Business programme 2022

If the digital transformation of the state is to be implemented, it is crucial that ethical questions arising from the use of digital technologies are answered in a timely fashion. A new technology revolution is changing our lives, bringing with it new ways of doing things, new interests and new values, while attempts to combine them with existing ones are not always successful. Conflicts and new ethical problems arise. Digital trust is a new phenomenon of the digital age, and is defined as the confidence of users in the ability of digital institutions, enterprises, organizations, technologies and processes to create a secure digital world. Is this achievable today? What are the risks of widespread digitalization to humanity? How can people protect their privacy?

The development of new technologies is a key criterion in the struggle for global technology leadership, where attracting and maintaining tech startups becomes vital to the economy. The main problem for Russian technology startups is a lack of opportunity to attract external financing. What is the solution to this problem? What support measures can the state and the regions offer to tech entrepreneurs?

Safeguarding and advancing the scientific and technological potential of the regions, which defines Russia’s aggregate intellectual potential, cannot be achieved without effectively linking science and production. This link is set to arrive in the form of the National Innovation System. It consists of four blocks: science, business, human resources and digitalization. All of these elements are being developed in the regions, and it is through partnership with the regions that a synergistic effect can be achieved. What is the role of the regions in building the National Innovation System? How can synergy from interaction be maximized? What effect could this have on the national economy?

The coronavirus pandemic has affected practically every economic sector, and IT is no exception. Companies in the industry were discussing the need for state support as early as spring 2020. Amendments to the Tax Code, better known as a tax shift, have been made. Income tax rates for Russian IT companies have been cut from 20% to 3%, while social security contributions have been reduced from 14% to 7.6%. The new policy applies to companies generating at least 90% of their incomes from the sale of software and IT services. The shortfall in budget revenue is expected to be recouped through VAT on the sale of exclusive rights to software and the right to use software through license agreements. The tax shift also allowed Russian IT companies to claim RUB 48 billion in additional tax deductions for nine months of 2021. Who benefits from the tax shift, and who loses out?

The prerequisites for a new social contract in Russia are now in place. Several initiatives have been identified under the umbrella of digital transformation, representing its digitalization. These include mobile communications and high-speed internet for every resident of Russia, digital citizen profiles providing access to a vast array documents in a mobile application, the provision of state services and communication with government agencies online, the signing of contracts and execution of transactions in the digital space, and the availability of affordable training for IT specialists. Will the implementation of these initiatives create the conditions for mutual trust between the Russian state, business and society? Could the efficiency of government bodies be improved?

An experiment was launched on 12 October 2020 to create and develop state information systems and their components and transfer them to Russia’s GosTech unified digital platform. The idea of GosTech is to reuse ready-made technological and applied services, securely develop them on a ready-made production conveyor, design applied architecture based on a client-centric domain approach, and distribute ready-made regional and municipal cloud solutions through the GosMarket digital platform, which is quite apt for the roundtable ‘The Digital Divide. How to Bring the Lagging Regions up to Speed’. What can GosTech offer the regions? First of all, due to the reuse of the ready-made components of the GosTech platform, the speed at which new regional digital solutions are implemented will increase, while their quality, reliability, and safety will improve. In addition, these regional solutions will become available to all regions and municipalities through the GosMarket platform. This will allow regions with small budgets to use high-quality digital products that improve people’s lives without spending significant resources on their development and maintenance. The idea of such reuse is particularly important given the huge shortage of IT specialists both in the regions and in the country as a whole.

Social security organizations are increasingly adopting AI technologies to enable them to expand their offer of proactive and automated services. AI is being used ever more widely in medicine and education. The application of AI in social security provision, however, is challenging. What are the specific ways in which the benefits of new technologies in the social sector can be maximized? What are the risks and how can they be avoided?

Is it forecast that by 2030, there will be 41 megacities in the world, home to a total of 720 million people. Over 60% of global GDP will be provided by 600 cities as soon as 2025. Three quarters of Russia’s population now live in cities, which are not only the sources of economic growth, but also where cultural and tech trends are born. The introduction of innovative digital and engineering solutions in urban infrastructure will improve the efficiency of urban management and make cities more liveable, helping them to become more attractive to investors. What role will urban economies play in the national economies of the future, and to what extent will the answer depend on their technological development? Is smart infrastructure investment worth it? What solutions are being implemented in Russian cities as a priority and what projects are likely to receive state support? How should the implementation of the Smart City project be structured in the regions and what should be included in regional programmes?

Protecting information and personal data has long been a priority task of the state and business. 96% of Russian companies announced their readiness to review protection measures in 2021, and over half of Russia’s major corporations are planning to increase their cybersecurity budgets. Data has become a kind of ‘currency’, with citizens unable to access a number of goods and services without handing it over. Measures taken by companies and government agencies to combat cyber threats and ensure the protection of personal data are of interest to everybody like never before. Russia is a recognized world leader in this area, but cybercriminals are also stepping up their efforts. How can cybersecurity leadership be strengthened for the benefit of companies and citizens? Are businesses and governments doing enough to protect personal data? What can be done to strengthen public trust?