According to Forbes, Avito, a classified advertisements online service, is negotiating the purchase of the real estate marketplace CIAN.

 
 The deal is currently pending at the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS), while the regulator received the notification this summer. Then, FAS sent a questionnaire to market participants with questions about business, shares, pricing in the market.

 
 Avito is considering the acquisition of both the entire business of CIAN or a share of the business in cities with a population up to one million. If the deal is closed, Avito's share in the segment of real estate ads could grow from 40% to 62.2%.

 
 Avito's share of the online classified real estate market in the apartment segment is 40%, while CIAN follows with 22.2%. The third place with a share of 13.8% is taken by Youla, as of April 2021.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

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

 
 

<hr />
 
 Earlier it <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/cian-heads-for-an-ipo-this-fall/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">was reported</a> that CIAN plans to go public in the fall of this year and place securities in the amount of $300-400 million.

 
 Russia's top classifieds service Avito is the fifth-largest Russian internet company, currently worth around $5 billion, <a href="https://www.forbes.ru/biznes-photogallery/421235-30-samyh-dorogih-kompaniy-runeta-reyting-forbes?photo=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">according</a> to Forbes. In 2019 South African internet conglomerate Naspers <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/28/naspers-avito-1-16-billion/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">took</a> full control of the company with a $1.16 billion investment.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/avito-vedet-peregovory-o-pokupke-cian/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russia)</a>

Forbes

Avito Negotiating the Purchase of CIAN

At the end of October, the international association of IT companies iCluster will sum up the results of the Russian competition "IT-project: Back To The Product", where they will determine the most promising solution in the areas of AI, VR/AR, IoT, Web.

 
 In total, 14 teams out of 400 participants in the competition reached the final. Among them are Moscow projects. They include quantum resilient traffic tunneling software solution Qtunnel, rapid add-on VR training platform ARPort SafetyVR, supervisor face-based video analytics solution Neurocam, and the OmniHUB automated customer service point.

 
 The jury will assess the relevance of the project and the problem being solved, the availability of implementation cases, the level of the team's competence, the pace and prospects of product development on the market, the potential of the technologies used and their development.

 
 Based on the results of the competition, the best teams will be able to present their developments to potential partners.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/arport-safetyvr/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ARPort SafetyVR</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/neurocam-supervisor/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Neurocam Supervisor</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/omnihub/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">OmniHUB</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/qtunnel/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Qtunnel</a>

<hr />
 
 The international association of IT companies iCluster organizes the competition of IT projects for the fifth time. This year, for the first time, the competition is held in federal status, helping promising technological solutions to scale, and their development companies to enter new markets.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/chetyre-moskovskih-startapa-voshli-v-chislo-finalistov-federalnogo-konkursa/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

CRN/RE

Four Moscow Startups Reach Finals of the National Competition "IT Project: Back To The Product"

Founder of the financial marketplace Banki.ru Philip Ilyin-Adaev launched the MedAdvisor aggregator site for private and public medical clinics.

 
 The project is based on the clinics ranking, which is compiled on the basis of feedback from visitors and experts. Thus, the aggregator intends to systematize data on clinics, doctors and services. According to the founder of the project, now only the "skeleton" of the system has been configured. As soon as it becomes operational, clinics will eliminate problems in service.

<hr />
 
 Connect with 

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ilyinadaev" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Philip Ilyin-Adaev</a>, the Founder of MedAdvisor and Banki.ru

 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/medadvisor/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MedAdvisor</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/banki-ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Banki.ru</a>

<hr />
 
 Banki.ru is the largest Russian financial portal and marketplace with an estimated audience of 5.3 million Russian users, founded by Phillip and Kirill Ilyin-Adaev in 2005. In November 2020, founders <a href="https://www.vedomosti.ru/media/articles/2020/11/09/846271-osnovateli-bankiru-prodali-svoyu-dolyu-i-pokinuli-kompaniyu" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> having sold their share in the company for an undisclosed fee, estimated at around $29.9-41.9 million.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/osnovatel-bankiru-filipp-ilin-adaev-zapustil-agregator-medicinskih-klinik-medadvisor/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

RB.ru

Banki.ru Founder Philip Ilyin-Adaev Launches an Aggregator of Medical Clinics MedAdvisor

Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (<a href="https://en.rspp.ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">RUIE</a>) has prepared a number of comments to the <a href="https://regulation.gov.ru/projects#npa=118065" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">draft government decree</a>, explaining the operation of the future single metric operator for measuring Russian websites’ audiences.

