    <p>
    Omnic, a manufacturer of postamat and business automation systems, raised $407,700 (30 million rubles) in investments from Impact Capital. The assessment of the company at the end of the round was $20.3 million (1.5 billion rubles).
</p>
    <p>
    The funds raised are planned to be used for international development, expansion of the product line and expansion of the OmniCDEK network from the current 900 checkpoints to 3 thousand.
</p>
    <p>
    According to the founder of Impact Capital Valery Zolotukhin, in the spring of 2021 Omnic attracted $1.9 million (140 million rubles) from private investors. Prior to this, the company developed through equity capital, as well as the reinvestment of part of the profits.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Connect with</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vzprof" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Valery Zolotukhin</a>, founder of Impact Capital
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/omnihub/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Omnic</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/proizvoditel-postamatov-omnic-privlek-30-mln-rub-na-razvitie/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

RB.ru

Postamat Developer Omnic Raises Investment for Development 

    <p>
    Beeline bought cloud service provider IBS DataFort (a subsidiary of IBS). The amount of the deal was not disclosed. The acquisition will allow the operator to "<i>expand its portfolio of B2B and B2G cloud services.</i>" In addition, the company plans to jointly develop new products and integrated solutions at the junction of cloud technologies, cybersecurity, BigData and IoT.
</p>
    <p>
    The fact that Beeline is negotiating the purchase of the cloud provider IBS DataFort was <a href="https://www.tadviser.ru/index.php/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F:IBS_DataFort_(%D0%98%D0%91%D0%A1_%D0%94%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%A4%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82)#.2A2021:_.D0.98.D1.81.D1.82.D0.BE.D1.87.D0.BD.D0.B8.D0.BA:_.C2.AB.D0.92.D1.8B.D0.BC.D0.BF.D0.B5.D0.BB.D0.BA.D0.BE.D0.BC.C2.BB_.D0.B2.D0.B5.D0.B4.D0.B5.D1.82_.D0.BF.D0.B5.D1.80.D0.B5.D0.B3.D0.BE.D0.B2.D0.BE.D1.80.D1.8B_.D0.BE_.D0.BF.D0.BE.D0.BA.D1.83.D0.BF.D0.BA.D0.B5_IBS_DataFort" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported</a> by TAdviser in early April. In June, it became <a href="https://www.rbc.ru/technology_and_media/09/06/2021/60bfbe999a7947152fa56eac" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">known</a> that within the framework of the transaction, IBS estimates the cost of its division at $33.7 - 40 million (2.5 - 3 billion rubles).
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/bilain-kupil-oblachnoe-podrazdelenie-ibs/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Beeline Buys Cloud Solution by IBS

    <p>
    Educate Online, a platform for distance learning abroad, raised $4 million from venture funds, the Softline IT company and investors from the Angelsdeck club. The parties do not disclose the assessment of the startup.
</p>
    <p>
    The funds raised will be used to scale business in Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. The company also intends to develop its own technology platform.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/educate-online/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Educate Online</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    According to Educate Online's own data, more than 2.5 thousand people from 18 countries have <a href="https://vc.ru/services/334256-platforma-dlya-distancionnogo-obucheniya-v-zarubezhnyh-shkolah-educate-online-privlekla-4-mln-ot-tmt-investments-i-drugih" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">used</a> their service during the year. Last year, the company's turnover grew 5.5 times. This year, an increase of 3-5 times is expected.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/educate-online-privlekla-4-mln-na-razvitie-za-rubezhom/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Forbes

Educate Online Raises $4 Million for Overseas Development

    <p>
    The Moscow Metro, VTB and Yandex Go, within the framework of the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) concept, have started testing a new product - the MultiTransport unified transport subscription. It will unite different transport operators that provide transportation services into a single digital ecosystem with multimodal travel. The platform is supposed to help passengers choose the most suitable travel option.
</p>
    <p>
    The first stage of testing will involve all seven types of public transport (metro, monorail, MCC, MCD, ground transport) and taxis. At the same time, users are offered three types of tariffs, which include 5, 10 or 20 taxi rides, as well as an unlimited subscription for public transport.
</p>
    <p>
    The service will appear in the Moscow Metro or Yandex Go applications, and in the future they will add carsharing, scooter and bicycle rental. Also, in the future, the service will take into account traffic congestion, comfort, quality and offer the most convenient route option with an indication of the total amount of the trip.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/yandex-go/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex Go</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/metro-moskvy/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Moscow Metro</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    In November 2020, Moscow authorities <a href="https://transport.mos.ru/en/news/104216" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> plans to launch a MaaS-platform (Mobility-as-a-Service) in the city. It will combine all city and several private transport services. To learn more, read ICT.Moscow's <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/maas-in-global/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">insight</a> on the prospects of MaaS in global cities
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-moskve-nachalos-testirovanie-servisa-multitransport/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

CNews

Moscow Tests MultiTransport Service 

    <p>
    Russian state corporation Rosatom is considering the possibility of acquiring a controlling stake in MCST, the developer of processors Elbrus.
</p>
    <p>
    The total cost of the company is estimated at $68-95 million (5-7 billion rubles). Rosatom has already carried out due diligence (the procedure for drawing up an objective view of the investment object) and is “<i>preparing for the start of the transaction</i>”, according to Kommersant newspaper. In this case, the decision to purchase can be made before the end of the year.
</p>
    <p>
    In turn, the CEO of MCST, Alexander Kim, did not confirm the information about the deal. Rosatom declined to comment.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rosatom-planiruet-priobresti-kontrolnuiu-doliu-razrabotchika-protsessorov-elbrus/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Kommersant

