<a href="https://nlmk.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">NLMK </a>Group, a Moscow-based international steel products manufacturer and supplier, has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with the <a href="https://alrii.ru/eng" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Artificial Intelligence Laboratories Association</a> (AILA). The cooperation will focus on digitalization of various production processes, including IoT and AI.

 
 The company and the Association have already launched a number of pilot projects. For example, NLMK Group and AILA member Biometriclabs are currently testing the use of mobile wireless vibroacoustic sensors to detect leaks in pipelines of enterprises. Such sensors provide constant online monitoring of the state of communications laid underground, thus, potentially allowing finding damaged areas faster. Such system will reduce the number of leaks and increase the reliability of the water supply to the equipment.

 
 Thousands of startups have already passed through the NLMK Group's platform for evaluating external innovative solutions, more than 100 solutions have been implemented or are at the piloting stage.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/1886/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

LipetskMedia

AILA to Deploy an AI Solution for NLMK’s Industrial Processes

The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has refused to give classified ads service Avito permission to buy CIAN housing search service.

 
 The regulatory body considered that "the merger of Avito and CIAN will entail the formation of a dominant entity (the companies will jointly occupy more than 50% of the market) and may lead to restriction of competition in the market."

 
 In addition, in the event that the deal is made the likelihood of price junps for the services of Avito and CIAN services would increase not only for professional market participants, but also for individuals, FAS said. At the same time, all the positive effects of the deal, according to the experts of the service, can be achieved without its conclusion.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/avito/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Avito</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/cian/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CIAN</a>

<hr />
 
 News on Avito negotiating the purchase of CIAN <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/avito-negotiating-the-purchase-of-cian/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">appeared</a> at the end of September. According to Forbes, if the deal was closed, Avito's share in the segment of real estate ads could have grown from 40% to 62.2%.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/fas-otkazala-avito-v-zakliuchenii-sdelki-po-priobreteniiu-tsian/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

FAS Russia (Federal Antimonopoly Service)

Regulator Dismisses Avito’s Request to Buy CIAN

A new aggregator <a href="https://baza.vc/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Baza VC</a> has been launched in Russia, which contains information on financing companies with founders from the CIS. According to the founder of the project, Alexei Mosolov, it is intended for entrepreneurs, investors, analysts and managers.

 
 At the moment, the aggregator contains several thousand records about investors, companies and their founders. Information includes contacts, classification by industry, stage, amount, and dates of foundation and funding rounds.

 
 The data is generated through parsing and natural language processing. Business media, ecosystem partners Crunchbase (contains data on more than 4 thousand venture capital firms), Dealroom (a database of more than 1 million organizations: from startups to companies worth more than $ 1 billion), PitchBook are used as sources.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexmosolov/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lex Molosov</a>, the Founder of <a href="https://baza.vc/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Baza VC</a>

<hr />
 
 Earlier, the launch of the online platform SberUnity for the interaction of startups, venture capitalists and corporations <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/sberbank-launches-sberunity-platform-for-startups-vcs-and-corporations/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">was reported</a>. With its help, investors will be able to receive an additional tool for finding startups, and large companies will be able to select relevant startups from the list or post their own requests technologies.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-rossii-zapustili-agregator-informatsii-o-finansirovanii-kompanii-s-osnovateliami-iz-sng/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

RB.ru

Aggregator of Financial Information on Startups with Founders from CIS Launched in Russia

Investments in a joint venture created by <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Yandex" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex</a>, the Lanit group of companies, a manufacturer of computer equipment Gigabyte and VTB bank, will amount to around $14 million (over 1 billion rubles).

 
 The plant will manufacture servers, storage systems, gateways and smart device components under the Openyard brand. The first devices are slated for release by the end of 2022.

 
 The commissioning work will be carried out by <a href="https://www.gigabyte.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Gigabyte</a>'s specialists, and Yandex developments and technologies will be used in the server design. The production will be located in the Ryazan region.

 
 The agreement between the companies to establish a joint venture <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/yandex-lanit-gigabyte-and-vtb-will-create-a-joint-venture-to-produce-servers-in-russia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">was announced</a> in early June. Then it was reported that Yandex and Gigabyte would provide patents, technologies and their own development of server hardware, <a href="https://lanit.ru/en/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lanit</a> would provide the enterprise with distribution and service centers, while VTB Bank would serve as a financial investor.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/iandeks-lanit-gigabyte-i-vtb-investiruiut-bolee-1-mlrd-rublei-v-sp/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

VC.ru

Yandex, Lanit, Gigabyte and VTB to Invest $14 Million in a Server Manufacturing Plant

The Russian team has won the ICPC International Programming Championship for the eighth time in a row, which took place in Moscow. The absolute champion was the team of the University. Lobachevsky from Nizhny Novgorod, according to the press service of the Russian government.