 
 In particular, RUIE proposed to prohibit the single metric operator from selling and distributing information about the audience of certain websites as well as the research results based on them without the consent of the site owners.

 
 The RUIE Communications Commission fears that the data received by the single metric operator free of charge is of commercial value, so the operator will be able to sell research based on it. The dissemination and use of data by the metric will be carried out strictly within the framework of the law, with no permission to use the data for any purpose other than measuring the audience, representative of the Ministry of Digital Development assured.

 
 The draft decree for creating a single metric operator measuring audiences of websites on Russian Internet <a href="https://thebell.io/v-gosdumu-vnesen-zakonoproekt-o-edinom-izmeritele-runeta" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">was submitted</a> in May 2021. Roscomnadzor, a regulatory body, <a href="https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4947802" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">has developed</a> the procedures, according to which internet resources will provide information on their audiences.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rspp-prosit-zapretit-budushchemu-izmeriteliu-runeta-rasporiazhatsia-dannymi-bez-soglasiia-vladeltsev-saitov/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Kommersant

RUIE Asks Government to Prohibit Leveraging User Data without Site Owners’ Consent  

Top tech stories from Moscow from September 6 – 17

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

 
 Main news about Moscow's projects, developers, technologies

 
 The first 5G Polygon in Russia to Appear on the Basis of Botkin Hospital in Moscow 

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/the-first-5g-polygon-in-russia-to-appear-on-the-basis-of-botkin-hospital-in-moscow/">
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/5f6e991f-310c-5514-917d-5e92b90730c0.png">
 </a>
 </div>
 
 Source:&nbsp;Press Service of the Moscow Government
 

 
 

 
 Starting from September 15, Moscow city authorities plan to double the number of Moscow Metro stations with Face Pay system and by October 15 the system should work on all stations.

 
 As for the beginning of September, 15 thousand people have already submitted their biometric data. The system allows writing off funds from a bank card account, as well as from the Troika electronic card. The turnstiles that support the new technology are marked with a round black sticker on the floor.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/the-first-5g-polygon-in-russia-to-appear-on-the-basis-of-botkin-hospital-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Read more →</a>

<hr />
 
 Other stories:

<ul>
 <li>Yandex <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/yandex-repels-the-largest-ddos-attack-in-history/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Repels</a> the Largest DDoS Attack in History</li>
 <li>Sberbank <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/sberbank-starts-building-a-55-thousand-sq-m-data-processing-center/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Starts</a> Building a 55 Thousand sq.m. Data Processing Center</li>
 <li>Sensors for Solid Waste Control <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/sensors-for-solid-waste-control-installed-on-trash-bins-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Installed </a>on Trash Bins in Moscow</li>
 <li>Yandex <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/yandex-launches-the-first-driverless-taxis-in-south-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">to Launch</a> the First Driverless Taxis in South Moscow as part of the Pilot Project by the Ministry of Economic Development</li>
 <li>A Technology Park for Healthcare Startups <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/a-technology-park-for-healthcare-startups-created-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Created</a> in Moscow</li>
 <li>Moscow <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-names-top-ai-services-used-in-the-citys-healthcare-system/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Names</a> Top AI Services Used in the City's Healthcare System</li>
 <li>Startup BaseTrack <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/startup-basetrack-plans-to-launch-commercial-driverless-cargo-transportation-in-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Plans </a>to Launch Commercial Driverless Cargo Transportation in 2021</li>
</ul>

 
 