Rosatom Plans to Acquire a Controlling Stake in Processor Developer Elbrus 

    <p>
    Intema (a subsidiary of MTS) will acquire the developer of computer vision systems VisionLabs. The deal will amount to about $95,2 million (7 billion rubles). According to the press service of Sberbank, the total amount may change based on the achievement of VisionLabs' targets within three years.
</p>
    <p>
    The structure of the deal is as follows: MTS will buy back a 51.77% stake from the founders of VisionLabs, 25.07% from Sber, and 23.16% from Sistema's venture capital fund Sistema VC. Currently, Intema has signed a binding agreement and is awaiting regulatory approvals. The deal is expected to close in 2022.
</p>
    <p>
    VisionLabs will continue to operate independently, as well as maintain the same business strategy and team. Co-founder of the company Alexander Khanin will remain the head of the board of directors. As the President of MTS Vyacheslav Nikolaev specified, the purchase of the developer will help MTS unleash the potential of its own ecosystem.
</p>
    <p>
    According to Lev Khasis, First Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Sberbank, the partnership with VisionLabs will continue in a number of key areas: face and gesture recognition for SberPortal, as well as within the SmartBio biometric platform.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Connect with</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072735932622" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Vyacheslav Nikolaev</a>, the President of MTS
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lev.khasis" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lev Khasis</a>, the First Deputy Chairman of the Board of Sberbank
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alexander.khanin.3" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alexander Khanin</a>, Co-founder of VisionLabs
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=VisionLabs" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">VisionLabs</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    MTS created the Intema company “<i>to develop market products related to artificial intelligence technology and operate on international markets</i>,”  <a href="https://www.rbc.ru/technology_and_media/13/12/2021/61b716039a79473198123c6f" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">according</a> to RBC. In September, it <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/russia-banks-sberbank-sistema-idCNL8N2QN1OI" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">was reported</a> that Sberbank was planning to sell its stake in VisionLabs at the end of September.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/dochka-mts-priobretet-razrabotchika-sistem-raspoznavaniia-lits-visionlabs/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Sberbank

MTS to Acquire Facial Recognition System Developer VisionLabs 

    <p>
    The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) initiates an audit of the e-commerce market, in which it will study the interaction of participants, in particular, the possibility of suppliers moving from one marketplace to another.
</p>
    <p>
    “<i>The service is preparing to conduct an analysis of the market where the marketplaces operate. Within its framework, the FAS will study in detail the interaction of participants, problems of access to the market and other issues,</i>" the statement says.
</p>
    <p>
    In turn, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, according to the publication, together with representatives of the industry, is preparing a code of good practices for the e-commerce market.
</p>
    <p>
    Representatives of Wildberries and Yandex.Market said that their rules of operation are reflected in the offers, which each supplier gets acquainted with. All changes in the rules of cooperation of the platform are communicated to the partners in the prescribed manner. SberMarket noted that they are concluding long-term contracts with retailers. At the same time, the terms of cooperation do not change unilaterally.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/wildberries/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Wildberries</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/yandex-market/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex.Market</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/sbermarket/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SberMarket</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/fas-proanaliziruet-marketpleisy-na-nalichie-problem-s-dostupom-k-ploshchadkam/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Izvestia

FAS to Assess Marketplaces Regarding Fair Access 

    <p>
    Yandex has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. According to the overall score, the company is "in the top 5% of the index in the digital services and media industry, and in the top 1% in the social direction.
</p>
    <p>
    The rating compilers also rated Yandex's achievements in energy management and data center efficiency improvement higher than 94% of companies in the digital services and media industry. Yandex's corporate governance was also highly praised, including for its security system, user data protection, and development of open-source projects.
</p>
    <p>
    Previously, Yandex identified 12 priority areas for itself, including education, information security, quality of services, reducing the carbon footprint and an accessible environment.
</p>
    <p>
    The Dow Jones Sustainability Index annually includes 10% of companies from the S&P Global BMI. They are assessed according to ESG principles. In particular, ecology, social policy and corporate governance. In 2021, S&P Global experts evaluated over 1,800 candidates.
</p>
    <p>
    In November, Forbes <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/sberbank-yandex-and-vk-group-are-the-best-employers-of-2021-in-it-according-to-forbes/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ranked</a> Yandex among the top employers of 2021. The rating took into account such indicators as the social package, average wages and working conditions.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/iandeks-vkliuchen-v-mirovoi-indeks-ustoichivogo-razvitiia-dow-jones/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

PRIME

Yandex Included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index

    <p>
    <br>Performance Group, a ready-made meal delivery service, plans to launch similar projects in the UK, Germany, the United States and the United Arab Emirates. The founder of the company Artur Zeleny notes that the launch of the first of them (in London) is scheduled for next March.
</p>
    <p>
    About $10 million will be allocated for the launch of projects in Europe and the UAE. In the future, the services may be also launched in Israel and Asian countries. The delivery of ready-made meals abroad will be handled by a new company headquartered in Russia. A separate team will work in each new country.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Connect with</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://www.facebook.com/artur.zeleny" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Arthur Zeleny</a>, Founder of Performance Group
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/performance-food/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Performance Food</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    According to the information from INFOLine agency, last year Performance Group became the first in the ranking of online stores of grocery sets and ready meals with a turnover of 3.2 billion rubles.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/servis-performance-group-planiruet-vykhod-na-zarubezhnye-rynki-v-2022-godu/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Vedomosti

Performance Group Plans to Go International in 2022

    <p>
    This year, Cognitive Pilot began supplying its products to Belgium, Italy, Austria, Spain, France, Romania, Poland, as well as Bolivia and Canada. In 2020, the company entered the markets of the USA, Brazil, Argentina. Over the next two years, it intends to open more than 1,000 dealerships around the world.
</p>
    <p>
    According to Olga Uskova, the CEO of the company, the average cost of a single item purchase worldwide amounted to $8,900. She also noted that the company was able to start active sales activities abroad only closer to the middle of the year. “<i>We were able to win 47 contracts in Europe, North and Latin America</i>,” she said.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Connect with </b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000826626015" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Olga Uskova</a>, the CEO of Cognitive Pilot
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/cognitive-pilot/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cognitive Pilot</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    In mid-November, the Cognitive Agro Pilot unmanned control system for agricultural machinery won the AgroCode Awards.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/2025/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