 
 Teams from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) and St. Petersburg University ITMO also received gold medals, and the HSE team went to the bronze medal.

 
 In total, 119 teams took part in ICPC’s finals, with 350 representatives from more than 40 countries.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rossiiskaia-sbornaia-pobedila-na-mezhdunarodnom-chempionate-po-programmirovaniiu-icpc/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

The Russian Government

Russian Team Wins ICPC International Championship for the 8th Time in a Row

Banks with basic licenses intent to outsource a number of independently performed IT processes to Rostelecom to expand the digitalization of banking, according to the Association of Russian Banks (ADB).

 
 This concerns software development, solutions for connecting to the Unified Biometric System (UBS), cooperation with freelance IT employees, software testing, and improving information security.

 
 ADB sees the main advantages of outsourcing in the expansion of services offered, lower capital costs, and high speed of product launch. However, the disadvantages include the high cost of services, dependence on a third-party provider, and difficulties in ensuring data protection and control of access to them.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/klyuch-rostelekom/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Unified Biometric System</a>

<hr />
 
 Rostelecom is considering a proposal from ADB regarding the creation of a unified solution for small and medium-sized banks. Currently, an assessment of banks’ interest in such a system, as well as the economic effect for the project participants, is underway.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/banki-zadumalis-o-peredache-it-protsessov-na-obsluzhivanie-v-rostelekom/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Izvestia

Banks Ready to Transfer IT Processes for Servicing to Rostelecom

Skolkovo resident Data Matrix, which specializes in processing and analyzing clinical data, will be the only company working on RWE research with Russian database, as part of the regulatory sandbox.

 
 The data will have free access for Russian scientists and IT developers in medicine. Specialists of the National Medical Knowledge Base Association will also be involved in the creation of the database.

 
 According to the Chief Product and Strategy Officer in Data Matrix Alexei Loleyt, the company will have the right to access anonymized data of medical records of any medical institution in Russia.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-loleyt-52936646/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alexei Loleyt</a>, the Chief Product and Strategy Officer at <a href="https://dm-matrix.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Data Matrix</a>

<hr />
 
 In March 2021, the Russian Government <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-government-has-presented-seven-projects-for-regulatory-sandboxes/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">chose </a>seven projects for regulatory sandbox, including research of routine clinical practice based on anonymized data from electronic medical records, with Data Matrix as the vendor.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/1881/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

CNews

Data Matrix to Create a National Biomedical Database

Six Russian centers for AI research will get grants from the government of up to $14 million (1 billion rubles) through 2024.

 
 The funds will be received by the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech), Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), Ivannikov Institute for System Programming of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ISP RAS), Innopolis University, ITMO, and HSE.

 
 The institutions were identified by a working group of 16 experts chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko. The total amount of funds, taking into account extra-budgetary funding, will amount to $97 million (7 billion rubles).

 
 Overall, 36 organizations took part in the selection. The most popular AI areas, for which applications were received, are cross-industry AI and AI technologies for various sectors of the economy, optimization of management decisions, medicine, and manufacturing industry.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/1880/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Six AI Research Centers in Russia Chosen for Grants of $14 Million  

Top tech stories from Moscow from September 20 to October 1

<hr />
<h2>
 MARKET IN BRIEF
</h2>

 
 Main news about Moscow's projects, developers, technologies

 
 Moscow Hosts ICPC World Championship 2021 Finals 

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/online-conference-for-the-opening-of-the-icpc-international-programming-championship-held-in-moscow/">
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/306db4a8-e2f5-5bbd-b495-cbc9980f04e4.png">
 </a>
 </div>
 
 Source:&nbsp;ICPC
 

 
 

 
 From October 1 to October 6, 2021, for the first time, Moscow holds the finals of the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC).

 
 More than 60,000 student programmers from more than 3,000 universities from up to 115 countries participate in qualifying rounds each year, and only the best of them reach the finals.

 
 The upcoming final will feature 100 teams with 15 from Russian teams, including five from Moscow. These are students of MIPT, Lomonosov Moscow State University, HSE, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, and Moscow Aviation Institute.

