Start-ups forged in fire
War has transformed Ukrainian firms, but measuring their success remains chaotic
Shock value
Brussels has given boardrooms a new framework
Unready, unsteady, go
Ukraine and the Balkans are unprepared for the EU's two-year timetable
Reinventing the wheel
Not every new feature is actual disruption
The defence dividend
CEE's economies are slowing, but war is changing how they grow
CEE’s next reinvention
What Central and Eastern Europe does next will define an entire region
Away days, new worlds
How sporting events can make lesser-visited cities tourist destinations
The buzzing reinvention
How drones have rewritten the rules of war
Scaling up
A funding milestone underlines the importance of reinvention in the quest for tech relevance
Generation Analogue
Digital natives are choosing decidedly undigital lives
In search of validation
Small Country Syndrome makes states prisoners of foreign opinion
Jobs for the boys
How the right's attack on 'non-jobs' reveals an old agenda in modern dress
Service charge
From software to jet engines, everything is becoming a subscription
Remittance republic
Tajikistan's impressive growth masks a dependence on workers abroad
When sanctions fail, try servers
Traditional tools of economic coercion are showing their age. Time for an upgrade?
The store strikes back
Physical retail stores aren't dying—they're evolving
Tempered expectations
For Ukraine and Moldova, full EU membership seems distant. Is there a more expedient path?
The great unbundling
The subscription economy is booming, but efficiency is not
The BRICS delusion
This loose band of misfits is little more than a talking shop
The real fertility crisis
Reinventing the world's approach to reproduction
The extended workbench breaks down
Foreign investment in Eastern Europe is drying up
Everyday AI
Efficiency and opportunity: the benefits AI is already bringing
AI to the rescue
AI is poised to create a whole new way of working
Get it done
Digitalisation is no longer an added extra for CEE's firms, it's a must
Cybersecurity is a boardroom issue
It starts with the CEO
Poland’s opportunity
Microsoft’s investment in Poland will accelerate the country’s transformation
CEE’s next generation
Central and Eastern Europe is now a global powerhouse where talent comes together to innovate
The blueprint brigade
Do governments really need AI action plans?
Walking to work
Fifteen-minutes cities. How urban planning has been misconstrued as authoritarian overreach
The blockchain ballot
Romania's crypto-secured election points to a new era of digital governance
The lev’s last dance
Bulgaria's journey to the eurozone faces political hurdles, but economic gains beckon
The Silicon State
GovTech is reinventing public services
Europe’s social contract reinvented
An ageing continent must find new financing models
Vilnius, the final frontier
Lithuania's capital is betting that the path to security runs through the stars
Machine-made riches
Growth on par with the industrial revolution of the 19th century may be within reach
Kosovo’s untapped potential
Kosovo has already defied sceptics by building a functioning economy
Transitioning to a brighter future
Regional economic rebalancing is creating new opportunities across Central Asia
Barge against the tide
It’s time to dust off the Danube‑Black Sea Canal and make it the continent’s greenest freight superhighway
Empty nest, full potential
Demographic decline need not signal permanent retreat
Turning bureaucracy into profit
RegTech offers a glimpse of a future where regulation is not a hindrance
Reform, Tajikistan, reform
Remittances, hydropower schemes, and fields still define Tajikistan’s economy. Reinvention is needed
Fintech’s accessibility reckoning
The European Accessibility Act will reshape how banks and fintechs design their services
Croatia’s labour crunch
As Croatia’s beach resorts prepare for another bumper summer, businesses are scrambling—not for tourists, but for workers
Lithuania’s fintech hub matures
A small country continues to punch above its weight
Waste deep in opportunity
Modern waste-to-energy initiatives can create real economic value
Preparing CEE’s young for the future
Strong regional cooperation could help weaker educational systems catch up
Economy in focus: Latvia
Latvia deserves far more than just a passing glance
Kazakhstan’s venture funds head west
As the local start-up scene matures, Kazakh investors look to Europe’s tech hubs
Splitting atoms, burying coal
With US help and a mountain of state support, Warsaw wants to power past its sooty legacy
Warp speed ahead
If you’re still picturing CEE as a region of failing state factories, it’s time to wake up
Soft power, hard currency
The creative sector in CEE is booming, and with it comes global recognition
Central Asia’s rising stars
The region's venture ecosystem is becoming a significant global player
Stuck in the middle
Middle-income countries must prioritise reforms that foster the infusion of capital, knowledge, and expertise
Ukraine’s Starlink dependency
In Ukraine’s darkest hours, a constellation of tiny satellites has provided a crucial lifeline