TASS

Cognitive Pilot Expands its Agricultural Drone Market to 12 Countries in 2021

    <p>
    Sberbank, VK Group, Yandex, MTS, VTB, as well as other owners of large Russian ecosystems have become the main buyers of startups this year, according to a study by the Venture Barometer, in which more than 300 Russian-speaking representatives of the venture capital market took part. Their share of participation in such transactions was estimated at 22%, although last year it was 11%.
</p>
    <p>
    89% of investors made new investments in 12 months, almost a third of them invested in ten or more startups. Last year, new investments attracted only 85% of survey participants, compared to 75% a year earlier.
</p>
    <p>
    In the list of countries attractive for investment, according to the authors of the study, Russia dropped from third to fifth place, behind Israel and Great Britain.
</p>
    <p>
    According to experts, in 2021, Russian ecosystems acquired startups due to increased competition, since each of them is increasing its presence in all areas of IT and innovation. According to the general director of the Moscow Innovation Agency Alexei Parabuchev, in the capital alone in ten months corporations have invested in startups almost twice as much as in the entire last year.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/issledovanie-krupnye-ekosistemy-stali-aktivnee-investirovat-v-startapy/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Large Ecosystems Increased Investing in Startups

    <p>
    The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) satisfied the request of the Infrastructure Integrator (controlled by Kismet Capital Group) to acquire the independent tower operator Russian Towers (controlled by UFG Private Equity). The parties agreed on key parameters, details will be announced after the transaction is closed.
</p>
    <p>
    KCG's plans to acquire Russian Towers became known in early November. Then the deal was estimated at $342,7 million (25 billion rubles). At the same time, in October, KCG and MegaFon agreed to create an independent tower infrastructure operator based on the Tower One Company (a subsidiary of MegaFon) and the operator Vertikal (controlled by KCG). It is planned to close the deal by the end of this year. Taking into account all the agreements, KCG can unite 29 thousand objects.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Connect with</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072735932622" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Vyacheslav Nikolaev</a>, President of MTS
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    MTS also intends to sell its tower asset. According to the president of the company Vyacheslav Nikolaev, "<i>active negotiations</i>" are already underway. Potential buyers have not been named, but according to Kommersant, there are two main contenders for this asset: Service-Telecom and Kismet Capital Group.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/fas-odobrila-sdelku-kismet-po-priobreteniiu-russkikh-bashen/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

FAS Approves Kismet's Acquisition of Russian Towers

    <p>
    Education holding Ultimate Education has acquired a controlling stake in Bang Bang Education online school. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
</p>
    <p>
    Through the partnership, Bang Bang Education plans to improve business processes, strengthen development direction, and increase turnover and accelerate the scaling process.
</p>
    <p>
    As a result of the deal, the online school will become part of the Ultimate Education holding, which has a total audience of more than 70 thousand students. At the moment, the total audience of Bang Bang Education exceeds 50 thousand people.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/bang-bang-education/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bang Bang Education</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    At the end of Q3 of 2021, Bang Bang Education was among the top 50 projects in the Smart Ranking’s online education ranking.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/ultimate-education-kupila-kontrol-v-onlain-shkole-bang-bang-education/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Ultimate Education Acquires Controlling Stake in Bang Bang Education Online School

    <p>
    USM Holding will withdraw from the capital of VK Group by selling its 45% stake in MF Technologies (controls 57.3% of VK Group's voting shares) to SOGAZ Group. According to Kommersant, USM has confirmed the fact of the deal, its terms have not been disclosed.
</p>
    <p>
    The SOGAZ Board of Directors “approved a 45% participation in the capital of MF Technologies JSC". The agreement was considered a "promising strategic investment."
</p>
    <p>
    USM founder Alisher Usmanov said that he leaves VK Group "<i>at the peak of indicators both in terms of audience and financial metrics</i>." In turn, the CEO of USM Ivan Streshinsky clarified that the holding's business strategy will now “<i>be focused on the “green agenda”, </i>adding that the telecommunications business and related digital projects require“<i>a lot of attention</i>”.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Connect with</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ivan.streshinsky" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ivan Streshinsky</a>, the CEO of USM
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    At the end of November, Sberbank <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/sberbank-completes-the-deal-of-selling-its-stake-in-vk/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">sold</a> a 36% stake in MF Technologies to Gazprombank for $174.3 million (12.8 billion rubles). The reason for the sale was not specified.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/usm-prodast-doliu-v-vk-group-gruppe-sogaz/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

USM to Sell its Stake in VK to SOGAZ 

    <p>
    The Veon holding (the parent company of Beeline) announced the closure of the deal for the sale of antenna mast structures in Russia to the Service-Telecom Group.
</p>
    <p>
    Under the terms of the deal, which amounted to 70.65 billion rubles, Service-Telecom received 100% of the shares of National Tower Company JSC and about 15.4 thousand towers.
</p>
    <p>
    The companies also entered into a long-term agreement under which the operator will lease towers from Service-Telecom for eight years. In addition, the parties entered the build-to-suit program, which provides for the construction of 5 thousand towers by 2029.
</p>
    <p>
    Veon <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/veon-sells-tower-assets-in-russia-to-service-telecom-for-1-billion/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced </a>the sale of its tower assets in Russia in September 2021.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/veon-zakryl-sdelku-po-prodazhe-vyshek-v-rossii/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Beeline

Veon Closes the Deal for the Sale of Towers in Russia

Sberbank, Yandex and VK Group are the best Employers of 2021 in IT, According to Forbes

    <p>
    
</p>
    <p>
    The Antimonopoly Regulation Department of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) has revealed Yandex's dominant position in Russian advertising market in search display.
</p>
    <p>
    EEC representatives also saw “<i>signs of violations</i>” of competition rules in Yandex's actions, including the following:
</p>
<ul>
    <li>advantages for displaying information about your own services in "enriched responses" (search display widgets);</li>
    <li>the ability to refuse an advertiser to display his offer in search results due to the ad block of services and products of Yandex itself;</li>
    <li>providing access to search widgets after transferring data from third-party resources, as well as connecting Yandex.Metrica and the Yandex Pay service.</li>
</ul>