 
 The current champion is the Moscow team, which won two consecutive years. Last year, due to the pandemic, the final was not held, and in 2019 it was held in Porto (Portugal), 10 Russian teams took part in it, including three from Moscow.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/online-conference-for-the-opening-of-the-icpc-international-programming-championship-held-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Read more →</a>

<hr />
 
 Other stories:

<ul>
 <li>Face Pay <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/face-pay-launched-on-all-moscow-metro-stations/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Implemented</a> on All Moscow Metro Stations</li>
 <li>Skoltech <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/skoltech-joins-the-international-consortium-3gpp/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Joins</a> the International Consortium 3GPP</li>
 <li>Research Institute of Radio to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/research-institute-of-radio-to-conduct-a-study-of-5g-and-6g-implementaion-in-russia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Conduct</a> a Study of 5G and 6G Implementation in Russia</li>
 <li>Yandex to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/yandex-to-invest-30-million-in-its-cloud-service-in-germany/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Enter</a> German Market with Cloud Service</li>
 <li>BelkaCar <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/belkacar-heads-for-business-expansion/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Heads</a> for Business Expansion</li>
 <li>NTI to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/nti-to-test-computer-vision-system-for-autonomous-vehicles-by-the-end-of-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Test</a> Computer Vision System for Autonomous Vehicles by the End of 2021</li>
 <li>Tinkoff Bank <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/tinkoff-bank-tests-neural-network-on-customer-behavior-using-smartphone/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tests</a> Neural Network on Customer Behavior Using  Smartphones</li>
 <li>Russian Post to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-post-to-use-blockchain-for-logistics/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Use</a> Blockchain for Logistics</li>
 <li>Moscow-Based Fintech TalkBank <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-based-fintech-talkbank-included-in-top-100-companies-using-ai/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Included</a> in World’s Top 100 Companies Using AI</li>
</ul>

 
 

<div class="incut-block incut-block-text-small-size">
 GOV AGENDA
 Ministry of Transport <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/the-ministry-of-transport-presents-a-bill-defining-the-legal-obligations-of-taxi-aggregators/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Presents</a> a Bill Defining the Legal Obligations of Taxi Aggregators
 Telecoms and the Ministry of Digital Development <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/telecoms-and-the-ministry-of-digital-development-developing-a-standard-for-smart-homes/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Developing</a> a Standard for Smart Homes
 The Central Bank Binds Banks to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/central-bank-binds-banks-to-implement-fps-for-individual-payments-with-qr-codes/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Implement</a> FPS for Individual Payments with QR Codes
 Ministry of Economic Development <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/ministry-of-economic-development-names-the-key-criteria-for-the-development-of-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Names</a> the Key Criteria for the Development of Ecosystems
 </div>
 
 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/" style="" target="_blank">More news →</a>

<hr />
<h2>
 VC, IPO AND OTHER DEALS&nbsp;
</h2>

<ul>
 <li>Mail.ru Group <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mail-ru-group-sees-aliexpress-russia-going-public-in-2022/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sees</a> AliExpress Russia Going Public in 2022</li>
 <li>Sberbank <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/sberbank-announces-a-possible-ipo-of-samokat-and-delivery-club-in-2022-2023/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Announces</a> a Possible IPO of Samokat and Delivery Club in 2022–2023</li>
 <li>Softline to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/softline-to-conduct-a-double-listing-to-raise-500-million/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Conduct</a> a Double Listing to Raise $500 Million</li>
 <li>Startup Brandquad <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/startup-brandquad-raises-2-5-million-euros-for-r-d-center/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Raises</a> 2.5 Million Euros for R&amp;D Center</li>
 <li>Mail.ru Group <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mail-ru-group-invests-over-82-million-in-game-development-in-four-years/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Invests</a> Over $82 Million in Game Development in Four Years and <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mail-ru-group-buys-controlling-stake-at-belarusian-gaming-company-mamboo-games/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Buys</a> Mamboo Games</li>
</ul>

 
 

<hr />
<h2>
 ANALYTICS AND INSIGHTS
</h2>

 
 researches, monitorings, reports and other analytics of Moscow and Russian IT market

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/conversational-ai-market-in-russia-2020-2025/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">JUST AI</a>: Conversational AI market in Russia 2020-2025 →</li>
</ul>

 
 Comprehensive research and a forecast of Russian conversational AI market through 2025. 

