Keynote Speaker

Abstract:

The legislative framework in the field of health and safety at work is a key segment in the effective management of legislative requirements for business safety. Although this regulation aims to protect employees and preserve safety in organizations, critics point out that it can limit innovation and slow industrial development, which has led to proposals to reduce the regulatory burden when possible. The aim of this paper is to explore the challenges that organizations face in trying to meet legal requirements and to effectively manage the process of implementing regulations in the context of business security. A systematic literature review was conducted that analyzes the relationship between the management of legislative requirements and the day-to-day management of security in companies. The search for relevant publications was carried out through international bibliographic databases and scientific search engines, with an additional analysis of quotes from other authors. The results of the literature review show how compliance or non-compliance with legislation directly affects the effectiveness of the management of security systems in companies. The analysis highlights successful regulatory strategies, as well as key challenges, weaknesses and limitations that organizations face when implementing regulations. The study emphasizes that the effective management of legislative requirements in the area of business security, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises, is a complex and demanding process. The management of security systems should not only be based on strict enforcement of regulations and detection of non-compliance, but also on proactive approaches that include analysis of how legal compliance affects day-to-day operations and performance.

Biography:

: Dr. Ilija Životić is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Engineering Management, Serbia. His academic and research focus lies in the fields of engineering management, information security, and sustainable development, with a particular interest in the application of modern management methodologies in technology-intensive sectors. He has published scientific papers and actively participated in national and international conferences, contributing to the dialogue between academia and industry. Dr. Životić is also engaged in teaching and mentoring students in the areas of management systems, risk analysis, and digital transformation, emphasizing the integration of innovative approaches into higher education and professional practice.

Abstract:

The paper examines ecological entrepreneurship as a new operational logic of development that unites innovation, ethics, and ecosystem regeneration. Based on a sample of 42 case studies and three sectoral reviews (tourism, agriculture, construction/industry), and combining qualitative interviews with quantitative indicators, we demonstrate a “double dividend”: in 83% of initiatives, economic performance improves (↑ energy efficiency by 22–28%; ↑ material productivity by 15–21%) while ecological footprint declines (↓ CO₂ by 12–19% in the first post-pilot year). Validation with integrated indices (GSi, Eluc, Ragro) and tools such as the eco-canvas confirms that circular design, servitization, and digital twins (AI/IoT/Industry 4.0) accelerate learning and reduce risk. A blended finance structure (grant + green credit + impact capital) increases the likelihood of scaling by ~35%, while community co-design boosts implementation rates by up to 40%. The findings point to the need for standardized metrics, open data, and an “ethics of performance” in public policy to systematically link profit with the preservation of natural and social capital. Ecological entrepreneurship thus emerges as a transdisciplinary field and a practical instrument for achieving prosperity within planetary boundaries.

Biography:

Mr. Alexander Alexandrov, PhD, is an IT engineer currently working as an Associate Professor at the Institute of Robotics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. He obtained an MSc degree in Electrical Engineering in 1986 from the Technical University of Varna and an MSc degree in Economics and Finance in 2006 from the University of National and World Economy, Sofia.

He later earned a PhD in Informatics and Computer Sciences from the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Prof. Dr. Vladica Ristić is a Full Professor and Dean at the Faculty of Applied Ecology “Futura,” Metropolitan University, Belgrade. He holds two doctoral degrees in the field of Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection, one from the Faculty of Applied Ecology “Futura” (2016) and another from the European Center for Peace and Development, University for Peace established by the United Nations. Over the course of his career, he has advanced through various academic and research positions, being elected to senior scientific and leadership roles, including Senior Research Associate at the Institute of Architecture and Urbanism of Serbia and Head of the Department of Architecture at the International University of Travnik. In 2024, he was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Applied Ecology “Futura.”

His research interests include urban and rural ecology, environmental and geoecology, eco-architecture, applied ecology, as well as environmental monitoring and impact assessment with the application of information and geoinformation systems. He is the author of numerous scientific papers and book chapters published internationally, with a particular focus on strategic spatial planning for sustainable development and the protection of natural areas such as the Šar Mountain National Park.