    <p>
    The Commission believes that Yandex's actions may lead to restriction of competition and infringement of the interests of others. At the same time, the EEC did not initiate a case, since it was not possible to prove the dominant position of the company on the territory of two or more EAEU member states. The materials were submitted to the FAS.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/avito/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Avito</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/ivi-ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ivi</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/cian/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cian</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/yandex-pay/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex Pay</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    Last year, a number of services and companies, including Avito, ivi, Cyan, Profi.ru, <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">complained </a>to the FAS, a regulatory body, about Yandex because of widgets in search results. After <a href="https://fas.gov.ru/publications/22682" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">considering </a>the complaint, the regulator obliged Yandex to stop underestimating the positions of other companies in the search results. In April 2021, the FAS <a href="https://fas.gov.ru/news/31238" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">filed</a> a case against the company. In May, Yandex <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/iandeks-predstavil-usloviia-dlia-dostupa-storonnikh-kompanii-k-koldunshchikam/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">opened </a>the “enriched responses” (search display widgets) service for all partners, publishing the basic principles of working with them.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/komissiia-evraziiskogo-soiuza-vyiavila-dominiruiushchee-polozhenie-iandeksa-v-pokaze-reklamy/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Eurasian Union Commission Reveals Yandex's Dominant Position in Advertising Display

    <p>
    Moscow approved the testing of public and private driverless vehicles, including taxis, on 140 streets. On 18 of the chosen streets, as well as on the territory of the Skolkovo center, unmanned vehicles will be able to travel with passengers and luggage.
</p>
    <p>
    According to the published list of streets, driverless tests will mainly be carried out in the south, south-west, west and in the center of Moscow: Aminevskoe, Varshavskoe, Ochakovskoe, Staromozhayskoe highway, Sevastopolsky prospect, Frunzenskaya embankment, Vernadsky avenue, Luzhniki bridge, Presnenskaya embankment, Proletarsky prospect.
</p>
    <p>
    On Wednesday, November 24, the Moscow City Duma positively <a href="https://ria.ru/20211124/taksi-1760475566.html?utm_source=yxnews" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">assessed</a> the proposal to introduce an experimental legal regime in Moscow for testing unmanned taxis.
</p>
    <p>
    At the end of August, it <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-soon-to-test-fully-autonomous-vehicles/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">was reported</a> that the testing of driverless vehicles without test engineers in the cabins will soon take place in Moscow.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-moskve-opredelili-140-ulits-dlia-testirovaniia-bespilotnikov/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russia)</a>
</p>

Gazeta.ru

140 Moscow Streets chosen for Piloting of Driverless Cars

Sberbank Completes the Deal of Selling its Stake in VK

    <p>
    The Skyeng language school will buy 25% of the Qmarketing Academy educational platform, and within a year it plans to increase its share to 100%, but the exact terms have not been determined.
</p>
    <p>
    The parties do not disclose the terms of the deal and the final shares. According to the sources of Kommersant newspaper, "<i>the assessment of 100% of the company could have amounted to 1-1.3 of the revenue of Qmarketing Academy, that is, taking into account the current indicators of 200-250 million rubles</i>."
</p>
    <p>
    According to the co-founder of Skyeng Khariton Matveyev, the acquisition of Qmarketing Academy will allow the online school to expand its presence in the segment of additional professional education. At the same time, the showcase and brand of Qmarketing Academy will remain, but Skyeng courses will be integrated into the program of the Skypro online university of digital professions.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Connect with</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hmatveev" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Khariton Matveev</a>, co-founder of Skyeng
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/skyeng/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Skyeng</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/qmarketing-academy/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Qmarketing Academy</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/skypro/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Skypro</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    Qmarketing Academy, which specializes in marketing and commercial design training, was founded in 2019. According to the company's own data, 2.5 thousand people are trained on the platform.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/onlain-shkola-skyeng-priobretet-25-obrazovatelnoi-platformy-qmarketing-academy/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Online School Skyeng to Acquire 25% of Education Platform Qmarketing Academy 

    <p>
    Yandex, in partnership with the Ministry for Digital Development, will make it possible to log into Yandex’s services through the Unified Identification and Authentication System (ESIA). Users will also be able to reject this authorization method.
</p>
    <p>
    Yandex experts note that ESIA can be useful in services “<i>where additional user identification is required to boost the security of transactions for sellers and buyers.”</i>
</p>
    <p>
    The Ministry for Digital Development plans to introduce access through ESIA and into other Internet services used in Russia, but the exact dates and the services are not mentioned.
</p>
    <p>
    On Wednesday, November 24, it was also <a href="https://tass.ru/ekonomika/13008039" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> that Auto.ru, HeadHunter and Cian launched authorization through ESIA. Avito will also introduce additional account identification through the ESIA. To log in the user has to have a confirmed account on the government services portal.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/esia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ESIA</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/avito/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Avito</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/auto-ru/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Avto.ru</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/headhunter/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">HedHunter</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/cian/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cian</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/iandeks-planiruet-vnedrit-vkhod-v-svoi-servisy-cherez-esia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Yandex Plans to Introduce Access to its Services via ESIA

    <p>
    Yandex has joined the international workgroup for the development of Matter, a unified protocol for a smart home.
</p>
    <p>
    It is assumed that the developed standard will be used in all countries and take into account their specifics. As a result, smart home systems should become compatible with various services and voice assistants.
</p>
    <p>
    According to the head of Yandex's smart devices division Sergey Melnik, "<i>over the past year, the number of users of the company's smart home has more than quadrupled</i>."
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Connect with</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ya.shuster" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sergey Melnik</a>, the Head of Yandex's Department of Smart Deviсes
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    Apple, Google and Amazon created the protocol at the end of 2019. At the moment, the workgroup includes more than 300 companies. The first devices based on Matter are expected in 2022.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/iandeks-prisoedinilsia-k-mezhdunarodnoi-gruppe-po-razrabotke-edinogo-protokola-dlia-umnogo-doma/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Yandex Joins Unified Smart Home Standard Matter

