Business programme 2020

of the Russian Investment Forum
Digital Solutions for Business Sberbank Panel Session Digital solutions using cloud services and artificial intelligence can significantly expand business activities and accelerate labour productivity. Despite this, Russia has been far slower to introduce modern technologies than the leading countrie...
Digital solutions using cloud services and artificial intelligence can significantly expand business activities and accelerate labour productivity. Despite this, Russia has been far slower to introduce modern technologies than the leading countries in this field. This session is devoted to a discussion of the digital solutions that exist for businesses, why Russia has been slow to implement them and how the gap can be overcome. In particular, we will attempt to answer the question: How can we improve communication channels between developers of new digital solutions and the business community?
Urban Infrastructure of the Future: Innovations and Investments A new demand is now being heard in the field of urban development, a consequence of limited investment sources: use the most effective innovative solutions possible. As things stand, the country’s urban infrastructure requires a mass-scale project...
A new demand is now being heard in the field of urban development, a consequence of limited investment sources: use the most effective innovative solutions possible. As things stand, the country’s urban infrastructure requires a mass-scale project to implement modern technological solutions that will produce results while remaining affordable. At the same time, a wide range of technologies have already proven their effectiveness and a number of new products that could be successfully used in projects in the sector have already been presented on the Russian market. The shared task of the federal and regional authorities, manufacturers and investors is to jointly determine the direction of travel for state support and the conditions for attracting investments into the urban infrastructure of the future. How can we advance from traditional infrastructure solutions to innovative technologies with limited resources? What does the effective use of state support mean? How can the tools and conditions for motivating investors to fund urban infrastructure projects be created? What is the profit ceiling for investments in urban development projects?
Experimental Legal Regimes in the Digital Economy As the digital economy takes shape, so changes inevitably need to be made to the legal and regulatory framework. However, new technology frequently appears much more quickly than corresponding legal stipulations can be enacted. In order to get aro...
As the digital economy takes shape, so changes inevitably need to be made to the legal and regulatory framework. However, new technology frequently appears much more quickly than corresponding legal stipulations can be enacted. In order to get around this issue, a number of so-called regulatory sandboxes have been developed. These are special legal regimes which allow for experimentation when delineating the legal principles governing new technology. Regulatory sandboxes aim to reduce the regulatory burden on companies encountering difficulties in introducing innovative digital products and services in Russia. Which areas are applicable for testing in regulatory sandboxes? What are the socioeconomic effects of using them?
Digital Transformation: Initial Results, Expectations and Opportunities The speed of technological development and the transition to the digital economy is becoming a defining factor for a nation’s standing on the international market. That is true both of the IT sector, and classical sectors of the economy. Russia’s ...
The speed of technological development and the transition to the digital economy is becoming a defining factor for a nation’s standing on the international market. That is true both of the IT sector, and classical sectors of the economy. Russia’s technological independence is a vital issue in this regard, as is the commercialization of the country’s R&D output. Other key topics include accelerating the technological development of Russian companies and ensuring the competitiveness of the goods and services they offer on the global market. What are the provisional outcomes of implementing support measures for projects in the development of cross-cutting digital technologies? What is the role of state corporations in digital transformation processes? What are the best ways to bring business on board with the development of digital technologies as an investor?
From Cyberhygiene to Cybersecurity: How Can We Protect Ourselves in a Digital World? According to the Russian National Coordination Centre for Computer Incidents, in 2018 there were more than 4.3 billion IT attacks on Russia’s critical information infrastructure, with banks and authorities most often exposed to cyberattacks. Howev...
According to the Russian National Coordination Centre for Computer Incidents, in 2018 there were more than 4.3 billion IT attacks on Russia’s critical information infrastructure, with banks and authorities most often exposed to cyberattacks. However, the cybersecurity of the large and small business segments cannot be considered separately. According to research, over the past year about 40% of Russian small and medium-sized companies have faced targeted cyberattacks. Often, large corporations are attacked through their less secure contractors. At the same time, the rapid development of technology and the imminent emergence of 5G networks make these threats all the more urgent. Today, along with the cybersecurity system that has been built, the compliance of every employee with the rules of cyberhygiene is becoming critically important. What role does cyberhygiene play in the cybersecurity system of the organization and the state as a whole? What else can improve the efficiency of the company's defences?
Will AI Be Granted Russian Citizenship? Digital technologies are directly changing human lives and forcing us to seek out new solutions in all spheres. One of the most promising areas today is the development of artificial intelligence. Solutions designed using AI are being actively imp...
Digital technologies are directly changing human lives and forcing us to seek out new solutions in all spheres. One of the most promising areas today is the development of artificial intelligence. Solutions designed using AI are being actively implemented by states and leading corporations. In 2018, experts estimated the volume of the technology market based on AI at 21.5 billion dollars and forecast that it will grow to 140 billion by 2024. As expected, this area will contribute more and more to the growth of the world economy every year. Russia has also adopted a national strategy for the development of artificial intelligence for 2030. Will Russia be able to take the lead in this technological race? Which industries are already using AI technology today? How should the state and business interact in this regard?
