Sberbank will be the vendor of projects on digital transformation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The corresponding memorandum of cooperation was signed on September 3 by the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin and the CEO of Sberbank Herman Gref.

 
 The Cooperation involves the implementation of projects for the transition to a platform model of digitalization (GovTech) as well as the concept of Data-Driven Government. The project was discussed during a video conference within the framework of Eastern Economic Forum.

 
 Sberbank will supply the republic with the necessary software for the digitalization of public services. "It works effectively in Russia", Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/herman.gref.7" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Herman Gref</a>, the CEO of Sberbank

<hr />
 
 In December 2010, Sberbank <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/sberbank-to-become-the-creator-and-operator-of-gostech-platform-a-unified-ecosystem-of-public-services-for-citizens-and-business/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">has become</a> the creator and operator of Gostech platform, a unified ecosystem of public services for citizens and businesses. By May 31, 2022, Sberbank will launch the platform, which will support the work of at least 100 million people.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/sber-zajmetsya-cifrovoj-transformaciej-kazahstana/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

kremlin.ru

Sberbank to Lead the Digital Transformation of Kazakhstan 

Telecom holding <a href="https://ertelecom.ru/en" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ER-Telecom</a> has closed the deal for the acquisition of the IoT company <a href="https://lar.tech/en/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lartech</a>. According to the holding's press service, on the basis of the new asset, Innovation Centers will be created in a number of technology parks.

 
 The deal will help ER-Telecom to strengthen its position in the IoT market; some of Lartech's solutions for the power industry have already been included in the company's product portfolio. In the future, it is planned to jointly develop new IoT products for other industries.

 
 Established in 2001, ER-Telecom is one of the leading Russian telecom companies, providing services of broadband Internet access, telephony, digital TV, access to Wi-Fi, VPN, LoRaWAN networks, video surveillance and integrated solutions based on technologies of the industrial Internet of things (IoT).

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/er-telekom-zaiavil-o-zavershenii-sdelki-po-pokupke-lartekh/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

ER-Telecom

ER-Telecom buys IoT Startup Lartech

The Ministry of Digital Development has prepared a draft government decree, according to which, from October 1, an experiment on placing biometric data (voice and facial) by citizens using a mobile application will begin in Russia. The experiment will last for a year.

 
 To directly allocate their biometric data, citizens will need to download Biometrics app and sign in using their verified account in the Unified Identification and Authentication System (ESIA). After consenting to the collection and processing of data, the system will independently verify the collected biometrics with other samples, in particular, from the biometric passport.

 
 Having submitted biometric data, citizens will gain access to a number of digital services in government agencies, banks, and other organizations, the ministry said.

<hr />
 
 Product cards 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/esia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ESIA</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/klyuch-rostelekom/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">UBS</a>

<hr />
 
 In April 2021, Russian government and Rostelecom, the operator of the Unified Biometric System (UBS), <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/plans-for-the-development-of-the-unified-biometric-system-are-released/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> plans to restart the platform. Rostelecom will invest $87 million (6.6 billion rubles) in the project through 2030 in order to collect information of about 50 million of Russians.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/eksperiment-po-sdache-biometricheskih-dannyh-cherez-mobilnoe-prilozhenie-startuet-s-1-oktyabrya/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Kommersant

Russian Citizens Can Submit Biometric Data Directly via App From October 1

VTB, one of the leading Russian banks, is in the process of purchasing the PAYMO processing company, with the deal amounting to $13.7 million (1 billion rubles).

 
 According to experts, the deal will be beneficial for VTB, since PAYMO offers a convenient platform for accepting payments. It will also allow VTB to update the processing center and attract new customers from the field of online sales in various fields.

 
 VTB itself did not comment on the deal, but noted that they pay increased attention to the development of digital products and services. According to SPARK, the full owner of the company is Luxembourg-based PAYMO Investments SA. It cooperates with over 100 utility providers, conducting up to 30 thousand transactions daily.