<div class="incut-block incut-block-text-small-size">
 GOV AGENDA
 Russian Citizens<a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-citizens-to-get-mortgages-through-blockchain-based-platform/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> to Get</a> Mortgages through Blockchain-based Platform 
 Bank of Russia <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/bank-of-russia-to-test-digital-ruble-from-january-2022/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">to Test </a>Digital Ruble from January 2022
 Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/the-ministry-of-finance-and-the-central-bank-present-strategy-for-financial-market-development-through-2030/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Present </a>Strategy for Financial Market Development through 2030
 Russia <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russia-approves-a-standard-in-the-field-of-digital-twins/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Approves </a>a Standard in the Field of Digital Twins
 IT Companies<a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-it-companies-to-develop-an-open-source-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> to Develop</a> An Open Source Strategy
 </div>
 
 

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

<hr />
<h2>
 INVESTMENT DEALS&nbsp;
</h2>

<ul>
 <li>CIAN <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/cian-heads-for-an-ipo-this-fall/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Heads </a>for an IPO this Fall</li>
 <li>MTS <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-buys-out-sistema-capital-management-company/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Buys</a> Out Sistema Capital Management Company</li>
 <li>Delivery Service Chefmarket <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/delivery-service-chefmarket-attracted-investments-from-hellofresh/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Raises </a>Investments from HelloFresh</li>
 <li>Softline <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/softline-buys-squalios-licensing-business" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Buys </a>Squalio's Licensing Business</li>
 <li>Veon <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/veon-sells-tower-assets-in-russia-to-service-telecom-for-1-billion/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sells </a>Tower Assets in Russia to Service-Telecom for $1 Billion</li>
</ul>

 
 

<hr />
<h2>
 LONGREAD
</h2>

 
 ML with a Human Face: Can Interfaces Make Machine Learning Accessible? 

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mlgui/">
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/4e71c327-fde7-566f-91be-5fdae8abefcd.png">
 </a>
 </div>
 
 Source: Unsplash
 

 
 

 
 Recently, the popularity and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into various business processes has been actively growing. However, the use of AI in business processes is accompanied by a rather significant stop factor: in order to effectively use ML algorithms to solve problems, you need to be a specialist in ML and AI.

 
 Is the field of AI on the verge of a tipping point, when, thanks to such specialized interfaces, ML will in fact become a publicly available tool that does not require deep specialized knowledge? ICT.Moscow discussed this issue with the lead author of a scientific article on transfer learning from Cornell University Swati Mishra, with Russian ML-developers from Yandex, Sberbank, consulting company GlowByte, among others.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mlgui/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Read the full article →</a>

<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/overview-of-virus-activity-in-july-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">DR.WEB</a>: Overview of virus activity in July 2021 →</li>
</ul>

 
 In Q2 of 2021, after a prolonged decline, the share of spam in global mail traffic started to grow again and averaged 46.56%. 

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/russian-online-cinema-market-results-of-the-first-half-of-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TMT CONSULTING</a>: Russian online cinema market. The first half of 2021 →</li>
</ul>

 
 A study of the Russian VoD market 

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/top-15-digital-industrial-technologies/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">HSE</a>: Top 15 digital industrial technologies  →</li>
</ul>

 
 Based on big data analyses, researchers identified the most significant digital technologies that are already used in Russian and global manufacturing industry. 

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/deeptech-outlook-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">PSYTECH VENTURES</a>: DeepTech Outlook 2021 →</li>
</ul>

 
 Top 10 sectors for investment in deeptech 

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/attitudes-of-russians-towards-ai-in-medicine/" style="" target="_blank">SUPERJOB:</a> Attitudes of Russians towards AI in medicine →</li>
</ul>

 
 According to the recent study, 44% of Russians don’t trust AI in medical diagnosis and treatment 

 
 <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

 
 Evgeny Novikov, Adviser to the Deputy Head of Moscow Department of Information Technologies | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/evgeny.novikov.142" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook </a>

 
 Vyacheslav Shulenin, CEO of ANO "Moscow Center for Innovative Technologies in Health Care" | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vvshulenin" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook </a>

 
 Andrey Vavilin, CEO of BaseTrack | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrey-vavilin-8228ab7" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn </a>

 
 

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

 
 <a href="https://www.mobileworldlive.com/mobile360eurasia" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Video</a> from the GSMA’s International conference Mobile 360 Eurasia, held on September 14-15, 2021. Eurasia’s brightest thinkers to explore the region’s most pressing challenges across FinTech, Value Creation, 5G, and Digital Resilience. Below is the video recording of the live stream, where lead experts discuss such topics as data-driven society, AI, UrbanTech, and others.