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/attitude-of-russians-to-biometric-authentication-methods/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">NAFI</a>: Attitude of Russians to biometric authentication methods →</li>
</ul>

 
 The awareness and perception of authentication using biometric data. 

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/the-russian-market-for-legal-online-video-services-first-half-of-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TELECOMDAILY</a>: Russian market for legal online video services. The first half of 2021 →</li>
</ul>

 
 Financial results of Russian video streaming services. 

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/russian-e-commerce-ecosystem-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">DATA INSIGHT</a>: Russian e-commerce ecosystem 2021 →</li>
</ul>

 
 The study presents an ecosystem of more than 1300 services. 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/" target="_blank">More analytics →</a>

<hr />
<h2>
 KEY ACTORS
</h2>

 
 discover people who stand behind the innovative companies and projects in Moscow

 
 Vladimir Urbansky, Director for Digital Products of the Russian Post | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vurbanskiy" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook </a>

 
 Dmitry Lakontsev, Head of NTI Center of Excellence in Wireless and IoT в Skoltech | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dmitry.lakontsev" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook </a>

 
 Elena Muradova, Managing Partner at BelkaCar| <a href="https://www.facebook.com/elena.muradova.9" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>

 
 Philipp Denisov, Co-Founder and CEO of Brandquad | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/philipp.denisov" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>

 
 Mikhail Popov, Founder and CEO of TalkBank | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/popovmb/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>

<hr />
<h2>
 MORE
</h2>

 
 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moNDlIoGXrU" style="" target="_blank">Video</a> from the Opening Ceremony of the International Collegiate Programming Contest In Moscow held on October 1-6, 2021. 

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moNDlIoGXrU">
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/78e86b62-ae6b-5454-b9bd-c0ce2bec0514.png">
 </a>
 </div>

 
 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moNDlIoGXrU" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Watch video →</a>

 
 

<hr />
 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/?filterCategory=Tech-in-Moscow">Previous Tech in Moscow newsletters</a>

Top tech stories from Moscow from September 20 to October 1

ICT.Moscow

Tech in Moscow #30

The Ministry of Agriculture outlined a plan for the digitalization of agriculture through 2030 that will require $690 million (50 billion rubles). In particular, the department proposes to introduce technologies of digital twins, AI, IoT, drones, remote sensing of the Earth, as well as develop an online platform to promote Russian agricultural products and launch modeling and forecasting systems.

 
 The transformation of the industry is aimed at "increasing investment attractiveness, ensuring the completeness and reliability of data on the situation in the industry and the food market, reducing the cost of production and the cost of entering the agribusiness of new agricultural producers," according to the ministry.

 
 Forecasting technologies will allow building predictive models of yield and the likelihood of animal diseases, and the introduction of robots and drones will simplify production processes, the government body noted. With the help of Earth remote sensing solutions, it is planned to collect data on agricultural lands and their intended use.

 
 The project is aimed at approval by the Ministry of Digital Development.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/planiruet-vnedryat-cifrovye-tekhnologii-v-agroprome/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Kommersant

Ministry of Agriculture Plans to Digitalize the Industry

Apibank has launched the My Self-Employed platform, which helps to automate the interaction of small and medium-sized businesses with contractors, regardless of the bank where they are served.

 
 The platform will allow a client to check whether the contractor has “self-employed status before concluding a contract and each payment, registers his professional income, monitors the available limit, receives and stores closing documents (receipts)”. The «self-employed» legal status of freelance workers was imposed in Russia in 2017.

 
 According to Nadezhda Avdanina, the Executive Director of the digital platform Apibank, the decision also “automates the interaction of the parties with the Federal Tax Service”.

 
 In addition, customers can issue virtual bank cards for those with whom they work. Transfer of funds is possible both from a single aggregated account and from the company's own bank account.

<hr />
 
 Connect with 

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/navdanina" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nadezhda Avdanina</a>, the Executive Director of the Digital Platform Apibank

 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/apibank/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Apibank</a>

<hr />
 
 Earlier, Alfa-Bank <a href="https://vc.ru/finance/182608-alfa-bank-zapustil-servis-dlya-oformleniya-samozanyatyh-i-vyplat-im-voznagrazhdeniya-na-kartu-lyubogo-banka" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">presented</a> a service for business that allows you to automate work with self-employed. It combines the Alfa.Corporate application for the company and My Income for individuals.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/apibank-zapustil-platformu-dlia-avtomatizatsii-raboty-zakazchikov-s-samozaniatymi/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

APIBank

Apibank Launches a Platform for Automation of Interaction between Freelances and Clients

SkillFactory service became part of Skillbox Holding Limited, which already includes educational platforms Skillbox and GeekBrains.