 
 Last year, VTB <a href="https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4888707" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">acquired </a>software from the processing company OpenWay, to which a significant part of the bank's operations was eventually transferred. In addition, VTB owns holdings in the processing company MultiCarta.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/vtb-planiruet-priobresti-processingovuyu-kompaniyu-paymo/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

VTB to Acquire Processing Company PAYMO

The Skolkovo Foundation has launched a hub for EdTech companies. It will help startups, investors and experts develop business ideas and projects in the field of education, as well as bring finished products to the market.

 
 Teams will have access to HR and PR support, services of lawyers, mentors, methodologists. The hub will also simplify communication between EdTech startups and the fund's partners, which include Skoltech, NTI, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and the MSU technology park.

 
 The hub will be based in Skolkovo’s Hypercube, holding specialized events, accelerator progtamms and workshops.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-skolkovo-sozdali-khab-dlia-razvitiia-tekhnologii-v-sfere-obrazovaniia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

CNews

Skolkovo Creates an EdTech Hub

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.

<hr />
 
 Product card

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

<hr />
 
 In early August 2021, Moscow Metro <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-metro-introduces-face-pay/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgb(250, 250, 250);">launched </a>a pilot version of Face Pay system, available for 1000 passengers at the stations of the Filevskaya line of the Moscow Metro. At the moment, the system is available on the Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya, Solntsevskaya, Filevskaya and Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya lines. 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/1797/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

TASS

Face Pay to be Implemented on all Moscow Metro Stations on October 15

VR Concept, a virtual prototyping software developer, has tested a solution for remote VR meetings with access to 3D models of industrial equipment in Skoltech's 5G laboratory at 4.9 GHz.

 
 As part of the testing, two computers connected to virtual reality helmets gained access to the Internet via a pilot 5G network. Users in the VR space were able to interact with digital models of buildings, rooms, equipment, made at a scale of 1:1. The signal delay was 6 ms with e downlink data rate reaching 1.3 Gbps, and the uplink data rate reaching 120 Mbps, according to Skoltech.

 
 "Now, from 5 to 20 people participate in one VR session practice. With the development of VR technology, it becomes possible for more people to participate in such sessions. 5G, thanks to its low latency and a large number of channels, provides all users with a comfortable VR experience, even when connected to one access point", said Denis Zakharkin, the CEO of VR Concept told ICT.Moscow.

 
 "5G allows you to work with large amounts of data on the fly, which is very much in demand for the full use of VR and AR technology in conjunction with digital models and the IoT. Therefore, 5G is now primarily in demand by large industrial companies, especially at enterprises remote from central cities" Zakharkin added.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://ru.linkedin.com/in/deniszakharkin" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Denis Zakharkin</a>, the CEO of <a href="https://vrconcept.net/eng/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">VR Concept </a>

 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/vr-concept/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">VR Concept</a>

<hr />
 
 In the future, the developers from VR Concept plan to abandon PC in favor of cloud solutions, while the headsets themselves will either be equipped with 5G modules or connected to a smartphone that supports 5G. The video for the 4K/8K screens built into VR headsets will be streamed from the cloud-based graphics server over the 5G network.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/vr-concept-protestiroval-v-5g-seti-skoltekha-svoe-reshenie/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Skoltech

VR Concept Tests its Solution on Skoltech's 5G Network

The technology park of the Leningrad Region, St. Petersburg metropolitan area, will host laboratories and experimental enterprises for the study of AI.

 
 The Scientific and Technological Center Primorskaya Dolina will be created on the basis of the Maritime Technical University. The main production will be located in Primorsk.

 
 According to the Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov, the city will provide the necessary support in the creation of a technology park. In addition, the authorities supported the university's application for a grant under the Priority 2030 Strategic Academic Leadership Program.

 
 The goal of the <a href="https://priority2030.ru/en" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Priority 2030</a> program is to form a group of universities that will become leaders in creating new scientific knowledge, technologies and developments for implementation in the Russian economy and the social sphere.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/1795/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

ABNEWS.RU

AI Lab to be Built in Technology Park Near St. Petersburg

Media holding RBC is planning to sell the Digital Infrastructure for Business segment, which is based on the hosting provider Ru-center. Preliminary agreement on the sale has already been signed, but the name of the buyer has not been disclosed yet. The amount of the transaction will be approved by September 20 this year.