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://www.mobileworldlive.com/mobile360eurasia">
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/6dee4dc5-0874-5adb-80cf-24a866eb0f2d.png">
 </a>
 </div>

 
 <a href="https://www.mobileworldlive.com/mobile360eurasia" style="" target="_blank">Watch video →</a>

 
 

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

ICT.Moscow

Tech in Moscow #29

Yandex has launched a new company <a href="https://clickhouse.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ClickHouse</a> based on the eponymous open database management system (DBMS) with venture capital funds Benchmark Capital and Index Venture.

 
 A total of $50 million was invested in the project, <a href="https://www.forbes.ru/tekhnologii/440547-andeks-s-partnerami-sozdal-novuu-kompaniu-na-osnove-svoej-tehnologii" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">according</a> to Forbes. The company will focus on creating commercial products, including the cloud version and solutions for large businesses.

 
 The first prototype of the system, originally created for processing Yandex.Metrica logs, appeared in 2009, and in 2016 the company made the technology publicly available.

 
 According to the head of ClickHouse development, Alexei Milovidov, thanks to its the open-source release in 2016, ClickHouse became popular all over the world. Now it is used by companies such as Uber, Tesla, Spotify, eBay, ByteDance, Alibaba, Tencent, etc.

 
 ClickHouse <a href="https://db-engines.com/en/ranking" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">is ranked</a> 45th in the list of the most popular DBMS in the world according to DB-Engines Ranking.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/yandeks-vmeste-s-venchurnymi-fondami-sozdal-kompaniyu-clickhouse-dlya-razrabotki-produktov-na-osnove-subd/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Yandex

Yandex Launches DBMS Company ClickHouse

Mail.ru Group's gaming division, My.Games, has acquired a controlling stake in the Belarusian hyper-casual game developer Mamboo Games. The amount of the share was not disclosed.

 
 As part of the deal, My.Games will pay more than $2 million at close, as well as a deferred payment, the amount of which will be determined depending on the performance of the business.

 
 To date, Mamboo Games, with a staff of 35, has developed over 30 projects.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/my-games-cloud/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">My.Games Cloud</a>

<hr />
 
 In the fall of 2020, My.Games <a href="https://my.games/en/news/81" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported</a> having invested in Mamboo Games. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/igrovoe-podrazdelenie-mail-ru-group-stanet-vladeltsem-razrabotchika-igr-iz-minska-mamboo-games/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

VC.ru

Mail.ru Group Buys Controlling Stake at Belarusian Gaming Company Mamboo Games

Face Pay, a fare payment system using face recognition, has been launched on all lines of the Moscow metro. Now it is available on 14 lines and 241 metro stations.

 
 Passage through turnstiles equipped with Face Pay is carried out where there is a round black sticker on the floor. Turnstiles supporting this fare payment method are marked with a special sticker on the floor.

 
 Moscow became the first city in the world to use facial recognition for fare payments on such a scale, according to the Moscow the Department of Transport. The possibility of launching the service at the Moscow Central Circle (MCC), commuter rail lines Moscow Central Diameters (MCD) as well as ground transport is also being considered, Head of the Department of Transport Maxim Liksutov said.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/face-pay/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Face Pay</a>

<hr />
 
 First metro stations <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-metro-introduces-face-pay/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">became</a> available for Face Pay at the beginning of August 2021. Earlier in September, officials <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-moskve-s-15-oktiabria-na-vsekh-stantsiiakh-metro-zapustiat-face-pay/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced </a>that the Face Pay implementation on all Moscow Metro stations would be executed by October 15.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-moskve-zapustili-face-pay-na-vsekh-liniiakh-metro/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

MosMetro

Face Pay Launched on All Moscow Metro Stations

Russia's largest telecom operator <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=MTS" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MTS </a>has launched a pilot 5G networks for <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Sberbank" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sberbank</a>.