 
 Prior to the deal, Mail.ru Group had a minority stake in SkillFastory in the amount of 18.31%, as well as an option to purchase additional shares with a plan to implement it in the second half of this year. After the deal is closed, Skillbox will become the holder of a controlling stake in the service, with 61.8%.

 
 SkillFactory will develop educational projects under its own brand. At the same time, the co-founder and CEO of the service, Alexander Eroshkin, together with other co-founders, will continue to lead SkillFactory.

 
 Mail.ru Group did not disclose plans for the further development of the holding.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alexander.eroshkin" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alexander Eroshkin</a>, co-founder and CEO of SkillFactory

 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/skillfactory/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SkillFactory</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/geekbrains/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Skillbox</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/geekbrains/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">GeekBrains</a>

<hr />
 
 SkillFactory, which specializes in professional and higher education in the fields of data science, Big Data and programming, was founded in 2016. In June 2020, it was <a href="https://vc.ru/services/139626-mail-ru-group-poluchit-18-31-obrazovatelnogo-servisa-skillfactory" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported </a>that Mail.ru Group took control of 40.4% stake in the company as security.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mailru-group-dobavila-skillfactory-v-obrazovatel-nyj-holding-k-skillbox-i-geekbrains/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

Mail.ru Group Adds SkillFactory to its Educational Holding, along with Skillbox and GeekBrains

Skoltech specialists have deployed the country's first autonomous private 5G network in the 4.8-4.99 GHz range using only domestic software.

 
 The solution was created on the basis of software developed by specialists from the The NTI’s Competence Center for Wireless Communication and the Internet of Things for the core network and base station with support for OpenRAN technology. To demonstrate the network operation, a 5G call was made using Voice over New Radio (VoNR) technology.

 
 According to the developers, the 5G solution is intended for private networks and can be used to create communication infrastructure in enterprises. It has now been launched in the band that was allocated to the institute for the 5G pilot zone.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/skolteh-zapustil-pervuyu-v-rossii-avtonomnuyu-chastnuyu-5g-set-na-rossijskom-po/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

ria.ru

Skoltech Launches Russia's First Autonomous Private 5G Network Based on Domestic Software

A non-profit organization Russian Open Source Foundation, which will unite open-source software developers as well as coordinate the activities of educational and scientific organizations, might soon be created. By November 1, the key members will be announced, with Sberbank, VTB, Mail.ru Group, Yandex, Postgres Pro, Arenadat expected on the list, aaccording to RBC newspaper.

 
 VTB has already announced its plans to become a member of the foundation. The representative of Sberbank clarified that the company only "took part in the discussion of the initiative." Representatives of Yandex and Mail.ru Group declined to comment.

 
 NPO will presumably develop an action plan for open-source software strategy, determining performance indicators, monitor implementation, etc. It will also become an operator of the domestic repository, providing grant support for the development of such software and representing Russian open-source communities in international public organizations.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/postgres-pro/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Postgres Pro</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/arenadata-dtm/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Arenadata</a>

<hr />
 
 Earlier it was <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-it-companies-to-develop-an-open-source-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported</a> that the companies are developing a strategy for the development of open-source software through 2024. initially, when discussing the strategy, it was proposed to give open-source solutions the same privileges that domestic software has. However, a softer wording was included in the published project: state and educational organizations should give preference to open formats and protocols in information systems, which must be used in the implementation of digital transformation projects along with existing domestic software.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/yandeks-vtb-mailru-group-i-drugie-kompanii-mogut-vojti-v-sostav-fonda-dlya-razvitiya-softa-s-otkrytym-kodom/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

Yandex, VTB, Mail.ru Group and Other Companies Might Join Open-Source Software Development Foundation

Carsharing service BelkaCar has presented a new strategy, according to which it intends to become a "diversified tech company", but will continue to develop short-term car rental.

 
 As part of its New Mobility direction, the company plans to develop a tech platform for launching subscriptions to cars, as well as the BelkaTestTech service, which will allow taking partner cars for a test drive.