 
 It also clarifies that the sale plan was approved back in April. At the same time, the search for a potential buyer began.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/ru-center/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ru-Center</a>

<hr />
 
 RBC's business consists of two segments, "Media/Information and Services" and "Digital Infrastructure". At the end of last year, the main revenue from the media segment to 3.1 billion rubles, the share of "Digital Infrastructure" accounted for 2.64 billion rubles.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rbk-prodast-podrazdelenie-ru-center/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

RBC to Sell its Digital Infrastructure Division

Russian Internet companies, telecom operators and media holdings will sign an agreement on voluntary commitments to protect children on the Internet on September 1. According to Vedomosti, the document will be signed by nine companies, including Yandex, Mail.ru Group, Kaspersky Lab, MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, Rostelecom, Gazprom-Media and National Media Group. At the same time, it is possible that foreign services may also join the list.

 
 The document consists of 10 points. In particular, companies undertake to independently find and remove content that is undesirable for children and improve tools for their protection, increase children's digital literacy, develop international cooperation in this area, etc.

 
 The interlocutor of the publication said that these companies will actually comply with the legal requirements for self-regulation of social networks. The purpose of the document is to achieve the removal of illegal content by the companies themselves, and not through its entry by Roskomnadzor, Russian regulatory body, into the relevant register.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/it-i-telekom-kompanii-podpishut-dokument-po-zashchite-detej-v-internete/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

Vedomosti

Russian IT and Telecom Companies to Sign a Document on Child-Protecting on the Internet

Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, is considering the possibility of investing in X5 Group's online business, Kommersant reports.

 
 According to the newspaper’s sources, the First deputy CEO of Sberbank Lev Khasis, who served as the CEO of X5 Retail Group N.V. from 2006 to 2011, is in charge of the issue on the part of Sberbank. Other companies, including AliExpress Russia, are also showing interest in the online business of the X5 Group.

 
 X5 Group can sell up to 50% of its online business to potential partners, Senior Analyst at Gazprombank Marat Ibragimov said. The company will bring to the partnership its customer base, an understanding of consumer demand, and a wide network of stores that can serve as collection points for orders, while Sberbank has financial resources and possible additional online services, the expert believes..

<hr />
 
 Connect with

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

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/marat.ibragimov.90" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Marat Ibragimov</a>, the Senior Analyst at Gazprombank

<hr />
 
 X5 Group is the <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1016420/leading-russian-food-retailers-by-market-share/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">largest</a> food retailer in Russia and is number 11 in the <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/Consumer-Business/Report_GPR2020.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">world's top-50</a> fastest-growing retailers in 2020, according to Deloitte. In June, the X5 Group <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/x5-group-vydelila-onlain-biznes-v-otdelnuiu-strukturu/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">separated</a> its online business into a new structure.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/sberbank-izuchaet-vozmozhnost-investicij-v-onlajn-biznes-x5-group/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Sberbank Looking to Invest in X5 Group's Online Business, According to Press

The route for driverless cargo transportation will be organized between Russian city Blagoveshchensk and the Chinese city Heihe and will include a bridge over the Amur River, according to the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation.

 
 The total length of the crossing will be 20 km, of which 6 km will be located in China, 13 km will extend over Russian territory and another 1 km of the route will go on the bridge.

 
 The testing of driverless trucks will be organized within the framework of the agreement on the international transport corridors Primorye-1 and Primorye-2 development. The timing of testing has not been reported yet.

 
 In August 2021, The Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russia-to-digitize-its-transport-system-before-2030-the-ministry-of-transport-says/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">presented</a> a strategy draft of transport industry digital transformation through 2030, according to which freight shipments from Europe to China will be unmanned and executed through integrating national infrastructure with logistic platforms LOGINK (China) and FENIX (EU), using the compatible V2X standards.

 
 According to the current version of the ministry draft law "<a href="https://regulation.gov.ru/projects#search=%D0%9E%20%D0%B2%D1%8B%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B0%D0%B2%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8B%D1%85%20%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82%D0%BD%D1%8B%D1%85%20%D1%81%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%85&npa=116763" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">On highly automated vehicles</a>", prepared by the Ministry of Transport, can be allowed to travel on the roads of Russia in 2025.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/1793/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Driverless Cargo Transportation Route to be Established between Russia and China

Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics (MTUCI) will organize a research project for the Ministry of Digital Development, engaging a third-party organization to study emerging wireless communication technologies, including 6G, smart antenna systems, and quantum communication technologies.