 
 The first one is a user network and is deployed inside the bank's headquarters on Kutuzovsky Prospekt. It will enable users of compatible 4.9GHz 5G smartphones to connect to unlimited high-speed internet and digital services.

 
 The second zone is installed near Sberbank's office at 10a Andropova Avenue and is additionally ‘designed to test wireless services of the Sberbank ecosystem, including unmanned solutions for transport, where connection reliability, low latency, and high data transfer rates are critical.

 
 In addition to increasing bandwidth and reducing latency, the 5G standard offers several other benefits, Sberbank said.

 
 "Sber is our key partner and client, for whom we have built a pilot public 5G network, providing not only access to high-speed mobile internet and Sber services but also opportunities for research in the field of ecosystem solutions," MTS B2B Commercial Director Andrey Zimenkov said.

 
 The 5G area is expected to expand Sberbank's capabilities for research in ecosystem solutions.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrey-zimenkov-8a99861" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Andrey Zimenkov</a>, B2B Commercial Director at MTS

<hr />
 
 In March 2021, MTS <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-launched-first-pilot-5g-network-for-consumers-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">launched </a>a pilot 5G user network in the 4.9 GHz band in 14 locations in Moscow, after which it increased the number of pilot zones in the city to 19.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mts-zapustila-v-moskve-dve-pilotnye-zony-5g-dlya-sbera/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

MTS Deploys Two Pilot 5G Networks for Sberbank in Moscow

Autonomous non-commercial organization Digital Economy has made a positive conclusion on the experimental legal regime (ELR) of Yandex’s pilot testing driverless taxi service. This conclusion will be sent for approval to the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Transport.

 
 As part of the discussion of the ELR program, the expert group "Digital Technologies in the Field of Land Transport" touched upon such issues as cyber security, the security of communication channels for remote interaction between an operator and an autonomous vehicle, their procedure in the event of an accident, as well as the gradual expansion of the experiment area.

 
 Yandex, while presenting the ELR program, said that when using driverless cars through a taxi service, passengers will have their car’s “view” of the surrounding traffic situation: it determines its location, recognizes other road users, builds a trajectory and plans maneuvers.

 
 Yandex <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/yandex-launches-the-first-driverless-taxis-in-south-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> the start of pilot testing of its driverless taxi service in Yasenevo Moscow dictrict this fall.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/bespilotnik-yandexa/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex Self-Driving Car</a>

<hr />
 
 On July 2, 2021, President Vladimir Putin <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/the-first-driverless-taxi-services-can-be-launched-in-russia-this-year/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">signed </a>a companion law to the law on experimental legal regimes, which makes it possible to start the piloting of driverless taxi services. The <a href="https://regulation.gov.ru/projects#npa=119869" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">project </a>of «regulatory sandbox» was presented by the Ministry of Economic Development.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/1840/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

ANO Digital Economy

ANO Digital Economy Approved Yandex's Application for Pilot Driverless Taxi Launch in Moscow

The total revenue of the cloud platform Yandex.Cloud in the first half of 2021 reached $15 million (1.1 billion rubles), which is 3.4 times more than in the same period last year. The growth largely affected by a 60% increase in the number of clients, primarily from large businesses, the company said in a press release.

 
 The revenue in the large consumer segment is growing almost 30% faster than in the small and medium business segment. At the same time, in absolute terms, the number of SMB companies since the beginning of the year has grown to 12 thousand and accumulates 51% of the platform's revenue.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/yandex-cloud/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex.Cloud</a>

<hr />
 
 Companies from the IT, finance and retail industries remain the leaders in the consumption of cloud platform services. At the same time, virtual machines, network drives, virtual network management tools are the most in demand among companies.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/vyruchka-yandex-cloud-za-shest-mesyacev-2021-goda-sostavila-1-mlrd-rub/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

Yandex.Cloud’s Revenue for the First Half of 2021 Hits $15 Million

Moscow Government has published a list of the best AI solutions that has been used in the city’s clinics and hospitals.