    <p>
    <a href="https://1c.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">1C Company</a> has acquired a controlling stake (51%) in the developer of online accounting for the banking sector AK in exchange for investment. The exact amount of funds raised has not been specified.
</p>
    <p>
    The investments will be used to launch a program to support the new tax regime for small businesses, which will take effect next year.
</p>
    <p>
    Tax accounting services produced by AK are used according to the white label model in the projects of Cifra from VTB, Modul Accounting from Modulbank.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/ak/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AK</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/1s-priobrela-kontrolnuiu-doliu-v-razrabotchike-onlain-bukhgalterii-ak/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

VC.ru

1C Company Acquires Controlling Stake at the Accounting Service AK 

    <p>
    The telemedicine service Doctis will buy out a controlling stake (51%) of the contract research company IPHARMA. The deal is expected to be closed by the end of 2021, its terms has not been disclosed.
</p>
    <p>
    The combined team will create a digital clinical research platform that will be part of the Doctis ecosystem. The service will provide an opportunity to organize communication between a patient and a doctor remotely. At the same time, the processing of the obtained data, their layout, comparison of research results will be carried out using artificial intelligence.
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <b>Product cards</b>
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/doctis/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Doctis</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/ipharma/" target="_blank">IPHARMA</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/telemeditsinskii-servis-doktis-vyidet-na-rynok-klinicheskikh-issledovanii-farmpreparatov/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Telemedicine Service Doctis to Enter Clinical Trials Market

Articles

Tech in Moscow

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ICT.Moscow  — Market in Brief

    <p>
    <i>The weekly observer of Moscow's tech stories</i>
</p>
<hr />
<h2>
    MARKET IN BRIEF
</h2>

<div>
    <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
         src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/052cdeff-c2a9-553a-bd6b-7a66d50ab589.png">
</div>
    <p class="grayText">
        <i>Source:&nbsp;Wikipedia</i>
    </p>

    <p>
    <br>
</p>
<ul>
    <li>Morgan Stanley <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/morgan-stanley-values-yandexs-driverless-company-at-7-billion-1/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Values</a> Yandex's Driverless Company at $7 Billion</li>
    <li>Cognitive Pilot <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/cognitive-pilot-brings-agricultural-drones-to-the-us-market/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brings</a> Agricultural Drones to the US Market </li>
    <li>ExoAtlet <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/cognitive-pilot-brings-agricultural-drones-to-the-us-market/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Gets</a> FDA Approval To Sell Medical Exoskeletons in the US </li>
</ul>

<ul>
    <li>Moscow Metro <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-metro-introduces-face-pay/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Introduces</a> Face Pay</li>
</ul>

<ul>
    <li>New Service for OTT Platforms <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/new-service-for-ott-platform-launched-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Launched</a> in Moscow</li>
</ul>

    <p>
    
</p>
<div class="incut-block incut-block-text-small-size">
            <p><b>GOV AGENDA</b></p>
            <p>Russia to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russia-to-increase-the-export-of-cloud-gaming-55-times-by-2030/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Increase</a> the Export of Cloud Gaming 55 times by 2030</p>
            <p>Russian Officials <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-officials-defined-ai-projects-for-government-support-program/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Defined</a> AI Projects for Government Support Program</p>
            <p>Telecoms in Russia <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/telecoms-in-russia-get-10-year-lte-license-renewal-with-new-requirements/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Get</a> 10-year LTE License Renewal with New Requirements</p>
    </div>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/" target="_blank"><b>More news →</b></a>
</p>
<hr />
<h2>
    INVESTMENT DEALS&nbsp;
</h2>

<ul>
    <li>Startup Evidently AI <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-startup-evidently-ai-raises-125-000-from-the-us-venture-fund-y-combinator/" target="_blank">Raises</a> $125,000 from the US Venture Fund Y Combinator </li>
    <li>Edtech Novakid <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/edtech-startup-novakid-raises-35-ml-to-enter-asian-markets/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Raises</a> $35 ml to Enter Asian Markets</li>
    <li>MTS <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-plans-to-purchase-foodtech-bartello/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Plans</a> to Purchase FoodTech Bartello </li>
</ul>

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

    <p>
    <i>researches, monitorings, reports and other analytics of Moscow and Russian IT market</i>
</p>
<ul>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/iot-spending-in-russia-in-2020/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">IDC</a>: IoT spending in Russia in 2020 →</li>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/express-delivery-market/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">DATA INSIGHT</a>: Russian express delivery market →</li>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/russian-market-of-5g-smartphones/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SVYAZNOY</a>: 5G smartphones market in Russia →</li>
</ul>

    <p>
    <br><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/" target="_blank"><b>More analytics →</b></a>
</p>
<hr />
<h2>
    KEY ACTORS IN IT
</h2>

    <p>
    <i>discover people who stand behind the innovative companies and projects in Moscow</i>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Ekaterina Bereziy</b>, CEO of ExoAtlet | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/katka.bereziy" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Danila Nikolaev</b>, Co-founder of Bortello | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/danila.nikolaev.5" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Olga Uskova</b>, CEO of Cognitive Pilot | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000826626015" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Ekaterina Mironova</b>, CEO of NUT.Tech | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinamironova/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Maxim Azarov</b>, CEO of NovaKid | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mazarov/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>
</p>
<hr />
<h2>
    MORE
</h2>

    <p>
    <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_NGgch0ymOajqNHadPVGsmjUvD1W5B6Z" target="_blank">Videos</a> from the fifth annual international summit ‘Machines Can See’ held by VisionLabs on July 8, 2021 that focused on human-centric technologies based on analysis of person's attributes without collecting and analyzing personal data. Leading experts in computer vision and machine learning discuss technology trends and share experience: Dima Damen, Efstratios Gavves, Bernard S. Ghanem, Ira Kemelmacher-Shlizerman, and Kris Kitani.
</p>
    <div>
        <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_NGgch0ymOajqNHadPVGsmjUvD1W5B6Z">
            <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
                 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/53f9beb6-8554-5e26-b9aa-40b77fab0e1e.png">
        </a>
    </div>