 
 The contractor will conduct research on international practices of implementation of 6G in the sub-terahertz and terahertz ranges as well as existing patents. In addition, this collective will analyze the prospects for telecom services based on 6G and the requirements for them.

 
 Among other things, the project will contain proposals for Russian companies to cooperate with international organizations ETSI and 3GPP in their standardization work, applying the existing practices to Russian future developments. The project will be completed by December 17.

 
 Previously, the Radio Research Institute (NIIR) and Skoltech <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/experts-predict-the-emergence-of-6g-in-russia-in-2035/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">predicted </a>the introduction of 6G in Russia by 2035.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mtusi-issleduet-perspektivy-sozdaniia-v-rossii-setei-6g/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

MTUCI to Launch a Research Project on Implementing 6G in Russia

Russian tech giant <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Yandex" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex</a> will buy out 100% of Uber's shares in Yandex.Eats, Yandex.Lavka, and Yandex.Delivery, as well as in the business of self-driving vehicles (passenger cars and Yandex.Rovers), by the end of the year. The deal is estimated at $1 billion.

 
 Yandex will also acquire 4.5% interest in the newly restructured MLU joint venture, which will focus on mobility businesses (ride-hailing and car-sharing), giving Yandex a 71% ownership in the venture. Within two years, Yandex plans to buy out the remaining 29% of Uber’s interest at the price of $2 billion if exercised in September 2023.

 
 In addition, Yandex will get an extension of the current license for the exclusive right to use the Uber brand in Russia and certain other countries until August 2030.

 
 The deal marks the company’s plans to bring all its e-commerce businesses together, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/daniil.shyleiko/posts/5113811611966694" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">according</a> to Daniil Shuleyko, the Head of E-Commerce and Ridetech Business Group of Yandex.

 
 “The consolidation of these businesses puts us in a great position to further increase strategic management flexibility, while creating new substantial growth potential for our businesses and cross-platform consumer benefits over the years to come, allowing us to unlock new sources of value for our shareholders,” the Deputy CEO of Yandex Tigran Khudaverdyan said in a statement.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tigrankhudaverdyan/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tigran Khudaverdyan</a>, Deputy CEO of Yandex <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniil-syleiko-b183b254/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Daniil Shuleyko</a>, Head of E-Commerce and Ridetech group of Yandex

 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/yandex-eats/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex.Eats</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/yandex-lavka/" target="_blank">Yandex.Lavka</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/yandex-delivery/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex.Delivery</a>

<hr />
 
 In 2017, Yandex.Taxi and Uber <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-uber-yandex-jointventure/uber-yandex-complete-ride-services-merger-idUSKBN1FR2IR" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">signed an agreement</a> to merge their businesses and operations in Russia as well as in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, and Kazakhstan, completing the merger in February 2018. Yandex invested $100 million, while Uber contributed $225 million in the new structure.

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/daniil.shyleiko/posts/5113811611966694">
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/80ff5985-fd97-51c3-91c7-bb60861b817d.png">
 </a>
 </div>
 
 On the right: company structure before the deal. On the left: company structure after the deal. Courtesy of Yandex.
 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/iandeks-polnostiu-priobretet-doli-uber-v-iandeks-ede-lavke-dostavke-i-bespilotnikakh/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Yandex

Yandex to Acquire Uber’s Interest in FoodTech, Delivery and Self-Driving Businesses

Moscow-based customer data service (CDM) provider KonnektU has raised $1.6 million (120 million rubles) from MTS for the development of its online platform and data analysis tools as well as expanding sales channels and strengthening the team.