 
 For July 2021, in the field of CT for COVID, the first place was taken by the CVL service from CVisionLab, while the second was taken by the Gamma Multivox Covirus from Gammamed Soft. Intelligent Radiology Assistant from Ira Labs was named the third-best.

 
 In the direction of RG/FLG (detection of lung pathologies) for the same period, the best service was Celsus from the company Medical Visual Systems. The second and third places were taken by Care Mentor AI and the program for automated analysis of digital fluorograms from FtisisBioMed, respectively. In total, 19 services were analyzed within the framework of the rating.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/gamma-multivox-covirus/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Multivox</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/care-mentor-ai/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Care Mentor AI</a>

<hr />
 
 Comparison of AI services is carried out by calculating for each of them the final score for the reporting period according to four parameters, including the time of diagnosis and the minimum diagnostic accuracy of the study. The rating was compiled by experts from the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine on the basis of the solutions used in the Moscow experiment on AI in medicine.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/1839/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

mos.ru

Moscow Names Top AI Services Used in the City's Healthcare System

MTS, Russia’s largest mobile operator, has bought out 70% of the authorized capital of <a href="https://sistema-capital.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sistema Capital</a> management company LLC, one of the largest management companies in Russia in terms of collective investments, for $48.1 million (3.5 billion rubles).

 
 Two divisions, Sistema Finance and Sistema Telecom (controlled by AFK Sistema), signed binding agreements for the sale of their shares to Mobile TeleSystems B.V. (a subsidiary of MTS).

 
 As a result of the deal, the share of MTS in the authorized capital of Sistema Capital Management Company will increase from 30% to 100%. Through the transaction, the company plans to increase its market position in digital investment services, <a href="https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4988122" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">according</a> to Ilya Filatov, Vice President for Financial Services of MTS.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mts-dovela-svoiu-doliu-v-uk-sistema-kapital-do-100/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Sistema Public Joint Stock Financial Corporation

MTS Buys Out Sistema Capital Management Company 

Russian telecom operator MGTS together with the developer Donstroy will create an infrastructure using 5G technology in the Ostrov residential area of ​​Moscow with more than 10 base stations located on its territory.

 
 The pilot zone will appear in the next six months. <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=MTS" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MTS</a> will provide services based on the created infrastructure. Users are expected to receive Internet speed of up to 1 Gbit/s, as well as seamless data transfer while maintaining speed and quality in the region.

 
 In March 2021, MTS, using Huawei equipment, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-launched-first-pilot-5g-network-for-consumers-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">launched</a> a pilot 5G user network in the 4.9 GHz band in 14 locations in Moscow. In September, the company <a href="https://ria.ru/20210910/telefony-1749585510.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">increased</a> the number of pilot zones in the city to 19.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-moskve-poiavitsia-pervyi-kvartal-s-infrastrukturoi-5g/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Vedomosti

MGTS and Donstroy to Deploy 5G Infrastructure in Moscow's Residential Area

Starting from January 1, 2022, a national technical standard in the field of digital twins will begin to operate in Russia.

 
 The standard for the Numerical Modeling series GOST R 57700.37–2021б “Computer Models and Simulation. Digital twins of products. General Provisions”, is approved by the order of Rosstandart, Russian regulatory body. It applies to mechanical engineering products. However, on its basis in the future, other standards might be created that establish requirements for digital twins of products of various industries.

 
 The GOST standard fixes a single definition of "digital twin of a product", which means "a system consisting of a digital model of a product and two-way information links with the product (if available) and (or) its component parts." The series of national standards GOST R 57700 includes 25 standardization documents.

 
 The standard was developed by specialists of the Competence Center for the National Tecnhnology Initiative (NTI) “New Production Technologies” of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and Russian Federal Nuclear Center (Rosatom).

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-rossii-utverdili-standart-v-oblasti-tsifrovykh-dvoinikov/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

RUBEZH

Russia Approves a Standard in the Field of Digital Twins

ML developers on the role of machine learning interfaces in technology accessibility to non-specialists

ML with a Human Face: Can Interfaces Make Machine Learning Accessible?

