Since the beginning of 2021, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Sberbank" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sberbank</a> has invested $1 billion (73 billion rubles) in non-financial business companies, which makes around 11.5%, or $8.6 billion (630 billion rubles) of the bank's net profit for the first half of the year, Vedomosti reports.

 
 The company has invested the same amount over three years of ecosystem development (from 2017 to 2019), said the first deputy chairman of the bank's board <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lev.khasis" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lev Khasis</a>. Over the next three years, the group will spend $4.1-$4.7 billion (300-350 billion rubles) on the development of its non-financial business, the Vedomosti reports citing Reuters.

 
 According to the results of the first six months of 2021, non-financial services of the Sberbank ecosystem brought over $1 billion (74.7 billion rubles) in revenue, which is 3 times higher than last year's result figure.

 
 According to the financial director of the bank Alexandra Buriko, Sberbank expects to reach $2.7 billion (200 billion rubles) in revenue from the e-commerce segment (including the delivery services <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/sbermarket/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sbermarket</a>, Samokat, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/sbermegamarket/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sbermegamarket</a>) in 2021.

 
 A joint venture (45% each) between Sberbank and <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Mail.Ru_Group" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mail.ru Group</a>, O2O Holding, contributes to the unprofitableness of the ecosystem. The total loss of the company reached $2.1 billion (16.2 billion rubles) in the first half of the year and increased 1.8 times compared to last year. In the first six months of 2021, О2О revenue grew to $3.1 billion (22.9 billion rubles) against $73.8 million (5.4 billion rubles) in 2020.

 
 As Buriko explained, all O2O's main assets (including delivery services Samokat and <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/delivery-club/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Delivery Club </a>and the <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/citymobil/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Citymobil</a> taxi aggregator) are in the stage of rapid growth and therefore generate losses.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-2021-godu-sber-investiroval-v-ekosistemu-1-mlrd/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Vedomosti

Sberbank Invests $1 Billion in its Ecosystem 

The joint venture for the development of the <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/klyuch-rostelekom/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Unified Biometric System (UBS)</a> operated by <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Rostelecom" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rostelecom</a> may include several major banks in Russia. This issue was discussed on July 29 at a meeting with market actors held the Central Bank, Kommersant reports.

 
 According to the newspaper, the decision to include large banks in the joint venture has been made, further details are to be worked out. Previously, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Sberbank" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sberbank</a>, VTB, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=GPB_Digital" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Gazprombank (GPB)</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Alfa_bank" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alfa-Bank</a>, Russian Agricultural Bank, PSB, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Tinkoff_Bank" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tinkoff-Bank</a> and Pochta-Bank expressed its willingness to take part in the joint venture. However, the list is not final, according to experts.

 
 It was originally intended to create a joint venture with only Rostelecom and Sberbank in it, newspaper’s sources said. As for now, Sberbank has "lost its monopoly" under pressure from the Central Bank. “The regulator is worried about market competitiveness, while Sberbank occupies half of the market. Considering such dominance, it is logical that the positions in the competitive environment are strongly skewed,” one of the experts in the consulting market explained to Kommersant.

 
 The joint venture is tasked with collecting about 20 million samples, including photographs and voice recordings, over the next two years. So far, UBS has collected data from 164 thousand Russian citizens for the past three years. By 2030, the number of Russians who have submitted their biometric data is expected to increase to 50 million, officials <a href="https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4772708" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported</a> previously.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-sovmestnoe-predpriiatie-po-razvitiiu-ebs-voidet-neskolko-bankov/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Kommersant

Russia’s Major Banks to Join Unified Biometric System

Considering company’s faster than expected growth, Russian tech giant <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Yandex" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex</a> is planning to spend around $650 million on e-commerce this year, Chief Financial Officer Svetlana Demyashkevich <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/russias-yandex-says-q2-adj-net-income-up-34-yy-upgrades-revenue-outlook-2021-07-28/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">told</a> Reuters. About half of the investments will be directed to expanding the logistics infrastructure, developing the company's own logistics platform, and improving e-commerce business. According to the company's forecasts, group e-commerce gross merchandise volumes (GMV) for 2021 will increase three-fold compared to 2020.