Data Processing and Storage in Russia: Investment Potential The development of a competitive global infrastructure for processing and storing data in Russia is a key national objective. In order to achieve this, there needs to be support for investment in the construction of commercial data processing and ...
The development of a competitive global infrastructure for processing and storing data in Russia is a key national objective. In order to achieve this, there needs to be support for investment in the construction of commercial data processing and storage centres. The IT infrastructure must satisfy the needs of the digital environment, while being able to respond to the challenges of time and rapid technological change across the globe. What specific aspects characterize investment in infrastructure? How can the Russian data storage and processing market be made more attractive to investors in infrastructure? What forms of government support for investors are needed to secure growth in the construction of commercial data storage and processing centres?
Workforce Productivity as a Growth Area for the Russian Economy Workforce productivity is a key indicator of economic development, and raising it through increasing added value per worker has become a key objective. The opportunity has arisen to increase salaries, create more jobs, and unlock working capital f...
Workforce productivity is a key indicator of economic development, and raising it through increasing added value per worker has become a key objective. The opportunity has arisen to increase salaries, create more jobs, and unlock working capital for companies to invest in modernization, renovation, and improved production. In turn, this will significantly help accelerate technological development in the country and increase the number of organizations working on tech innovations. Achieving all this will go a long way towards creating a highly productive export-centred sector across the main non-commodity industries. It will be a sector staffed by highly qualified professions, and one which will develop on the basis of modern technology. What is the effect of labour productivity on economic growth in the Russian Federation? How can measures aimed at increasing labour productivity at the regional level have an economic impact? How can an effective culture of productivity be fostered in the workplace?
Competitive and Effective Russian IT Solutions for Small Business The economy of the future is taking shape today. Small businesses are constantly growing and diversifying. The widespread implementation of IT solutions in small businesses is one of the most effective ways by which to achieve employment growth ta...
The economy of the future is taking shape today. Small businesses are constantly growing and diversifying. The widespread implementation of IT solutions in small businesses is one of the most effective ways by which to achieve employment growth targets, and to increase the contribution made by small businesses to the economy. The advantages of adopting such an approach are clear, leading as it would to a substantial improvement in the way business is done in Russia. It would help optimize back office processes and provide an additional boost to the country’s IT industry. What’s more, it would facilitate the development of breakthrough tech projects focusing on economic growth as a whole, or on individual segments. To what extent are IT solutions for small businesses effective, affordable, and of interest to entrepreneurs? What tools and options are IT companies prepared to offer small businesses irrespective of their area of focus? Is the government in a position to move away from classical SME support models in favour of service models (achieving business objectives, remote access to development and support tools, assistance in creating an IT model for a small business operating in any industrial niche, etc.)?
Digital Regions In partnership with Rostelecom The regions have a key role to play in the implementation of the Digital Economy of the Russian Federation national programme. The current mechanisms in place are somewhat specific and fragmented in nature. They do not make up a comprehensive appr...
The regions have a key role to play in the implementation of the Digital Economy of the Russian Federation national programme. The current mechanisms in place are somewhat specific and fragmented in nature. They do not make up a comprehensive approach to achieving digital development in the Russian regions. They also fail to factor in the various process involved in taking state governance decisions at the federal, regional, and municipal levels. It is therefore crucial to bring together the fragmented initiatives set forth in national and regional projects, and to fund the corresponding measures. What is a digital region? What issues affecting the regions are the most pressing? How will funding for the Digital Region project look?
Establishing Regulations for Digital Ethics in Russia Digital transformation, the rapid technological development of artificial intelligence, virtual reality and facial recognition technology require a new approach to regulation and a specific set of digital ethics. The average person spends 30% of t...
Digital transformation, the rapid technological development of artificial intelligence, virtual reality and facial recognition technology require a new approach to regulation and a specific set of digital ethics. The average person spends 30% of their time online, and an increasing proportion of significant events in a person’s life take place in the virtual world. In the same vein, though, there is also misuse of technology, which comes with an increasing risk of harm to individuals as well as businesses, the state and society as a whole. In this context, the usual regulations and bans are practically obsolete, and new technological limits will emerge along with ways of getting round them. In this way, creating voluntary limitations for those engaged in potentially harmful activities may be the only way of creating a safe environment in the digital sphere – in other words, creating a code of digital ethics. Russian developments in this sphere are well-known. For example, Russian specialists created a new format called screenlife, which helps run educational courses on Internet safety and ethics. In addition, digital content is becoming one of the most technological and rapidly developing markets. Today, it is already one of the major sectors of the global economy. What position will Russian companies occupy in this market? Are Russian companies capable of being competitive and will this branch become a new driver of economic development? Can Russia’s ‘Code of Digital Ethics’ go global? Will Russia open up a new era of Internet safety or will the virtual milieu remain a space devoid of limitations or moral principles? Will further development of artificial intelligence lead to limits being imposed on personal freedoms? What role do Russian companies have in the global context of technical progress?