The needle exchange
Cross-border collaboration and clear communication are key to healthier, ageing societies throughout CEE
Europe’s start-up windfall
Europe has turned 12 billion euros of start-up funding into a half-trillion-euros tech jackpot
Code and prejudice
Ukrainian women in exile are struggling for fair pay in tech
Skype’s final call
Silicon Valley had its PayPal Mafia, Tallinn its Skype Mafia—an influential group which has defined Estonia's tech landscape
Economy in focus: Estonia
A country once renowned for punching well above its weight is struggling
Bad peace, high price
If a dictated peace were to be imposed on Ukraine, Eastern Europe would be increased hesitancy among investors
Turkmenistan: Potential behind closed doors
Should the reclusive state ever swing open its doors, prepare for a global scramble
The EU infrastructure dividend
An unstoppable wave of EU financing is sweeping through CEE
The great decoupling
Ending reliance on Russian energy isn’t just about keeping the lights on. It’s about fuelling a more dynamic economy
Rags to riches
Landfills once defined CEE’s approach to waste management, but today the region prizes its circular economy
Bringing it (closer to) home
Nearshoring has evolved from an appealing notion to a strategic imperative
Baltic start-ups, African talent
How a Baltic initiative is tapping Africa for ICT professionals
Kleptocrats and authoritarians
What does Transparency’s latest CPI tell us about corruption across Europe?
Embracing reinvention
Governments and businesses should embrace technology-driven solutions to ensure that no community is left behind
Emerging Europe’s tariff test
Possible US duties on EU imports loom large over the region’s ambitions
Defying Trump
Growth in Eastern Europe will speed up in 2025, despite Donald Trump
In Brussels, the innovation penny drops
Europe has finally realised that it needs to catch up with the US and Asia
Add to cart, add to GDP
Lessons from emerging Europe’s e-commerce champions
The digital doctor will see you now
From Bulgarian villages to Estonian islands, a medical revolution is underway
Beyond the Tallinn line
The influence of Estonia's new defence fund will be felt well beyond national borders
The Silk Road to skills
As Central Asia's economies reinvent themselves, so are their education systems
In Belarus, a presidential election in name only
Minsk has turned elections into a farce
Economy in focus: Lithuania
A stronger domestic capital market is needed
The prodigal programmers
After decades of departure, a growing wave of professionals is coming home
Economy in focus: Czechia
Czechia’s path to prosperity mixes steady progress with measured ambition
Digital fortresses
Why states must embrace digitalisation to bolster their resilience
Smaller cities, bigger opportunities
Secondary cities across CEE are becoming magnets for investment
CEE’s AI leap
In the push for digital supremacy, the region's resourceful economies are leveraging AI to push on
Economy in focus: Kyrgyzstan
The solid growth of recent years continues, but Kyrgyzstan is still playing economic catch up with most of its neighbours
Kosovo’s green dividend
Why betting on climate resilience could unlock human potential
Reset in Skopje
North Macedonia faces a narrowing window to fix its finances and reboot growth
Champions and architects
Everyone loves Christmas, everyone loves awards. Here are ours
Chips need brains
Semiconductor funding must be paired with talent development
Ukraine, War, Love: A Donetsk Diary
A belated warning, and a lament
Mind the automation gap
In CEE, R&D spending varies widely between the various countries
Ukraine’s economy, like its people, resists
But looming energy shortages are likely to provide the toughest test yet
Stuck in neutral
Why EV chargers are missing from large parts of CEE
Mongolia’s other export
Tech talent, not just copper, is powering the next phase of economic ambition
The Balkan boost for electric cars
Bulgarian firms are building the tech behind EV infrastructure
Economy in focus: Montenegro
Podgorica’s growth strategy should be based on productivity and human capital
The security presidency
Poland plans to steer Europe through its toughest geopolitical storm in decades
Europe’s frontline investment
As the war grinds on, underfunding Ukraine could cost the EU far more than money
The vanishing ice of Tajikistan
Climate action offers the country an opportunity to rejuvenate its economy
Venture east
For ambitious start-ups and scale-ups in CEE, there's plenty of VC money available
Adding a president to the cart
Estonia’s innovation brand gets a boost as its former president joins the tech frontlines
Coal to competitiveness
Decarbonisation isn’t just a climate goal for Poland—it’s an economic opportunity
Checkout, then cash in
For Croatian retailer Studenac, an IPO to finance further growth
Economy in focus: Azerbaijan
Baku faces several challenges in its diversification efforts
Innovating under fire
Russia’s invasion has catalysed a wave of Ukrainian innovation—from battlefield tech to civic resilience
Nearshoring ahoy!