 
 The company has updated the forecast for investments in the e-commerce direction (including marketplace <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/yandex-market/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex.Market</a> and foodtech services <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/iandeks-lavka/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex.Lavka</a>, and <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/yandex-eats/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex.Eats</a>) due to its accelerated growth. The plan to invest around $650 million in e-commerce will allow its GMV to grow 33% faster this year, Demyashkevich said.

 
 Previously, the company planned to invest around $400-500 million in e-commerce.

 
 Earlier Yandex <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/yandex-reports-strong-second-quarter-results-plans-to-spend-650-ml-on-e-commerce/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> strong second-quarter financial results and upgraded forecast of its 2021 revenue, expecting its total group revenues to be $4.49-$4.63 billion (330-340 billion rubles) for 2021, up from $4.13-$4.46 billion (315-330 billion rubles). Group e-commerce GMV for this period <a href="http://to%20%24475%20million%20(35.1%20billion%20rubles)." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">increased</a> 2.5 times compared to the same period last year to $475 million (35.1 billion rubles).

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/iandeks-investiruet-v-napravlenie-e-commerce-650-do-kontsa-goda/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Interfax

Yandex Plans to Spend $650 Million on E-Commerce

<a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Mail.Ru_Group" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mail.ru Group</a> <a href="https://corp.mail.ru/en/press/releases/10958/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">released </a>its financial results for the second quarter of 2021. The aggregate segment revenue of the company increased by 17.4% year-on-year to $406 million (29.9 billion rubles).

 
 Group aggregate net loss including key strategic associates and joint ventures was $28 million (2.1 billion rubles) compared to the second quarter of 2020 net profit of $160 million (1.2 billion rubles), including O2O joint venture with <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Sberbank" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sberbank </a>($529 ml in Q2 2021 vs $244 ml in Q2 2020), AliExpress Russia ($66 ml in Q2 2021 vs $39 ml in Q2 2020), and <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/uchi-ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Uchi.ru</a> online education platform ($339 633 in Q2 2021).

 
 Advertising grew 38.8% in the second quarter 2021, accelerating for the fourth quarter in a row (5% in Q3 2020, 10.2% in Q4 2020, and 22% in Q1 2021). Among the company’s services, social network VK.com remains the growth engine, with its 35% total revenue growth in Q2.

 
 MMO Games saw a 6% contraction in Q2, but with the overall Games segment (represented by MY.GAMES) slightly surpassing Q2 2020 in absolute revenues +1% to $150 million (11.1 billion rubles).

 
 Overall, the Group remains on track to deliver $172 million (127-130 billion rubles) in revenues in 2021.

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</div>

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/segmentnaia-vyruchka-mail-ru-group-vyrosla-na-17-za-vtoroi-kvartal/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

Mail.ru Group

Mail.ru Posts 17.4% Growth in Second Quarter 2021 Revenue

Government officials propose to launch educational programs at state universities on esports, data analysis, computer game development, and the use of technology in the creation of films and other content by the end of 2022 as part of the "<a href="https://digital.gov.ru/ru/events/41196/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">New Communication Internet Technologies"</a> roadmap implementation. The roadmap was developed by federal executive authorities, as well as Russia's leading telephone provider <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Rostelecom" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rostelecom </a>and <a href="https://anodialog.ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dialogue</a>, a non-profit Moscow-based organization for managing citizen appeals. The total amount of financing for the entire program until 2024 is estimated at around $239.1 million (17.6 billion rubles), of which $116.8 million (8.6 billion rubles) must be allocated from the federal budget. Rostelecom, according to Kommersant, proposed introducing e-sports programs. "Computer games develop creativity, the ability to make quick decisions, manage stress and even develop cognitive abilities," the company explained. E-sports courses exists in several international universities, including StarCraft courses at UC Berkeley, University of Florida, and New York University, Rostelecom added.

