On April 14^th, 2026, during Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution International Week, the Faculty of Business and the Faculty of Computing, Engineering, and Technologies will host The International Scientific ‘Business and Technology Conference 2026′. This year’s theme is Sustainable and Smart Business Resilience.

The event will bring together industry leaders, innovators, and academics to discuss how resilience is evolving in an era of technology, sustainability, and global uncertainty. Building on resilience as a foundation, we are now moving forward – toward transformation. How can organisations not only withstand change but also grow by leveraging innovation, sustainability, and digital solutions?

The conference will showcase the latest scientific research, best practices, and real-world examples, highlighting the importance of resilience and providing insights into how businesses can create a sustainable future.

Key Speakers

During the plenary session, presentations will be delivered by experts such as Ákos R. Wetters, Co-Founder, Coach & Trainer from the Netherlands, and Dr. Karolina Trakšelytė-Rupšienė, BioTech Lab Coordinator at Innovation Agency Lithuania, specialising in life sciences, the food industry, and innovation at the intersection of academia and business.

Ákos R. Wetters – Co-Founder, Coach & Trainer

More than 25 years ago, Ákos began his career in a dynamic corporate role that took him to Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur for nearly a decade. In 2008, he leapt into entrepreneurship, launching the first of four ventures spanning operations & supply chain consultancy, intrapreneurship, and open innovation. Recently, he published a scientific paper on Challenge-Based Learning in entrepreneurial education, reflecting his commitment to innovative teaching and bridging research with practice.

Today, Ákos channels his experience into mentoring students, professionals, and startups, inspiring them to adopt entrepreneurial mindsets and drive transformative growth. With a multicultural background and a love for adventure, he enjoys cycling from Rotterdam to Budapest and savouring a perfect espresso.

Dr Karolina Trakšelytė-Rupšienė – BioTech Lab Coordinator, Innovation Agency Lithuania

Dr Karolina Trakšelytė-Rupšienė is a BioTech Lab Coordinator at Innovation Agency Lithuania, the national organisation fostering a dynamic innovation ecosystem. Holding a PhD in Chemical Engineering and backed by industrial experience, she drives innovation by promoting collaboration between academia and industry in the life sciences and agri-food sectors.

Karolina is a passionate advocate for innovation, particularly in agricultural and food technologies, aiming to create solutions with tangible positive impact. Her active involvement in projects focused on business development and innovation implementation demonstrates her strong commitment to building a culture of innovation and cross-sector cooperation.

Topics of the Conference:

On the day of the conference, sessions will be held across nine sections covering topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, resilient organisations, supply chains, and social entrepreneurship in the agriculture and food sectors.

• • AI and Digital Resilience: Exploring how artificial intelligence, automation, and data-driven decision-making strengthen competitiveness and adaptability.
  • Financial Resilience and Climate Risk Management: Addressing sustainable finance, climate-related risks, and green transformation in financial systems.
  • Cybersecurity and Data Protection: Ensuring secure infrastructures, privacy protection, and digital continuity in an era of growing cyber threats.
  • Resilient Organizations and Leadership: Examining adaptive organizational models, shared leadership, and human-centric practices that foster long-term sustainability.
  • Supply Chain and Geopolitical Resilience: Rethinking logistics, trade, and global value chains in the face of geopolitical tensions and systemic shocks.
  • Energy Reliability and Resilience: Highlighting strategies for secure, sustainable, and adaptive energy systems that balance innovation, affordability, and environmental impact.
  • Tourism, Hospitality, Sports, and Wellness: Reimagining resilience in people-driven industries, from recovery strategies to innovation in health, well-being, and leisure.
  • Environmental and Industrial Resilience: Integrating circular economy principles and sustainable engineering to address ecological and industrial challenges.
  • Social Entrepreneurship in Agriculture and Food Production: Showcasing innovative approaches where social business models transform food systems, strengthen rural communities, and contribute to sustainable agriculture.
  • Mathematics for Solving Contemporary Business and Technology Challenges: Applying advanced mathematical methods – optimisation, probability, statistics, and modelling – to address uncertainty, enhance decision-making, and drive innovation across business, finance, technology, and sustainability.

This event is a dynamic platform for the academic community, as well as professionals in technology, business, and economics, including doctoral students. We aim to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing between experienced experts and researchers.

The primary aim of our conference is to foster scientific discussions and share innovative ideas concerning the role of technology and business as drivers for economic growth and social transformation, particularly within different regions. By bringing together leading academics, industry professionals, and doctoral students, we strive to create a vibrant forum for exchanging knowledge and insights that can catalyze regional development and societal progress.

The event will be held in English. Registration is open until 13^th March 2026.

For more information: Business and Technology Conference 2026

Location: Pramonės pr. 22A, Kaunas, Lithuania