Digital Technologies in Agriculture The world is currently bearing witness to a unique event: across the globe, agriculture is steadily transitioning from a semi-intuitive art to a high-tech industry, based on brand new, innovative solutions and technologies. The digitalization of t...
The world is currently bearing witness to a unique event: across the globe, agriculture is steadily transitioning from a semi-intuitive art to a high-tech industry, based on brand new, innovative solutions and technologies. The digitalization of the agrarian sector gives the world a chance to feed its growing population and provide food to 10 billion people by 2050. The digitalization of the agrarian sector reduces agricultural producers’ risks and production costs, helps adapt to climate change and resulting strict environmental standards, and facilitates the most efficient use of dwindling resources. Providing agricultural producers with necessary information via cutting-edge technology will help reduce spending on the acquisition of technology, agrochemicals, and seed and breeding stock, solve the pressing need for trained workers, and increase access to investment and global sales markets. New technologies can help track the movement of a product from the field to consumers, thereby guaranteeing its quality. Modern agricultural enterprises must have access to a number of digital technologies: satellite and unmanned aircraft imagery and the software to interpret it, including through the use of artificial intelligence; field sensors and detectors; mobile applications; and geolocation systems. As a result, digitalization will facilitate the production of more food products while using fewer resources, increase market competitiveness, and result in a more efficient agricultural enterprise, capable of responding to changing demands and consumer preferences. What digital products should be developed first? Remote monitoring and crop forecasts? Digital field modelling? Digital assistants for agronomists and livestock raisers? What has the best chances for a quick launch and what will face a number of barriers and challenges? What tools can already be found in Russia and which are being actively developed abroad? What global experiences are applicable and relevant to Russian latitudes and conditions, and which are not?
Investing in Human Capital: A Key Element of the DNA of the Economy of the Future Governments, with their complex structures, are often compared to living organisms. Humans lie at the heart of these systems. This is why one of the things that the economy currently needs most is qualified personnel. Much like any other living sy...
Governments, with their complex structures, are often compared to living organisms. Humans lie at the heart of these systems. This is why one of the things that the economy currently needs most is qualified personnel. Much like any other living system, human capital has its own sort of DNA – a spiral consisting of three strands: the state, educational institutions, and business. Only simultaneous investments in all three areas can leverage the country's human potential and serve as a launchpad for economic growth. The country is currently in the process of major efforts to prepare professionals across all industries. This was made possible through widespread partnerships and the creation of an entire system for the development and support of talented individuals: starting from school and ending at enterprises, at both the federal and regional levels. Investing in human potential on such a scale will help accelerate future economic growth, lay the foundation for sustainable development, and strengthen the country's competitiveness as a global leader. What do partnerships between the government, educational institutions, and businesses aiming to develop human capital currently look like? What best practices and solutions currently exist in Russia with regards to developing human capital? What are the ways to increase the conversion rate of investment in human capital to GDP growth? Challenges of the economy of the future: how to train professionals when change happens so quickly.
The Sharing Economy: From Renting Cars to Smart, Sharing Cities It has been said that the sharing economy concept has the potential to change the world. The sharing economy is founded on online platforms that allow people to rent, exchange, and share goods and services. Today, Russia is a leader in many sharin...
It has been said that the sharing economy concept has the potential to change the world. The sharing economy is founded on online platforms that allow people to rent, exchange, and share goods and services. Today, Russia is a leader in many sharing sectors. The Russian carpooling community is the largest in Europe. Moscow has the largest car sharing park in the world and is one of the top 10 capitals with the highest number of co-working spaces. The Russian sharing economy has been growing rapidly: by the end of 2019, the volume of transactions grew by 50% and exceeded RUB 769 billion. What is behind this sharing boom: a desire to save money or citizens striving to transition to responsible consumption? When will Russia see smart, sharing cities, capable of addressing social issues using online sharing services? What are the challenges that come with the development of a sharing economy?
Managing Digital Platforms: How to Secure the First 1,000 Transactions and Achieve Scalability Statistics show that in 2018, over 200 platforms were launched around the world. Most of these were marketplaces, but growth rates speak to the fact more and more companies are opting for open and closed competitive environments as their core busi...
Statistics show that in 2018, over 200 platforms were launched around the world. Most of these were marketplaces, but growth rates speak to the fact more and more companies are opting for open and closed competitive environments as their core business, taking a profit from transaction volumes rather than the sale of goods. The immediate task after launching a platform business is reaching a critical mass of users. Critical mass is the point at which the value of the network exceeds the cost of joining for the majority of users. As soon as the network reaches the requisite size, its network effects begin to attract new users, and it begins to scale organically. In other words, the main problem when launching a platform business model is to secure the first 1,000 transactions in the system to set the organic effect of the system’s scalability in motion. How can this be achieved? Which tactics should be adopted? How can a platform become successful in today’s competitive market conditions?