    <p>
    <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_NGgch0ymOajqNHadPVGsmjUvD1W5B6Z" style="" target="_blank"><b>Watch videos →</b></a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/?filterCategory=Tech-in-Moscow">Previous Tech in Moscow newsletters</a>
</p>

The weekly observer of Moscow's tech stories

ICT.Moscow

Tech in Moscow #26 (2 August - 6 August 2021)

    <p>
    <i>The weekly observer of Moscow's tech stories</i>
</p>
<hr />
<h2>
    MARKET IN BRIEF
</h2>

<div>
    <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
         src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/969a67bd-73ba-547a-ba4c-0d22a669bf4e.png">
</div>
    <p class="grayText">
        <i>Source:&nbsp;Christopher Schirner / Flickr</i>
    </p>

    <p>
    <br>
</p>
<ul>
    <li>Russia is the First Country <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russia-is-the-first-country-to-submit-un-cybersecurity-convention/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">to Submit</a> UN Cybersecurity Convention</li>
    <li>Gaming Courses <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/gaming-courses-to-be-introduced-to-russian-state-universities-programs/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">to Be Introduced</a> to Russian State Universities’ Programs</li>
    <li>Rostec <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/rostec-to-create-a-fund-for-investments-in-edtech-and-hr-tech/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">to Create</a> a Fund for Investments in EdTech and HR-Tech (Cards of <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Rostec" target="_blank">Rostec</a>)</li>
    <li>Yandex <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/plans-to-spend-650-ml-on-e-commerce/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Plans</a> to Spend $650 ml on E-Commerce (Cards of <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Yandex" target="_blank">Yandex</a>)</li>
    <li>Kaspersky Lab <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/kaspersky-lab-presents-a-system-for-real-time-recognition-from-drones/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Presents</a> a System for Real-Time Recognition from Drones (Cards of <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Kaspersky_Lab" target="_blank">Kaspersky Lab</a>)</li>
    <li>Blockchain-Based Time Capsule <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/blockchain-based-time-capsule-to-be-developed-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">to Be Developed</a> in Moscow</li>
</ul>

<div class="incut-block incut-block-text-small-size">
            <p><b>GOV AGENDA</b></p>
            <p>Digital Assets Operators <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/digital-assets-operators-create-association-in-russia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Create</a> Association in Russia</p>
            <p>Subsidies for Driverless <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/subsidies-for-driveless-testing-in-russia-prolong-for-2022/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Testing</a> in Russia Prolong for 2022</p>
            <p>Russia’s Major Banks <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russias-major-banks-plan-to-join-unified-biometric-system/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">To Join</a> Unified Biometric System</p>
    </div>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/" style="" target="_blank"><b>More news →</b></a>
</p>
<hr />
<h2>
    INVESTMENT DEALS&nbsp;AND FINANCIAL REPORTS
</h2>

<ul>
    <li>MTS <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-acquires-controlling-stake-in-factorin/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Acquires</a> Controlling Stake in Factorin (Card of <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/factorin/" target="_blank">Factorin</a>)</li>
    <li>Edtech Uchi.ru <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/edtech-uchi-ru-buys-a-share-in-tutoronline/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Buys</a> a Share in TutorOnline (Card of <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/tutoronline/" target="_blank">TutorOnline</a>)</li>
    <li>Teachbase Edtech <a href="http://ict.moscow/en/news/teachbase-raised-investment-for-scaling/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">raised</a> Investment </li>
    <li>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">Upgraded</a> its Revenue Forecast for 2021 to $4.6 billion</li>
    <li>Mail.ru <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mail-ru-posts-17-4-growth-in-second-quarter-2021-revenue/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Posts</a> 17.4% Growth in Second Quarter 2021 Revenue</li>
</ul>

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

    <p>
    <i>researches, monitorings, reports and other analytics of Moscow and Russian IT market</i>
</p>
<ul>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/internet-infrastructure-of-russia-during-the-pandemic/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">HIGHER SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS</a>: Internet infrastructure of Russia during the pandemic →</li>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/smart-home-device-market-in-the-first-half-of-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">M.VIDEO-ELDORADO</a>: Smart home device market in the first half of 2021 →</li>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/the-dynamics-of-emergence-of-new-software-companies-in-russia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">RUSSOFT</a>: The dynamics of emergence of new software companies in Russia →</li>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/results-of-the-analysis-of-the-security-of-russian-companies/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ROSTELECOM-SOLAR</a>: Results of the analysis of the security of Russian companies <b>→</b></li>
</ul>

    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/" target="_blank"><b>More analytics →</b></a>
</p>
<hr />
<h2>
    DIGITAL SOLUTIONS FROM MOSCOW
</h2>

    <p>
    <i>a showcase of some </i><b><i>EduTech solutions</i></b>
</p>
<ul>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/uchi-ru/" target="_blank">Uchi.ru</a></li>
</ul>

    <p>
    The education online platform used by the students of first grade through eleventh grade for studying school subjects in an entertaining manner.
</p>
<ul>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/tutoronline/" target="_blank">TutorOnline</a></li>
</ul>

    <p>
    Online school that makes it possible to study mathematics and Russian, physics and chemistry, as well as foreign languages, programming, probability theory and other sciences
</p>
<ul>
    <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/getcourse/" target="_blank">GetCourse</a></li>
</ul>

    <p>
    Online learning platform
</p>
    <p>
    
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=education" target="_blank"><b>More solutions  →</b></a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    
</p>
<h2>
    KEY ACTORS IN IT
</h2>