 
 In the future, the company plans to create new products and services with MTS for "analyzing consumer behavior in online and offline channels”, KonnectU stated.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

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

<hr />
 
 KonnektU allows businesses to collect customer profiles from multiple channels, helping them to set up personalized ads campaigns. As for 2021, the company's databases contain more than 60 million customer IDs.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/servis-upravleniia-klientskimi-dannymi-konnektu-privlek-120-mln-rub-na-razvitie/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

VC.ru

CDM service KonnektU Raises $1.6 Million 

In its <a href="https://corp.megafon.com/ai/document/12146/file/MEGAFON_2021_Q2_IFRS_FS_ENG.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">report</a> for the second quarter of the year 2021, Russia’s second-largest telecom operator MegaFon estimated the value of its shares (24 billion shares, 24.3% of the capital) in AliExpress Russia at $1.6 billion (119.7 billion rubles). Thus, the fair value of AliExpress Russia in mid-2021 might amount to $6.7 billion (492.6 billion rubles), according to RBC newspaper.

 
 AliExpress Russia was founded in 2019 as a joint venture based on the Russian assets of the Chinese retail company Alibaba. At the time, MegaFon indicated that the value of its stake in the joint venture was $490 million (35.9 billion rubles), with the entire AliExpress Russia's valuation at around $2 billion (147.7 billion rubles). Thus, the company might have shown a three-fold growth since 2019 based on the information from MegaFon's report, RBC reports.

 
 In early August of this year, MegaFon <a href="https://www.telecompaper.com/news/megafon-sells-stake-in-aliexpress-to-shareholder-usm-report--1393219" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">sold</a> its share in AliExpress Russia to the company's main shareholder, USM Group headed by Alisher Usmanov. Now the shareholders of AliExpress Russia are Alibaba (47.8%), USM (24.3%), Mail Group (15%), as well as Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) together with venture partners from Middle East (12.8%).

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/smi-stoimost-aliexpress-russia-mozhet-dostigat-493-mlrd-rublei/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

MegaFon Estimates its Share in AliExpress Russia at $1.6 Billion

Russian tech giant <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Yandex" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex</a> estimated the potential amount it will have to spend on regulatory issues at $60.5 million (4.3 billion rubles). This includes an administrative case launched by the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) on promoting the company's own services at the expense of other companies.

 
 The case involves the Yandex' search widgets that the regulatory body considers discriminatory towards other online businesses. The maximum amount of the fine could be up to 15% of the company's annual revenue in the relevant market, Yandex clarified.

 
 Last year, in the Search and Portal segment, the company’s revenue amounted to $1.6 billion (124.3 billion rubles), with 15% of it being $253 million (18.65 billion rubles). However, this amount includes revenue not only from advertising in search service, but from advertising on the sites of partners, including foreign ones, as well.

 
 Yandex also estimates other legal costs, which include employment claims, data and confidentiality issues, compensation in connection with car accidents in the Taxi segment, etc., at $45.2 million (3.2 billion rubles). However, the company does not acknowledge liability in relation to these claims.

 
 Since 2020, the FAS has been considering <a href="https://vc.ru/services/148385-avito-ivi-cian-profi-ru-i-drugie-pozhalovalis-v-fas-na-yandeks-iz-za-vidzhetov-v-poiskovoy-vydache" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">complaints</a> from a number of Internet sites against Yandex’ search widgets that allow Yandex to take a dominant position in the market through advertising its services. As a result, the regulator first <a href="https://fas.gov.ru/news/31152" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">issued</a> a warning to the search engine, and then <a href="https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/04/14/competition-authorities-open-case-against-yandex-for-abusing-search-dominance-a73586" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">opened a case</a> on violation of the Law "On Protection of Competition". The next hearing on the case is to take place on September 23.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/iandeks-otsenil-vozmozhnuiu-summu-shtrafa-v-dele-o-koldunshchikakh-v-4-4-mlrd-rublei/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Yandex Expects a Fine of $60 Million from Russian Regulator 

The global crowdsourced delivery service Dostavista with Russian roots has raised $35 million, changing its international brand to Borzo.