Russia is developing a strategy for the development of open source software through 2024. Among the authors of the <a href="https://www.tadviser.ru/images/6/63/%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82_%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B8%D0%B8%2C_15_%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%8F%D0%B1%D1%80%D1%8F.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgb(250, 250, 250);">draft document</a> are experts from such companies as Postgres Professional, InfoWatch and Basalt SPO. 

 
 The key provisions of the strategy include attracting foreign programmers by creating conditions for obtaining Russian citizenship and preferential mortgages. It is also proposed to make mandatory the publication in the Russian repository (public repository for programmers, an analogue of Github from Microsoft) of the code under free licenses.

 
 Financial measures to support the strategy include the creation of non-state funds financing the development of open-source software as well as the introduction of tax incentives for non-IT companies financing the development of open source software.

<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/cards/?tags=InfoWatch" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">InfoWatch</a>

<hr />
 
 In the future, on the basis of the document, the authors plan to develop an action plan for the implementation of the strategy with targets for 2024 and 2030. It is expected that the version of the draft strategy, close to the final, will appear by October 1.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/it-kompanii-razrabotali-strategiiu-razvitiia-po-s-otkrytym-iskhodnym-kodom/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Russian IT Companies to Develop An Open Source Strategy

BaseTrack, a Moscow-based logistics startup, announced the plans to launch commercial driverless cargo transportation on the M11 highway by the end of 2021.

 
 Nine Mercedes-Benz Actros 1845 trucks will be equipped with an unmanned control system. It is planned that the first truck will be submitted for certification to <a href="https://nami.ru/en/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">NAMI</a> Institute in early November and will start moving along the M11 Neva highway (Moscow – St. Petersburg) in 2021. The remaining eight will be connected in the second quarter of 2022.

 
 Initially, test engineers will be in the driver's seat of the trucks, however, the need for them will disappear in five years, according to the company. The founder of BaseTracK Andrey Vavilin expects to negotiate with one of the logistics companies to transport real cargo on a commercial basis as a contractor.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrey-vavilin-8228ab7" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Andrey Vavilin</a>, the CEO of BaseTrack

<hr />
 
 An agreement on the organization of driverless transport corridor on the M11 highway <a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/1627/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">was signed</a> in June. Its creation is necessary for the transportation of goods between logistics terminals.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/1833/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Startup BaseTrack Plans to Launch Commercial Driverless Cargo Transportation in 2021

The Chefmarket food delivery service with recipes has attracted “several million euros” from the German service <a href="https://www.hellofresh.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">HelloFresh</a>, which operates on a similar model, in exchange for a 10% stake, according to HelloFresh’s representative.

 
 The funds raised by Chefmarket will be used, among other things, to expand production and launch new products. Previously, investors of the service included Addventure, Mitsui & Co and Elbrus Capital.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

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

<hr />
 
 The revenue of ChefMarket in 2020 exceeded $13.7 million (1 billion rubles), while the sales profit reached $1.3 million (99.6 million rubles) and company’s net profit amounted to $2,466 (179 thousand rubles).

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/servis-dostavki-shefmarkete-privlek-investitsii-ot-hellofresh/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Orifinal (in Russian)</a>

Delivery Service Chefmarket Raises Investments from HelloFresh

A Service for taxi drivers Muver, which collects orders from taxi aggregators and delivery services in one application, raised $1.2 million for development in the US market.

 
 The lead investor was the Russian venture capital fund Xploration Capital, the investment fund Baring Vostok, the Rapid Ladder Capital fund, the investment company A.Partners and the syndicate of investors of the Angelsdeck club also participated in the deal. The value of Muver was estimated at $8 million. Investors will receive 15% of its shares.

 
 According to the company, Muver's revenue reached $100,000 in 2020, while the number of paying users exceeded 1,500.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

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

 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stanislav.levykin" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Stanislav Levykin</a>, CEO of Gig Partners

<hr />
 
 Muver app was launched in 2018 by a Moscow company Smart City Technology. Two years later, Muver left the domestic market and began developing in the United States. The legal entity Gig Partners is engaged in the further development of the service.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/agregator-dlya-taksistov-muver-privlek-1-2-mln-na-razvitie/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Aggregator for Taxi Drivers Muver Raises $1.2 Million for Development

The Central Bank of the Russian Federation (CBR) started developing the digital ruble platform and plans to start testing a prototype from January 2022, according to Olga Skorobogatova, the First Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank.