 
 Another strategic direction is data-based solutions. Its products will analyze the driving of users, compile their profiles in order to offer new products to customers and partners based on this data.

 
 “We have never considered ourselves a transport company. We know how to manage huge fleets of cars, but the car has never been at the center of our business. We have always believed that the key area is IT solutions. These reflections have led to the need to develop in the direction of a technological platform that provides more opportunities for customers whose range of requests is much wider than just getting from point A to point B,” the Managing Partner of BelkaCar Elena Muradova said.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/elena.muradova.9" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Elena Muradova</a>, the Managing Partner of BelkaCar

 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/belkacar/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">BelkaCar</a>

<hr />
 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/belkacar-zaimetsia-razvitiem-novykh-napravlenii/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

BelkaCar Heads for Business Expansion

MTS has spun off two wholly subsidiary companies, Tower Infrastructure Company (TIC) and MTS Web Services. The decision was made at an extraordinary meeting of the company's shareholders.

 
 TIC, which is to get all the operator's tower infrastructure, will be headed by Alexander Teremetsky, who holds the position of Director for the Development of the company's tower infrastructure.

 
 MTS Web Services will have a significant part of the network and digital infrastructure of MTS, including radio subsystem, switching, transport and fixed networks, data processing centers (DPC), and cloud infrastructure. The company will be headed by the Vice President for Infrastructure Development at MTS Igor Egorov.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/igor.egorov.988" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Igor Egorov</a>, Vice President for Infrastructure Development at MTS

<hr />
 
 In August 2021, MTS <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-to-make-its-tower-and-digital-assets-separate-legal-entities/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> plans to restructure the company, with its tower and digital assets separating into separate legal entities.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mts-vydelila-iz-svoego-sostava-bashennuiu-infrastrukturnuiu-kompaniiu-i-mts-veb-servisy/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

MTS Spins off from its Tower Infrastructure Company and MTS Web Services

From October 1, the Bank of Russia made it mandatory to use the Faster Payments System (FPS) for systemically important credit institutions in the event that their individual clients pay for goods, works and services using a QR code.

 
 The requirement does not apply to making payments for housing and utilities. At the same time, from October 1, banks need to use the SBP when making payments between individuals at the initiative of the recipient of funds.

 
 Banks should also provide an opportunity to make payments to legal entities and individual entrepreneurs through the BPS in favor of individuals. The latter measure does not apply to salary payments and payments of legal entities whose accounts are opened in the territorial bodies of the Federal Treasury.

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 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/faster-payment-system/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Faster Payments System</a>

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 Earlier, the Bank of Russia <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/bank-of-russia-to-launch-solution-for-international-money-transfer/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> that in 2022 it intends to launch transfers to other countries through the Faster Payments System.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/banki-obiazali-ispolzovat-sbp-pri-platezhakh-fizlits-po-qr-kodu/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

TASS

Central Bank Binds Banks to Implement FPS for Individual Payments with QR Codes

Sberbank considers the possibility of IPO of Samokat and Delivery Club food delivery services over the next two years, although specific dates have not yet been determined.

 
 According to the First Deputy CEO of Sberbank Lev Khasis, investors show high interest in these "rapidly developing" assets. “Potentially – perhaps starting next year or 2023 – it will make sense to think about a public offering of these assets,” Khasis said.

 
 Samokat and Delivery Club are part of a joint venture JV with Mail.ru Group, O2O Holding. The partners' shares in the joint venture are 45% each. For the first half of 2021, the holding's revenue increased to 22.9 billion rubles, an increase from 5.4 billion rubles a year earlier.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lev.khasis" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lev Khasis</a>, First Deputy CEO of Sberbank

 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/delivery-club/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Delivery Club</a>

<hr />
 
 In September 2021, Sberbank <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/sberbank-might-bring-part-of-its-ecosystem-to-ipo-in-2023/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> that it was considering the possibility of launching an IPO of its subsidiaries from 2023. At the same time, specific companies were not disclosed for listing.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-sberbanke-soobshchili-o-vozmozhnom-ipo-samokata-i-delivery-club-v-2022-ili-2023-godu/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Vedomosti

Sberbank Announces a Possible IPO of Samokat and Delivery Club in 2022–2023

From October 1 to October 6, 2021, for the first time, Moscow holds the finals of the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC).

 
 More than 60,000 student programmers from more than 3,000 universities from up to 115 countries participate in qualifying rounds each year, and only the best of them reach the finals.