    <p>
    <i>discover people who stand behind the innovative companies and projects in Moscow</i>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Ilya Parshin</b>, CEO of Uchi.ru | <a href="https://ru.linkedin.com/in/ilya-parshin-034129a8" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Andrey Maklin</b>, Founder of Factorin  | <a href="https://ru.linkedin.com/in/amaklin" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Svetlana Demyashkevich, </b>Chief Financial Officer at Yandex  | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/svetlana-demyashkevich-57508b1" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>
</p>
    <p>
    <b>Vasily Maguryan, </b>Chief Executive Officer at MY.GAMES | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vmaguryan" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>
</p>
<hr />
    <p>
    <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/?filterCategory=Tech-in-Moscow">Previous Tech in Moscow newsletters</a>
</p>

Tech in Moscow #25 (26 - 30 July 2021)

Review of CityTech services landscape worldwide and particularly in Moscow

CityTech: a fresh approach to digital services for residents of big cities

    <p>
    The idea of ​​creating the “National video surveillance platform” information system <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-rossii-obsuzhdaetsia-sozdanie-edinoi-sistemy-videonabliudeniia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">is being discussed</a> in Russia. The system will unite city video surveillance systems throughout the country and become a unified framework for analyzing incoming video data. The model in which cameras will be equipped with computing modules and independently recognize and record incidents, and only after that send the video stream to data centers, will be taken as the basis for the system.
</p>
<h2>
    <b>Pros and cons</b><b></b>
</h2>

    <p>
    The technique, where surveillance cameras with built-in “on-board” video analytics modules are responsible for primary video processing before sending it to the server, is called “edge analytics” - product director of Ivideon, a cloud surveillance systems developer, Zaur Abutalimov explains. In general, experts mentioned both advantages and disadvantages of this approach.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    If we speak about the advantages,
first of all, the use of such a system reduces the load on servers. Secondly,
in the long term, this approach can help reduce the operational costs of both
the data center and communication channels. Thirdly, the video surveillance and
video analytics systems are being accelerated, they become faster. This is
achieved due to the fact that the video stream comes to the camera directly
from the matrix, it is not compressed or additionally processed.
        </p>
                        <p>
                    
        </p>
                        <p>
                    
        </p>
                        <p>
                    
        </p>
                        <p>
                    
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Zaur Abutalimov" src="https://ict.moscow/static/30a26b46-6786-5ddf-b7a7-ca06d82092d5.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Zaur Abutalimov
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Product director of Ivideon</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    Other market participants have given similar arguments.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    If we consider video cameras networks at the regional level, the introduction of AI cameras will have a cumulative effect on the speed of response processing and will help to save money on the volume of storage on the central node.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Igor Afonin" src="https://ict.moscow/static/51464563-1398-51d6-891c-dec320af5d30.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Igor Afonin
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Director of Multimedia Center and Situation Centers, “T1 Integration”</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    Despite the higher cost of such cameras, the cost of equipment in the data center will decrease, and in the long term and in case of scaling, the project can be cost-effective.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    The proposed solution will significantly increase the number of cameras and reduce the cost of the entire system.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Nikita Mokhnatkin" src="https://ict.moscow/static/e238e1c6-eb0b-54d6-9fa7-2e03f2f17afa.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Nikita Mokhnatkin
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Head of the information systems security sector, Innopolis University</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    Moreover, since the decision to transmit the video signal to the control center will be made by the camera itself, the recognition algorithms must ensure the highest accuracy in detecting illegal actions, Mokhnatkin points out. However, today, according to ISS, it is still too early to talk about it.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    So far, the computing resources of the cameras are not sufficient for the operation of complex video analytics algorithms or complex solutions, where identification of an incident is based on the result of processing data from several video analytics detectors. Thus, the use of video analytics is limited to simple detectors, for example, “abandoned objects”, “object counting”, “line crossing”, “face detection”, etc. Server analytics allows to implement much more flexible and complex solutions.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    ISS
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Press service</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    Nevertheless, the company representatives add that the quality of processing by built-in video analytics algorithms “on board” the camera can still be higher, and it can be feasible to use the system if narrow data transmission channels are available, or during short-term projects, for example, at public events (festivals, concerts, etc. etc.).
</p>
    <p>
    Market participants mentioned information security risks, the inability to conduct retrospective video analysis, the use of video from one camera to detect different types of incidents, and the necessity to use the products of certain vendors among the main disadvantages of using cameras with computing modules.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    Another challenge in using such devices is the need to modernize and update the databases in each of them. For example, in a conventional video surveillance system, it is enough to replace one camera with another with similar or superior characteristics and, if necessary, separately improve the server capacity - the data will be processed in the data center regardless of which source sent it. But this is not the case with a smart camera.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Pavel Lobanovsky" src="https://ict.moscow/static/1ad8b081-04c6-5f5c-b440-3d320142dd98.png">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Pavel Lobanovsky
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Expert of the engineering systems unit of the IT outsourcing department, KORUS Consulting Group</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    
</p>
    <p>
    The proposed model has both positive and negative features, so it can be assumed that hybrid solutions will be preferable.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    Speaking about the national video surveillance platform, it is necessary to take into account the fact that a huge number of video surveillance networks using cameras with different functionalities have already been deployed in the regions. What approach can prevail in this case is not very clear yet. I believe that a hybrid option will most likely be chosen - in this case new networks will use AI cameras when the need arises, and old networks will be integrated via cheaper communication channels with the central core of the platform.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Igor Afonin" src="https://ict.moscow/static/40f306d4-2f61-5c8b-8c38-c505a3e12d3b.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Igor Afonin
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Director of Multimedia Center and Situation Centers, “T1 Integration”</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    
</p>
    <p>
    Alexander Sivolobov from Skoltech believes that there is no alternative to smart IP cameras. But in this context the question is what functionality will be entrusted to the cameras, and what functions will be performed by centralized data centers.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    It is most likely that the main question will be what kind of architecture the solution will have. Probably, it will be a divided unit, where there will be a separate camera from a well-known manufacturer, and next to it there will be a small server with a system for recognizing faces, cars, etc.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Alexander Sivolobov" src="https://ict.moscow/static/92fd8dd5-2331-5233-9484-87638224f7dc.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Alexander Sivolobov
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Deputy Head of the Skoltech-based NTI Center of Excellence in Wireless Technologies and the Internet of Things</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
<h2>
    <b>Security issues</b><b></b>
</h2>