 
 The Funding round C was led by Flashpoint, AddVenture, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), as well as VNV Global (Sweden) and the Mubadala (UAE), with terms of the deal undisclosed. Using the raised funds, the company plans to strengthen its international position under the new brand and develop new products.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-alexandrovski-ab37551/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mike Alexandrovsk</a>i and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmitry-n-zubkov/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dmitry Zubkov</a>, the founders of <a href="https://borzodelivery.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dostavista (Borzo)</a>

 
 Product cards

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

<hr />
 
 Borzo (formerly Dostavista) was founded in Moscow in 2012 by entrepreneurs Mike Alexandrovski and Dmitry Zubkov. According to the company’s <a href="https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/dostavista" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">profile</a> on Crunchbase, it currently operates in 10 countries under the brand Borzo with headquarter in Amsterdam. Its Russian service retained the brand name Dostavista.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/platforma-borzo-razvivaiushchaia-servis-dostavista-privlekla-35-mln/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

RB.ru

Delivery Service Dostavista Raises $35 Million, Rebrands to Borzo

Beeline, Russia’s third-largest telecom operator, has released its <a href="https://ict.moscow/static/pdf/files/2q21-earnings-release-final.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">second-quarter 2021 financial results</a>. The company's total revenue increased by 6.2% year-on-year, reaching $955 million (69.5 billion rubles).

 
 The main factor contributing to the growth in total revenue was an increase in sales of subscriber equipment, Beeline said in the statement. The service revenue in the mobile sector showed an increase of 1.6%, due to expansion of 4G services among operator’s customer base, which increased by 20.5% year-on-year. Revenue in the fixed segment increased by 8.6% year-on-year, in the B2B segment grew by 15.3%.

 
 Revenue from solutions using Big Data (services for the B2B segment based on processing large amounts of data) grew by 60.8% year-on-year. The company clarifies that the growth was mainly due to the revenue from services in the field of advertising technologies, which soared 170% year-on-year.

 
 EBITDA increased by 2.2%, while the capital expenditures excluding licenses and capitalized leases in the grew by 22.4% in the second quarter.

 
 

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 The main indicators of Beeline's financial results in the second quarter and the first half of 2021. Courtesy of Veon.
 

 
 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/bilain-otchitalsya-o-roste-vyruchki-na-6-2-za-vtoroy-kvartal-2021-goda/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

Beeline

Beeline Reported Revenue Growth by 6.2% in the Second Quarter 2021

Business Club "Atlanty" and Smart Ranking named the top 40 of the largest and fastest growing fintech companies in Russia. The top three companies in terms of revenue were the electronic payment service YooMoney, the online cash register Evotor and the automation service for document flow and payments to freelancers Solar Staff.

 
 According to analysts, the turnover of the 40 largest fintech companies from 2018 to 2020 grew 1.5 times from 32 billion to 48 billion rubles. The following segments became the growth leaders: marketplaces and investment platforms, payments and transaction processing, loyalty systems, business solutions.

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 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/yoomoney/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">YooMoney</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/evotor/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Evotor</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/solar-staff/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Solar Staff</a>

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 The rating was based on the 2020 revenue data of top 40 fintech companies that showed growth in the period from 2018 to 2020. The rating became part of a project aimed at identifying the fastest-growing small and medium-sized companies in Russia in 2018-2020.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/smart-ranking-iumoney-evotor-i-solar-staff-stali-krupneishimi-fintekh-kompaniiami-po-itogam-2020-goda/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Smart Ranking: YooMoney, Evotor and Solar Staff are Russia’s Largest Fintechs in 2020

Data Magazine has released a list of 46 best Russian Big Data companies. According to the magazine, these startups and large tech companies “are taking a variety of approaches to innovating the Big Data industry, but are all exceptional companies well worth a follow”.

 
 The compilers ranked <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Yandex" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex </a>first as a multinational tech company. The top five companies also included:

<ul>
 <li>CarPrice, the leading Russian online used car broker and auctioneer, being the first to develop a C2B2B business model;</li>
 <li>AI startup Webiomed, which provides an AI-powered predictive healthcare analytics solution;</li>
 <li>medtech startup MedFrame, which processes medical data to create machine learning algorithms;</li>
 <li>Metacommerce, a SaaS platform that collects and analyzes omnichannel data about prices, assortments, product availability and marketing actions.</li>
</ul>

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 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/carprice/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CarPrice</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/medframe/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MedFrame</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/metacommerce/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Metacommerce </a>

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 The rating of top 46 Russian companies in the field of big data was compiled by the British edition of Data Magazine on the basis of data collected in Crunchbase and SemRush. It selects large companies, small companies and startups based on such criteria as innovation, growth, management and social impact.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/1789/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

DataMagazine

Data Magazine Names Top 46 Russian Big Data Companies

The international investment company GETVISION will create a venture fund Fintech Family Fundwill a valuation of $13.5 million (1 billion rubles) for startups at pre-seed and seed stages.