Foreign investors who want to shorten their supply chains are increasingly interested in CEE
Swipe right on CEE
Fintech is booming in the CEE region, but investors want more than just clever code
Stara Zagora’s renewable potential
The city is leveraging natural advantages with forward-thinking strategies
Learning growth
Without better education, emerging Europe and Central Asia risk falling short of their potential
Retail takes flight
Drones are no longer a novelty—they’re reshaping how goods move from shelf to doorstep
Thriving in the shadow of stagnation
While Germany struggles, its eastern neighbours are not
Driving change in Stara Zagora
The Bulgarian city is positioning itself at the forefront of the region’s electric vehicle push
The wasted potential of Belarus
The country's economic outlook remains clouded by reliance on Russia
Poland’s silicon play
In the race for semiconductor self-sufficiency, Poland has become one of Europe’s leading contenders
Moldova’s green targets
Moldova wants to diversify its energy sources by attracting foreign investors
Reinvention in the regions
Stara Zagora shows how second-tier cities can lead with bold, bottom-up development
The economics of proximity
Why companies are moving to the Western Balkans
The capital of competitiveness
Strong fundamentals and smart governance keep Vilnius ahead in the CEE-Baltics business race
Economy in focus: Poland
PM Donald Tusk shows little sign of scaling back his predecessor's policies
CEE’s next IPO
Żabka plans for a listing on the Warsaw Stock Exchange
No more ‘low cost’
CEE's EU members need innovation for a new growth model
War and survival in Warsaw
Five must-read Warsaw novels
Choking on inaction
Governments in the Western Balkans are failing to curb coal pollution—at mounting human and economic cost
Falling demand slows Europe’s dash for LNG
Shiny new terminals risk becoming costly, stranded assets
The emergence of CEE as a global investor
Money from CEE is flowing into Western Europe. But it's not all welcome
In Ukraine, a cabinet reshuffle
Volodymyr Zelensky has shuffled his pack ahead of an important autumn
airBaltic IPO prepares for take-off
The Latvian airline is courting institutional and retail investors
Financing the future, unevenly
Developing economies face substantial financing gaps
Latvia lands the deals
And overturns four years of Estonian dominance to become our new investment promotion champion
Economy in focus: Slovakia
Slovakia needs the right mix of policy, innovation, and investment
Economy in focus: Hungary
Viktor Orbán’s grandstanding is a vanity project Hungary can ill afford
Romania gets its first regional tech accelerator
The focus is ideas, not track record
A steadfast leader in turbulent times
Salome Zourabichvili’s has a clear vision for Georgia’s future
Dysfunctional prejudice
Even in deadlock, Bulgarian lawmakers are advancing legislation that mirrors Moscow’s playbook
The Baltic benchmark
Commitment to innovation makes Estonia’s IT sector emerging Europe's most competitive, again
Don’t forget Belarus
As the world watches Ukraine, the struggles of its northern neighbour go largely ignored
Economy in focus: Turkmenistan
Assessing Ashgabat's economic health is almost impossible
A race for take off
Poland's Solidarity Transport Hub faces competition from Hungary
Azerbaijan: Five essential reads
A literary journey through the Land of Fire
Why do small countries excel at fintech?