 
 The upcoming final will feature 100 teams with 15 from Russian teams, including five from Moscow. These are students of MIPT, Lomonosov Moscow State University, HSE, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, and Moscow Aviation Institute.

 
 The current champion is the Moscow team, which won two consecutive years. Last year, due to the pandemic, the final was not held, and in 2019 it was held in Porto (Portugal), 10 Russian teams took part in it, including three from Moscow.

 
 At the final stage in Moscow, teams of three people will compete in logic, speed and strategy for five hours, defining optimal solutions for 8-12 unique algorithmic problems of varying degrees of complexity. The teams are ranked according to the number of problems solved.

 
 During the online conference on the opening night, the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Digital Development Maxim Parshin recalled that Russia has been participating in this championship since 1995. At the same time, in 2021, most teams were represented by China (18 teams), Russia and India (15 teams each), Brazil (9), and South Korea (6).

<div class="incut-block ">
 
 Today we are ahead of all other countries in the number of medals. During this time, Russian teams have become absolute world champions 14 times. In total, they won 80 sets of medals, 33 of which are gold. Moscow universities have two world championship cups, two titles of European champions and more than 20 prizes.
 
 <div class="quote-owner">
 <div class="quote-owner__logo">
 <img alt="Maxim Parshin" src="https://ict.moscow/static/6cb28e15-cf86-57ba-8242-39d861eb8dee.jpeg">
 </div >
 <div>
 
 Maxim Parshin
 
 Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation
 </div>
 </div>
</div>
 
 

 
 In turn, the head of the Moscow City Information Technology Department, Eduard Lysenko, spoke about the capital's IT staff.

<div class="incut-block ">
 
 We now have about 600,000 IT specialists in the labor market. One in five vacancies is in the field of IT or communications. There is a trend towards IT specialists. On the one hand, it’s a good sign, on the other, it is a huge challenge for the education system, business managers, government authorities, because IT is a tool for digital transformation.
 
 <div class="quote-owner">
 <div class="quote-owner__logo">
 <img alt="Edward Lysenko" src="https://ict.moscow/static/1d026141-8067-55fb-8471-8d8d604a0567.png">
 </div >
 <div>
 
 Edward Lysenko
 
 Minister of the Government of Moscow, Head of the Moscow Department of Information Technologies
 </div>
 </div>
</div>
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 ICPC Executive Director, ICPC Foundation President William Poucher recalled other competitors.

<div class="incut-block ">
 
 I represent 400,000 ICPC alumni who have participated in 43 finals that have taken place before. Today, the 44th final will be held in Moscow. ICPC is a global community of universities that ask their students to develop their problem solving skills.
 
 <div class="quote-owner">
 <div class="quote-owner__logo">
 <img alt="William Poucher" src="https://ict.moscow/static/adac74be-81d0-5789-bef3-e6ade8a7b1e9.jpg">
 </div >
 <div>
 
 William Poucher
 
 ICPC Executive Director, ICPC Foundation President
 </div>
 </div>
</div>
 
 

 
 ICPC is the oldest and most prestigious IT team competition in the world, which has been held annually since 1977. Russia joined the championship in 1995 and today is ahead of all countries in the number of medals. Over the last 20 years, Russian students have won 33 gold medals and have maintained a winning streak since 2012.


 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-moskve-sostoialas-onlain-konferentsiia-k-otkrytiiu-mezhdunarodnogo-chempionata-po-programmirovaniiu-icpc/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

ICPC

Moscow Hosts ICPC World Championship 2021 Finals

Sberbank has created an online platform for interaction between startups, venture capitalists and corporations.

 
 With its help, investors will receive an additional tool for finding startups. Large companies will be able to select relevant startups from the list or place their own requests for certain technologies. Startups themselves will be able to independently respond to applications from funds and corporations.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/sberunity/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SberUnity</a>

<hr />
 
 The company expects that by the end of 2022 the number of Russian and foreign participants of the platform will exceed 5 thousand. There will also be functionality for advisers, accelerators as well as development institutions.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/sber-zapustil-platformu-sberunity-dlia-startapov-venchurnykh-investorov-i-korporatsii/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Sberbank

Sberbank Launches SberUnity Platform for Startups, VCs and Corporations

X5 Group (manages Pyaterochka, Perekrestok and Karusel stores) by the end of this year, together with Alfa-Bank, plans to launch the X5 Bank financial service, Interfax reports.