 
 As for now, courses on game software development are only introduced at St. Petersburgs’s ITMO university, gaming industry expert Maksim Fomichev noted. “Russian game market grew by 35% in 2020 against the backdrop of the pandemic, which inevitably leads to an increased demand for qualified specialists,” CEO of MY.GAMES (Mail.ru Group) <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vmaguryan" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Vasily Maguryan</a> told Kommersant.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-vuzakh-planiruiut-zapustit-obrazovatelnye-programmy-po-kibersportu-i-analizu-dannykh/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

Gaming and IT Courses to be Introduced in Russian State Universities  

Russian tech giant <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Yandex" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex</a> <a href="https://ir-docs.s3.yandex.net/financials/2021/yndx_Current_Folio_6K_Ex99_1_FINAL%20with%20LOGO.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> strong second quarter financial results and upgraded forecast of its 2021 revenue. Based on recent performance, the company expects its total group revenues to be $4.49-$4.63 billion (330-340 billion rubles) for 2021, up from $4.13-$4.46 billion (315-330 billion rubles) previously, Yandex said.

 
 Second-quarter revenue soared 70% year-on-year to $1.1 billion (81.4 billion rubles). Non-ad revenue accounted for 51% of revenues. The biggest growth showed in the company’s taxi segment (including Yandex Go and Uber Russia, foodtech Yandex.Eats and logistics), 114% to $380 million (2.8 billion rubles). Total number of rides increased 104%.

 
 Yandex.Market marketplace gross merchandise volumes (GMV) rose 144%, while the share of GMV sold by third-party sellers reached 70%. Media services segment, which includes subscription services Yandex Plus, Yandex.Music, KinoPoisk, Yandex.Afisha and production center Yandex.Studio, rose 141% to $556 million (4.8 billion rubles). The Classifieds segment (including Auto.ru, Yandex.Realty, Yandex.Jobs, and Yandex Classifieds) jumped 125% year-to-year to $258 million (1.9 billion rubles).

 
 The company's share in the Russian search market in the first quarter of 2021 averaged 59.7% vs 59.6% a year earlier.

 
 Earlier this week, Yandex <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/new-food-delivery-service-by-yandex-to-launch-in-uk/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> its plans to launch its food delivery service in the UK under the brand Yango Deli.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/iandeks-povysil-prognoz-po-vyruchke-za-2021-god-do-330-340-mlrd-rublei/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Yandex

Yandex Reports Strong Second Quarter Results

Moscow-based company RT-Business Development (100% owned by Rostec) plans to create a fund with a capitalization of $40-54 million (3-4 billion rubles) for investments in EdTech as well as HR-Tech projects in the later stages. For this purpose, the company announced a tender for the development of the concept and business model for the existing roadmap, Kommersant reports.

 
 The contractor will have to indicate the mission and goals of the future fund, develop a methodology for the search and selection of projects for investment, prepare profiles for several of the most promising EdTech projects. Moreover, the contractor will assess the prospects for the synergy of these projects with Rostec, propose at least three venture partners in Russia and abroad, and recommend independent specialists with management experience in EdTech and HR-Tech for an expert council.

 
 The field of application of EdTech could be, among other things, training for the manufactoring industry, the company added.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rostekh-sozdast-fond-dlia-investitsii-v-proekty-edtech-i-hr-tech/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Rostec to Create a Fund for Investments in EdTech and HR-Tech

The government commission for digital development, the use of information technology to improve the quality of life and the conditions for doing business has approved a new roadmap on the development of new Internet technologies. The document assumes the achievement of several targets by 2024, RBC reports. By 2024, the accuracy of domestic solutions for detecting deepfake content, as well as news feeds spread by bots should reach 70%. In 2021, this figure should be 55%.

 
 Among other targets is the growth of the Russian audience of video services to 96 million users (from 63 million in 2020), audiences of complex communication platforms to 108 million (from 74 million), and domestic cloud gaming platforms to 2.31 million (from 0.18 million).