Lithuania aims to establish itself as a global fintech hub by 2028
Serbia’s electric dreams
Serbia is about to start making EVs, as well as supplying the lithium that powers them
Tajikistan’s growing pains
Without reform, Central Asia's growth champion faces tougher times
Wind of change
The Western Balkans' clean energy revolution
Easy street
Five hikes in Central and Eastern Europe for just about anyone
BMW joins dash for Cluj
Global giants continue to view the city as crucial to innovation
Levelling the start-up
A wave of initiatives is empowering female founders, igniting a surge of innovation and entrepreneurship
Economy in focus: Croatia
In the medium-term, labour shortages could be an obstacle to higher levels growth
Educating Ukraine
Young Ukrainians have spoken, and they want more investment in education
Poland streamlines its Solidarity Hub
A major new transport hub will go ahead, but on a greatly reduced scale
Resilient Slovenia
Despite facing significant challenges, Slovenia’s economy remains robust
Growth in CEE gains momentum
Sharp rises in real wages and private consumption are the main drivers
Economy in focus: Bulgaria
Demographic decline and eternal political instability threaten to slow growth
Ukraine’s war for talent
Why investment in education must be a key part of reconstruction
Preparing for war’s end
The enormous potential of Ukraine’s economy
The future of manufacturing in CEE
Transitioning to a high-tech, added value era will be key for future growth
Vilnius deploys the big guns
Lithuania takes another step towards strengthening its defence sector
Economy in focus: Serbia
The role of Beijing in Serbia’s economy has been overplayed
Bathing in Budapest
Five essential swimming experiences in the Hungarian capital
Opportunity knocks, but not for all
Much of emerging Europe is falling behind on its commitment to equality
Planting the seeds of opportunity
In the agrifood sector, women can be agents of change
Reinvention on the Baltic
In Estonia, renewed economic convergence will require stronger productivity growth
Economy in focus: Albania
Challenges there may be, but Albania’s economy is broadly in a good place
Better in than out
The indisputable benefits of EU membership
Revealing intimacy in Baltic art
An exhibition at the MO Museum in Vilnius focuses on sexuality and gender
CEE’s recovery remains on track
However, turbulence lies ahead
Booming in the Baltics
Despite headwinds, Lithuania's fintech sector remains resilient
Economy in focus: Tajikistan
The economy would benefit from political reform
Ukraine is Europe
Support for Ukraine is vital for European democracy
Silk Road success
Central Asia's economies forecast to outperform Europe once again
Economy in focus: Latvia
Latvia must lean into innovation and green growth
Hungary might just be for turning
A creaking economy has Hungarians considering their options
Women on top
How we can empower female entrepreneurs in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia
Rethinking Bosnia and Herzegovina
Growth lags behind that of its regional peers
The other half
Taking Ukraine's female-owned businesses to the next level
Economy in focus: Lithuania
Lithuania has ample opportunity to drive growth through innovation
No change in Ashgabat
Two years after a changing of the guard in Turkmenistan, reform hopes fade
Reviving the EU’s Balkans plan
The aim to accelerate economic convergence
Made in Ukraine
'For Ukraine to win, Ukrainian entrepreneurs must also win'
Climate compromise
With decisive action, net zero energy is within reach in emerging Europe and Central Asia
In Belarus, an election in name only
There will be very little choice on the ballot papers
Economy in focus: Estonia
Estonia needs to escape Europe’s longest recession
Red Kalyna
Supporting Ukraine’s innovative women is good for business across Europe
Seeds of change
Modernisation and sustainability in CEE’s agricultural sector
Sustainable Vilnius
How start-ups in Vilnius are contributing to the city's bid to become carbon neutral
Orbán’s agonies
Problems pile up for Hungary's prime minister
Embracing the sun
Investors are increasingly ready to back Poland’s solar revolution
Central Asia is not Russia
Calling Central Asia as 'Moscow's backyard' denies the region agency
Small countries, big money
The Baltics emerge as a serious venture capital destination
Digital darlings
Why Eastern Europe's future lies in grasping its chance to lead
The rot spreads
How autocracy is enabling corruption across Eastern Europe
Saving the Baltic Sea
A six-month long Lithuanian expedition is hoping to raise public awareness of its precarious state
Top of the EaP class
Moldova and Ukraine show the way on European reforms
Poland’s great green gamble
Why Warsaw's 70 per cent emissions cut is within reach
Czechoslovakia: Five essential reads
Remembering a country that no longer exists
Zelensky’s Davos pitch
The Ukrainian president's twin appeal for aid and investment
Economy in focus: Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan’s economy has proven resilient to recent global challenges
The growth outliers
Why Central Asia and the Caucasus buck global economic gloom
No, Poland doesn’t have any ‘political prisoners’
But it does face a constitutional crisis
Economy in focus: Bosnia
It's not an easy country to govern, and that impacts the economy
Economy in focus: Moldova
Victory for incumbent Maia Sandu in a presidential election is vital