At the end of September, in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, the 5th annual Benelux Baltics in Business conference, titled “Leading Forward in the Next Wave,” brought together over a hundred business and innovation leaders from Lithuania, the Netherlands, Belgium, Estonia, and other countries. The event focused on how to build resilient and thriving businesses in times of economic, geopolitical, and technological change.
The keynote speech was delivered by Professor Rudy Aernoudt, one of Europe’s most recognized economists and strategists. He highlighted that today’s economy lives in a state of constant “perma-crisis” - one crisis follows another, making stability seem unreachable. In this environment, he argued, companies should focus less on short-term profits and more on long-term resilience.
“Only companies that can adapt to change will survive and grow,” emphasized Professor Rudy Aernoudt.
He also discussed the ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China, which he described as a “lose-lose” situation - prices for consumers go up, profits go down, and European exporters suffer most. China’s deflation and excess production capacity further increase competition, squeezing profits in Europe’s automotive industry. Speaking about Eastern Europe, he warned that the rising number of bad loans in Russia poses serious risks to its banking sector.
Cybersecurity was another key topic. It is estimated that by the end of 2025, global damages from cyberattacks will exceed 10 trillion U.S. dollars. The most affected industries remain manufacturing, healthcare, and finance. Meanwhile, in Europe, high energy prices and excessive regulation continue to limit investment growth. According to Mario Draghi’s recent report, the EU will need at least €800 billion in additional annual investments to stay competitive.
In the panel discussion “Resilient Business Playbook,” Aidas Vagonis (Helmes), Kristiina Omri (CybExer Technologies), and Frank Breedijk (Schuberg Philis) shared ideas on how organizations can adapt quickly to global challenges. They agreed that security should be seen as a core part of business, not just a technical IT issue. True resilience depends on people, structures, and well-prepared processes - and preparation always costs less than recovery after a crisis.
Panelists compared cybersecurity to healthcare - for hackers, attacks are just business, but for companies, they can be a matter of survival. They stressed that people remain the weakest link, so education and awareness are key to building resilience.
“This discussion showed that people make the biggest difference when it comes to resilience - their ability to learn, adapt, and share knowledge. That’s exactly why, for five years now, we’ve been bringing together professionals and businesses from the Baltic and Benelux regions. Our platform creates not only partnerships but also trust and knowledge – the strongest foundation for resilience,” said Jurga Baltram, co-founder of Benelux Baltics in Business.
Over the past five years, Benelux Baltics in Business has grown from a small but ambitious initiative into a strong interregional ecosystem. The organization now counts over 20 successful projects that have led to strategic partnerships and has hosted more than 30 events across Europe.
Benelux Baltics in Business is a non-profit organization that connects Baltic professionals and entrepreneurs in the Benelux countries, fostering business relations between the two regions. The organization is supported by BMI Executive Institute, Helmes in Lithuania, Minds&Finds, Ekonomikos ir inovacijų ministerija, Mind Your Waste B.V.
These loyal partners have been instrumental in empowering the community’s growth, supporting meaningful collaboration, and helping turn ideas into long-term impact across borders.