 
 In addition, the document assumes the development of a number of services, including the following:

<ul>
 <li>recommendation based on predictions of user behavior;</li>
 <li>services for intelligent analysis of the video stream based on the entire stream data and systems for identifying news feed distribution chains and identifying news feeds distributed by bots;</li>
 <li>services for selecting interlocutors based on interests, needs in social networks, etc.;</li>
 <li>a software package for automatic generation of titles for audiovisual content, including speech recognition and translation-to-text platform;</li>
 <li>a service to identify violations of citizens' rights on the internet based on automatic analysis of communication environments, etc.</li>
</ul>

 
 Еhe projects will be financed by grants from the Fund for the Promotion of Innovation and extra-budgetary sourcesб RBC adds.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/borbu-s-dipfeikami-propisali-v-dorozhnoi-karte-razvitiia-novykh-internet-tekhnologii/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Russian Government to Fight Deepfake 

An online learning platform for employees <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/teachbase/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Teachbase</a> raised investment from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DAVoloshin" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dmitry Voloshin</a>, a venture investor and co-founder of the Otus educational online platform, Rusbase reports. The amount of investment was not disclosed, but Voloshin received 5% of the project.

 
 According to the founder of Teachbase Vladimir Shcherbakov, now the company is focused on scaling the sales of the current product and developing the project stream.

 
 “A unique feature of Teachbase is its flexibility and the ability to quickly create custom projects. I believe that based on our product we may well create (and are already building) a leading integrator of educational solutions,” he explained.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/platforma-teachbase-privlekla-investitsii-na-masshtabirovanie/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

RB.ru

Teachbase Raises Investment for Scaling

Education platform <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/uchi-ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Uchi.ru</a> (25% owned by<a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Mail.Ru_Group" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Mail.ru Group</a>) acquired 8.7% in online school <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/tutoronline/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TutorOnline</a>, which has an office in Moscow. The amount of the transaction was not disclosed. TutorOnline intends to use the raised funds for platform development, content projects, as well as attracting new customers, Vedomosti reports.

 
 The deal will enable Uchi.ru to expand its share of online education market for the mid- and high school, <a href="https://ru.linkedin.com/in/ilya-parshin-034129a8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ilya Parshin</a>, CEO of the company, says. Sergey Libin, an analyst at Raiffeisenbank, estimates the amount of investment to be around $2.7-$5.4 million (200-400 million rubles), when evaluating the entire asset at a multiplier of 5-10 annual earnings. <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Mail.Ru_Group" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mail.ru Group</a>, the co-owner of Uchi.ru, plans to make based on this asset a "springboard" for investments in the edtech sector, the expert suggests.

 
 The TutorOnline project was launched in 2011. It provides individual online tutoring services. The company's revenue, according to its data, in 2020 increased 2.8 times to $3.2 million (238 million rubles). According to this indicator, TutorOnline ranks 27th in the overall rating of the largest EdTech projects in the CIS, according to Smart Ranking.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/uchi-ru-stala-sovladeltsem-onlain-shkoly-tutoronline/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

Edtech Uchi.ru Buys a Share in TutorOnline

On July 27, Russia submitted to the special committee of the United Nations (UN) a draft convention on countering the use of ICT technologies for criminal purposes, CNews reports. This makes Russia the first country to present such document, according to the <a href="https://eng.genproc.gov.ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Prosecutor General's Office</a>.

 
 Currently, the draft has not been published yet. The document takes into account modern challenges and threats in the field of international information security, including the criminal use of cryptocurrency. It also provides descriptions for new crimes committed using ICT, such as distribution of counterfeit medical products, drug trafficking, involvement of minors in committing illegal acts, etc.

 
 In addition, the draft convention expands the scope of international cooperation in such issues as extradition and legal assistance in criminal cases, including identification, arrest, confiscation, and return of assets, according to CNews.

 
 At the end of 2020, Russia ranked <a href="https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Cybersecurity/Pages/global-cybersecurity-index.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">fifth in the Global Cybersecurity Index</a> by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rossiia-vnesla-v-oon-proekt-konventsii-po-borbe-s-kiberprestupnostiu/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

CNews

Russia is the First Country to Submit UN Cybersecurity Convention

In July, the <a href="https://aodfa.ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Association for Information Systems and Digital Financial Asset (DFA) Exchange Operators</a> was established in Russia, TAdadvisor reports.