 
 The fund will focus on projects in the field of e-commerce, fintech, B2B software, startups with a SaaS business model, as well as companies developing AI and machine learning technologies. Priority will be given to MVP projects operating in fast-growing markets with validated demand. The volume of investments in one company is planned to be from $200,500 to $1.3 million (15-100 million rubles).

 
 According to the founder of GETVISION, Daria Vasilyeva, the company plans to open another fund with a focus on Series A/B in early 2024. Its investment volume will be $100 million (7.3 billion rubles).

 
 The founders of the Fintech Family Fund also include the founder of the Talkbank fintech platform Mikhail Popov and the co-founder of the AdTech platform Perfluence Maria Skurova.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://ru.linkedin.com/in/dvasylieva" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dasha Vasyliyeva</a>, the founder of <a href="https://get-vision.io/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">GETVISION</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/popovmb" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mikhail Popov</a>, the founder of <a href="https://talkbank.io/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Talkbank</a>

 
 Product card

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

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 GETVISION is an international private investment boutique with core focus on PE&VC deals. The company was founded in Moscow in 2018, with offices in Moscow and London.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/investkompaniia-getvision-zapustit-venchurnyi-fond-obemom-1-mlrd-rub-dlya-startapov-rannih-stadij/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original ( in Russian) </a>

Plusworld.ru

Investor GETVISION to Create a New Venture Fund 

Face Pay, which is currently being tested in the Moscow metro, is nominated for the international <a href="https://techfest.newcivilengineer.com/shortlist" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TechFest awards</a> in two nominations at once, Best Use of AI Technology and Transport Infrastructure Champion​.

 
 In the finals, the developers will have to compete with international projects that have presented AI solutions in the field of construction management, assessment of the state of pipe infrastructure, maintenance of railway tunnels, etc. Winners will be determined in early December at the annual New Civil Engineer's TechFest conference in London.

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 Product card 

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

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 In early August 2021, Moscow Metro <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-metro-introduces-face-pay/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">launched </a>a pilot version of Face Pay system, available for 1000 passengers at the stations of the Filevskaya line of the Moscow Metro. The technology will be gradually introduced on other lines and will become available at all stations by the end of 2021.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/1788/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

Moscow Transport Department

Moscow Biometric System Face Pay Reaches TechFest Finals

Five digital solutions from Moscow have won prizes in IT categories of the 18th annual International Business Awards (part of Stevie Awards). The winners include Sberbank, projects by the Moscow <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=DIT" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Department of Information Technologies</a> (Mos.ru), and health tech ecosystem AIBY.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Sberbank" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sberbank</a>, Russia’s biggest bank, became a gold winner in the Website category (Business and Professional Services nomination) for its platform for exporters and importers <a href="https://bankofpartners.com/en/site/index" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bank of Business Partners</a>. Sberbank has also won silver for Financial Services/Banking nomination, with its remote services for updating client data in Sberbank online app, as well as bronze for The Special Bank project in the Covid-19 Response category.

 
 A set of Mos.ru services were aimed at reducing water consumption in Moscow and included an updated service for transmitting water meter readings (water consumption graph, advice, emotional reinforcement), an interactive test to save water, and an interactive presentation in support of initiatives.

 
 Health tech startup with Moscow origins AIBY won in six nominations, taking two silver (Startup of the year, Tech Startup of the year/Hardware) as well as two bronze (Company of the year/Heath Products & Services, Tech Startup of the Year/Services) prizes. The company’s founder, Olya Osokina, took bronze in the Innovator of the Year and the Woman of the Year nominations.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/olya-osokina-7068021a1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Olya Osokina</a>, the founder of <a href="http://aiby.world/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AIBY</a> 

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 The winners of the International Business Awards were determined by the estimates of more than 260 experts around the world. This year, over 3,700 projects were submitted to the competition. The awards will be presented during a virtual event on 8 December 2021.

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