 
 According to the CEO of the company Igor Shekhterman, a payment system will be developed and implemented for buyers, which will be built into the applications of all X5 businesses.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006590011249" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Igor Shekhterman</a>, the CEO of X5 Group

<hr />
 
 X5 Group <a href="https://tass.ru/ekonomika/11963915" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> the launch of its payment service was in July 2021. Prior to that, the company <a href="https://vc.ru/trade/262794-x5-group-vydelila-onlayn-biznes-v-otdelnuyu-strukturu" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">separated</a> the online business into a separate structure, after which it <a href="https://rb.ru/news/x5-group-partners-program/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> the search for startups that could apply their solutions to improve the efficiency of X5's operational processes.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/x5-group-zapustit-sobstvennyi-finansovyi-servis-do-kontsa-2021-goda/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Interfax

X5 Group to Launch its own Financial Service by the End of 2021

Testing of a prototype technical vision for driverless vehicles will take place before the end of the year, according to the National Technical Initiative Platform (NTI). The software package is implemented on the chassis of the Toyota Prius.

 
 The key requirement for the system is the ability to select objects of interest in the video stream and monitor them without operator participation. At the same time, it must independently build digital terrain maps and plot a route, including in the absence of satellite navigation signals.

 
 According to the developers, the software complex uses neural network technologies that can improve the quality of data processing in the presence of noise in the image, with a complex shape of objects, changing exposure, partial or complete obstruction of the object. The monitoring algorithms will allow autonomous vehicles to adapt to various driving situations, including bad weather and off-road conditions.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/1871/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

NTI to Test Computer Vision System for Autonomous Vehicles by the End of 2021

The NTI’s Competence Center for Wireless Communication and the Internet of Things based in The Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) received the status of an invited participant in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) consortium.

 
 The status will allow Skoltech specialists to have access at an early stage to the results of standardization of new versions of mobile communication protocols, as well as to discuss issues of the use of wireless technologies at the global level. The membership in the consortium is also necessary for patent clearing of the institute's current and future developments, Skoltech noted.

 
 The Head of Competence Center Dmitry Lakontsev <a href="https://iot.skoltech.ru/2021/09/30/skoltech-guest-member-3gpp/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">noted</a> that the development of partnership with 3GPP will guarantee 100% compatibility with the growing pool of 5G devices and patent purity of developments.

<hr />
 
 Connect with 

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dmitry.lakontsev" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dmitry Lakontsev</a>, the Head of the NTI's Competence Center for Wireless and Internet of Things Technologies

<hr />
 
 Currently, Skoltech is also a member of international organizations involved in the development and promotion of open standards OpenRAN - the O-RAN Alliance and the Telecom Infra Project (TIP).

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/skoltekh-poluchil-status-priglashennogo-uchastnika-v-konsortsiume-3gpp/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Skoltech Joins the International Consortium 3GPP

Moscow-based Brandquad raises 2.5 million euros from Skolkovo Ventures (1.5 million euros) and BPI France (1 million euros) to expand its international presence and open a research and development center.

 
 The raised funds were provided in the form of a convertible loan and a soft loan. <a href="https://www.forbes.ru/svoi-biznes/441485-startap-brandquad-privlek-eur2-5-mln-ot-fonda-skolkovo-i-bpi-france" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">According</a> to Forbes, 62% of the raised funds will be used to develop marketing and sales of Brandquad products in the markets of Europe, the Middle East and the USA. The rest of the funds will be used to develop the company’s products. For this purpose the company will establish a research and development center in Lille (France).

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/brandquad/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brandquad</a>

<hr />
 
 The startup raised funds from investors in previous years: <a href="http://firrma.ru/data/news/8792/?sphrase_id=36592" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> $28,750 </a> (2.1 million rubles) in the pre-seed round from IIDF in 2016, another <a href="https://www.iidf.ru/media/articles/fond/frii-investiruet-15-mln-rubley-v-pervuyu-v-rossii-pim-sistemu/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$205,350</a> (15 million rubles) from IIDF in 2017, and <a href="https://www.forbes.ru/tehnologii/372897-toplivo-dlya-it-rossiyskiy-startap-brandquad-privlek-1875-mln-rubley" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$2.5 million</a> (187 million rubles) from IIDF and other investors in 2018.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/brandquad-privlek-eur2-5-mln-na-razvitie-i-sozdanie-tsentra-issledovanii-i-razrabotok/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

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