 
 The new non-profit organization will represent the interests of its members in government agencies, as well as interact with financial and commercial organizations. The Association intends to defend initiatives to amend legislative acts to include members of the Association in the Register of Digital Financial Asset Exchange Operators and the Register of Information System Operators. The association will also offer assistance in the development of a platform for the exchange of digital assets, digitalization of assets, and smart contracts.

 
 The federal <a href="https://sozd.duma.gov.ru/bill/419059-7" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">law on DFA</a> (<a href="https://sozd.duma.gov.ru/bill/419059-7" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">📜</a>) was adopted at the end of July 2020, it establishes the legal basis for the circulation of digital financial assets

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-rossii-sozdana-assotsiatsiia-operatorov-tsfa/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

TAdviser

Digital Assets Operators Create Association in Russia

Russian robotics manufacturer <a href="https://promo-bot.ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Promobot </a>has added a new algorithm to its systems for face recognition, speech, dialogue, and emotion display. With its help, the company's robots can determine human emotions, tone of voice and, following the expected state of a person, build a dialogue.

 
 Depending on the emotional state of the interlocutor, the robot will choose a communication strategy: to console, encourage or maintain a friendly course of the conversation, and will be able to respond in a livelier manner.

 
 In April, another service robot produced by Promobot <a href="https://promo-bot.ai/news/the-robot-became-a-police-officer-in-dubai-uae/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">began working</a> at headquarters of the Dubai police, advising citizens, answering questions, and accepting applications. The robot is equipped with obstacle sensors and a contactless thermometer and has a database with several thousand questions and answers in English and Arabic.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/1714/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

Promobot Develops Algorithms for Recognizing Human Emotions

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has prepared a draft government decree proposing to extend the granting of subsidies for testing unmanned vehicles on public roads until 2022.

 
 “The target indicator for the recipient of the subsidy is set in the amount of at least 200 conclusions in 2021 and at least 100 conclusions in 2022,” the <a href="https://regulation.gov.ru/projects#npa=118444" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">draft </a>from Ministry of Industry and Trade says. As noted in the memorandum to the document, the cost of testing could prevent drone developers from massive participation in trial testing.

 
 Testing of self-driving cars on public roads began in December 2018 and will last until March 1, 2022. To participate in it, a car must be tested for compliance with the mandatory requirements of the technical regulations of both the Eurasian Customs Union and UN rules. These costs are reimbursed from the budget for 2020 and 2021.

 
 In March this year, the Russian government <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/testing-of-unmanned-vehicles-without-test-engineers-in-the-cabin-will-begin-in-russia-in-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">approved </a>a set of measures for testing and phased commissioning of highly automated vehicles on public roads. The document assumes that unmanned vehicles without a test engineer in the cabin will be allowed on Russian roads by the end of 2021. The government is also preparing a plan to provide infrastructure for highly automated road traffic to the network of major Russian roads by 2030.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/minpromtorg-predlagaet-prodlit-subsidirovanie-ispytanii-bespilotnikov-na-2022-god/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

TASS

Subsidies for Driverless Testing in Russia Prolong for 2022

Developers from MGIMO, Moscow State University, and MEPHI are currently working on a time capsule service using blockchain technology, RIA Novosti reports. It will allow transmitting digital information to subsequent generations, including passwords to social networks, photos, texts, video messages, and locations of valuable things. The finished project will be presented at the “Archipelago 2121” workshop for startups held from July 27 to August 4, 2021.

 
 Specialists are currently developing a website for storing the essential information in an encrypted form under the condition to transfer it to specific persons with a certain time lag (within at least 6 months), project lead Dmitry Izvekov noted.

 
 A recipient will be able to get valuable information via a link sent to their account on the project website, while the “time capsule” will become available in the time specified by the sender. The encrypted data will be stored on <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/info-sbercloud-ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SberCloud </a>with backup copies on DropBox and other services.

 
 The project is expected to get $30.000 to $40.000 worth of investments. The project will be monetized “due to the future popularity of the service and additional services,” the developers added.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-moskve-razrabatyvaiut-servis-kapsula-vremeni-na-blokcheine/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

ria.ru

Blockchain-Based Time Capsule to Be Developed in Moscow

Russian telecoms operator MTS acquired 51% in <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/factorin/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Factorin</a>, a blockchain-based trading platform, for $11.7 million in a deal with Digital Horizon. Around $4.7 million of the total investment will be used for company development, according to MTS.