 
 The testing, which will take place in several stages, provides for different types of operations. Based on the results of piloting, CBR will develop a roadmap for the implementation of the digital ruble in the Russian Federation and amendments to the legislation.

 
 The Central Bank <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/the-central-bank-of-the-russian-federation-is-exploring-the-possibility-of-issuing-a-digital-ruble/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">began</a> to study the possibility of issuing a digital ruble in October 2020. After public discussions, in early April, the regulator <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russias-central-bank-has-decided-on-the-concept-of-the-digital-ruble/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">presented</a> the concept of a new form of currency. According to the document, the launch of testing a prototype of the digital ruble platform is scheduled for the first quarter of 2022.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/tsb-nachnet-testirovat-platformu-tsifrovogo-rublia-s-nachala-sleduiushchego-goda/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Izvestia

Bank of Russia to Test Digital Ruble from January 2022

The Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Russia have developed the <a href="http://www.cbr.ru/eng/press/event/?id=12209" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">strategy</a> for the development of the financial market through 2030.

 
 According to the document, during this period, the introduction of open APIs will continue, including in the payment field. The transition to open banking is also planned, with the concept of open finance to be implemented later. At the same time, the ministry and the regulator plan to improve the system of identification of clients receiving services in a remote format.

 
 Moreover, promoting the widespread use of AI in the financial market will become one of the strategic objectives of market development, the authors of the document note. This includes developing robotic assistants for informing clients, as well as introducing robotic arbitration.

 
 The launch of the digital ruble will also become one of the key projects in the field of digitalization of the sector until 2030. The development of the national payment system and machine-readable regulation are also among the priority goals.

 
 The final version of the strategy is planned to be approved later this year, <a href="https://tass.ru/ekonomika/12373557" target="_blank">according</a> to TASS.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/minfin-i-tsb-predstavili-strategiu-razvitiia-finansovogo-rynka-do-2030-goda/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Bank of Russia

Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank Present Strategy for Financial Market Digitalization through 2030

Service-Telecom, which operates cellular towers, may hold an IPO within the next two years. According to Kommersant, citing sources, the value of the asset will exceed $1 billion with shares worth at least $400 million offered for placement.

 
 Nikolay Berdin, the CEO of Service-Telecom, confirmed the company's plans to enter the public market in the "mid-term". According to him, the choice of stock exchange will depend on where the company receives the highest rating.

<hr />
 
 Connect with 

 
 <a href="https://ru.linkedin.com/in/nikolay-berdin-9a887a29" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nikolay Berdin</a>, the CEO of Service-Telecom

<hr />
 
 Earlier it <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/veon-sells-tower-assets-in-russia-to-service-telecom-for-1-billion/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">was announced</a> that Service-Telecom agreed with the VEON holding (the parent company of Beeline) on the acquisition of the National Tower Company and about 15.4 thousand antenna mast structures. The closing of a deal estimated at $965 million (70.65 billion rubles) is expected the fourth quarter of 2021.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/bashennyi-operator-servis-telekom-soobshchil-o-vozmozhnom-ipo-v-techenie-dvukh-let/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Operator of Cellular Towers Service-Telecom Heads for IPO within Two Years

Moscow-based international cybersecurity services provider <a href="https://softline.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Softline</a> has acquired the licensing business of Squalio, an international data processing technology company. This business line accounted for 98% of the company's total revenue in 2020.

 
 The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Sandis Kolomenskis will remain the CEO of Squalio. He will continue to run the licensing business with the support of Softline. The structure of other Squalio businesses will not change.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Softline" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Softline</a>

<hr />
 
 The deal is consistent with plans for further expansion of the company in Europe, Softline said. Over the past year, the company has increased the share of its international business to 45%.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/softline-kupila-litsenzionnyi-biznes-squalio/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russia)</a>

Market in Brief