly help business and government better understand each other.