 
 Factorin founder <a href="https://ru.linkedin.com/in/amaklin" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Andrey Maklin</a> and the team retained 25% in the company, while Digital Horizon kept 24%. The acquisition will allow MTS to expand the ecosystem of financial services for corporate clients, namely, to provide factoring services using blockchain.

 
 Andrey Maklin <a href="https://factorin.io/news/00200" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">notes </a>that the deal will help to “transform entire areas of fintech services for the B2B segment on a major scale”. He estimates the trade finance factoring market to grow to reach more than $100 billion by 2024.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mts-priobrela-kontrol-v-blokchein-platforme-factorin/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

MTS Acquires Controlling Stake in Factorin

<a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Kaspersky_Lab" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kaspersky Lab</a>, a Moscow-based cybersecurity company, developed a video analytics system Kaspersky Neural Networks that recognizes objects in images transmitted from drones. In particular, the neural network can recognize people in disaster areas, houses, cars, animals, etc., Vedomosti specifies, citing the developers.

 
 The difference between Kaspersky Neural Networks and the products of competitors on a global scale is the ability to receive data on identified objects in real-time, Kaspersky developers noted. In particular, recognition can be carried out directly by the drone, while the system is intended to serve the Ministry of Emergencies and other rescue services.

 
 The cost of the hardware and software complex is not disclosed by Kaspersky Lab.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/laboratoriia-kasperskogo-razrabotala-sistemu-raspoznavaniia-obektov-v-transliatsii-s-bespilotnika/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Kaspersky Lab Presents a System for Real-Time Recognition from Drones

Mobile operator Tele2 Russia, despite its support for the development of LTE technology in Russia, believes that the new requirements for LTE equipment should only apply to new construction, without rebuilding all existing networks, according to the statement released by the company. For the new equipment to meet operators’ commercial interests, it needs to be competitive as well as compatible with companies’ other equipment, Tele2 adds.

 
 LTE licenses for telecoms firms in Russia expire in September. The head of the Ministry of Digital Development Maksut Shadayev announced in June that the ministry is considering the possibility of introducing restrictions when renewing licenses, which will include installing only Russian-made LTE base stations by operators.

 
 In August, <a href="https://www.grfc.ru/grfc/eng/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">the General Radio Frequency Centre (GRFC</a>), a Russian regulatory body, plans to prolong the current permits to use the frequencies of 700 MHz, 800 MHz, and 2.5-2.7 GHz for LTE networks for another 10 years term, but telecoms operators will have to fulfill several conditions. Among them, the construction of LTE networks using only domestic equipment from the unified register of Russian electronic products.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-tele2-schitaiut-neobkhodimym-smiagchit-trebovaniia-po-vnedreniiu-rossiiskogo-lte-oborudovaniia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

Tele2 Russia Wants Officials to Ease Requirements for LTE License Renewal

Moscow public Wi-Fi operator <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/maksimatelekom/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MaximaTelecom</a> has won the bid from the Moscow Traffic Control Center (CODD) for the installation of 2,000 CCTV cameras with intelligent analytics on the roads of the city. Cameras will be installed in three phases before December 2023.

 
 They will be equipped with a video analytics system based on neural networks for monitoring and analyzing the traffic situation, promptly detecting road accidents and other abnormal events. According to a representative of the data center, there will be no face recognition function in the new system.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-moskve-vnedriat-novuiu-sistemu-videonabliudeniia-s-analitikoi-dlia-kontrolia-bezopasnosti/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

New Video Surveillance System to be Installed in Moscow

The Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation is planning to create digital profiles of passengers, using biometric identification for travel and payment on all types of transport, CNews reports, citing the Ministry’s digital transformation of the transport industry <a href="https://mintrans.gov.ru/documents/8/11374" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">strategy datasheet. </a>

 
 Passengers’ digital profiles will be integrated into the national Unified Biometric System (EBS). In addition, the governmental agency is preparing to launch a service for building an optimal travel route for passengers.

 
 Among other things, the strategy includes implementing self-driving passenger transport before 2024 as well as drones for the commercial delivery of goods before 2030. 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 datasheet, a total amount of around $4.5 million (336.4 million rubles) is required for the implementation of the strategy as well as cooperation with other government agencies, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Economic Development, together with the Federal Tax Service, Federal Customs Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs, FSB, FSS, PF, and Rosstandart.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mintrans-planiruet-sozdat-sistemu-tsifrovykh-profilei-dlia-proezda-na-transporte/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Russia to Digitize its Transport System before 2030, Ministry of Transport Says

<a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/getcourse/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">GetCourse</a>, a SaaS online learning platform, raised $50 million in a funding round led by Winter Capital Partners Fund, Goldman Sachs, and Baring Vostok, Interfax reports. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the funds will be used to develop the product and enter the international market, according to <a href="https://vc.ru/services/273049-winter-capital-kupil-dolyu-v-servise-dlya-provedeniya-onlayn-kursov-getcourse-za-50-mln" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">VC.ru</a>.

 
 The platform's valuation was estimated at $0.6 billion in 2020. It is expected that in 2021 this figure will exceed $1 billion, which will put the company on par with such global industry leaders as Kajabi ($1.5 billion) and Thinkific ($0.3 billion).

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/edtech-kompaniia-getcourse-privlekla-50-mln/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Moscow EdTech Startup GetCourse Raises $50 Million

Russian tech giant Yandex N.V. has registered Deli International Ltd., a new London-based company providing food delivery service, RBC reports. Under the international brand of Yango Deli, it will focus on delivering groceries from London dark stores in 10-15 minutes.

 
 Yandex is currently expanding food delivery service Yandex.Lavka outside Moscow. In addition to Russian cities, it now operates in Tel Aviv and several other cities in Israel. The company is planning to launch similar services in Paris as well as London later this year.

 
 Yandex does not disclose investments in the international expansion of Lavka. According to RBC, by the end of this year the company is planning to invest $400-500 million in e-commerce, including such services as Yandex.Market, Yandex.Lavka, and several delivery products within the Yandex.Eda food service.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/iandeks-zaregistriroval-kompaniiu-v-velikobritanii-dlia-razvitiia-servisa-dostavki-edy/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

New Food Delivery Service by Yandex to Launch in UK

The Center for Strategic Research (CSR) proposed creating an exchange as well as another institution for the development of startups, according to the new issue of CSR’s bulletin “Ways of transforming the financial market in Russia”.

 
 An alternative exchange for small companies “with a low trading volume and more affordable conditions for listing securities“ will create a competitive environment for all issuers in various industries, the authors of the bulletin claim.

 
 The center also considers the provision of concessional loans for small businesses an insufficient measure and suggests creating a separate institution that “would be able to take risks on the most promising projects, use special methods of support for startups (unsecured loans, specific debt instruments) and accompany them until they become sustainable solvent companies.”

 
 In response, The Ministry of Economic Development noted that they “do not see the need for an additional exchange for SMEs“, as small companies have the access to Moscow Exchange through its Growth Sector service within the governmental support program for SMEs.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/tsentr-strategicheskikh-razrabotok-predlozhil-sozdat-v-rossii-birzhu-dlia-startapov/" target="_blank">Original (in Russian</a>)

Izvestia

CSR Calls for Startup Exchange in Russia

Sberbank will implement the Smart Home project in Moscow in liaison with Ingrad, a development company, with its subsidiary Sberbank-Telecom (under the name of Sbermobile) as a service provider.

 
 One of Ingrad’s residential buildings will be provided with IoT, video analytics, biometrics, and several infrastructure management and security services using AI. Solutions by <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/info-sbercloud-ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SberCloud</a>, SberDevices, Speech Technology Center, and Modern Technologies are listed.

 
 In May earlier this year, MTS <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-will-equip-houses-under-construction-with-the-internet-of-things/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced </a>its negotiations with several development companies on creating IoT infrastructures in houses under construction.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/sberbank-osnactit-doma-v-moskve-internetom-veshchei/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

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