    <p>
    Information security risks - possible data leaks and unauthorized access by intruders - are the most widely discussed issue of the potential use of cameras with computing modules.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    It is true that additional information security risks are emerging. Smart cameras will be of much greater interest to cybercriminals: the cameras will probably contain confidential data, ranging from the accounts using which they will be connected to the data center to provide remote control or to download updated databases, which will be used for search, to the data itself and the software.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Sergey Nenakhov" src="https://ict.moscow/static/4f8e9447-8188-5306-8dd6-ddf11358a2a7.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Sergey Nenakhov
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Head of information security audit department, Infosecurity (a Softline Company)</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    
</p>
    <p>
    Special attention is paid to the potential risks of compromising biometric data.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    The use of biometric data is becoming more popular, however, in my opinion, protective measures for the collection, storage and processing of such data are not enough. Today, the only good thing that protects us from large-scale incidents is the fact that biometric data is used just as an additional security factor.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Sergey Zolotukhin" src="https://ict.moscow/static/50bd80d1-9c76-5b88-8ab3-e18376adc59e.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Sergey Zolotukhin
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Information security specialist, Group-IB</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    Sergey Nenakhov from Softline believes that due to the relative physical accessibility of individual devices it will be necessary to pay special attention to protecting channels of communication with the data center, and protecting data on the device, for example, using encryption. Andrey Arsentiev from InfoWatch Group says that cybercriminals will be interested in the data in central storages. According to the expert, it will be necessary “to implement measures to protect data from copying and transmission by internal violators”.
</p>
    <p>
    Nikita Mokhnatkin from Innopolis University has a different point of view. He believes that the proposed model is more secure.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    The decentralized architecture will ensure information security of personal data. It is easier to protect one server than hundreds of cameras. At the same time, if the intruders manage to hack a classic data center, they will get access to all information at once, and in the case of separate surveillance cameras only a small part of information will be available to violators.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Nikita Mokhnatkin" src="https://ict.moscow/static/973ea9c7-6995-59d0-8976-c02b25f3c78d.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Nikita Mokhnatkin
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Head of the information systems security sector, Innopolis University</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    
</p>
<h2>
    <b>Experience of the first ones</b><b></b>
</h2>

    <p>
    Global surveillance systems are being implemented all over the world, they are widely used in Asian countries. But the use of cameras with built-in computing modules will be an innovation.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    I am not aware of any significant experience in using such systems. The implementation of advanced technologies for detecting illegal actions is “at the cutting edge” of technologies, these are the latest scientific achievements, and it will not be possible to “adopt someone’s experience”. These are innovations, and in this case Russia is in the first echelon.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Nikita Mokhnatkin" src="https://ict.moscow/static/56937e4d-06dc-5716-961a-3ab4f9f5e945.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Nikita Mokhnatkin
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Head of the information systems security sector, Innopolis University</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    
</p>
    <p>
    Both ISS and T1 Integration representatives mention this point.
</p>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    I have not seen materials on the implementation of large video surveillance systems using AI cameras with a detailed description of the functionality in the open sources.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                    <div class="quote-owner__logo">
                <img alt="Igor Afonin" src="https://ict.moscow/static/3c081c93-e7b7-5c69-85bc-00aebbf4bbc6.jpeg">
            </div >
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    Igor Afonin
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Director of Multimedia Center and Situation Centers, “T1 Integration”</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
<div class="incut-block ">
                        <p class="quote-icon">
                    It seems like we have not seen similar projects, which have been maintained for a long time after launch.
        </p>
        <div class="quote-owner">
                <div>
            <p class="quote-owner__title">
                                    ISS
                            </p>
                            <p class="quote-owner__description">Press service</p>
                    </div>
    </div>
</div>
    <p>
    However, Zaur Abutalimov from Ivideon notes that the use of cameras with built-in video analytics modules in local projects is <i>“a worldwide practice for Safe City projects, which has already replaced the outdated continuous streaming method, which is less secure due to possible failures resulting from increased load on the network and servers”</i>. The expert mentions the example of <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/are-you-ready-for-facial-recognition-at-the-airport-11565775008" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">using</a> facial recognition at the check-in counters in US airports, and the example of <a href="https://www.tadviser.ru/index.php/%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82:%D0%A1%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%BF%D1%83%D1%80_%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%BC_%D0%B2_%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B5_%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BF%D1%83%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BB_%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D1%83%D1%8E_%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BC%D1%83_%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%86_%D0%B4%D0%BB%D1%8F_%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">using</a> technology for identification in Singapore.
</p>
    <p>
    In other words, edge analytics technology is currently used only in local projects in some countries and is at the initial stage of development. The implementation of such a video surveillance project at the national level may set a great precedent on the world stage.
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/reaktsiia-otrasli-v-rossii-obsuzhdaiut-sozdanie-edinoi-sistemy-videonabliudeniia/" target="_blank">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Experts — about the advantages and disadvantages of the “National video surveillance platform”

The creation of a unified video surveillance system is being discussed in Russia

Smart assistants in Russia: market overview, trends and prospects

    <p>
    ICT.Moscow jointly with the Moscow Government launches the <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/projects/smartcitymoscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Smart City Moscow</a> section. It includes information on 68 Moscow projects in the field of "smart cities",  which is published in English for the first time. Project include <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/projects/smartcitymoscow/case/5g-demo-center/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">5G Demo Center,</a> <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/projects/smartcitymoscow/case/experimental-legal-regime-in-the-field-of-ai/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">an experimental legal regime in the field of AI</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/projects/smartcitymoscow/case/analysis-of-radiology-images-using-ai" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">analysis of radiological images using AI</a> and others. 
</p>
    <p>
    All projects are divided into the following "smart city" categories: human and social capital, digital government, urban environment, urban economy, end-to-end technologies, digital technologies and communications. Each project includes description, key results, and an indication of relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals.
</p>
    <p>
    The following materials are also included in the section:&nbsp;
</p>
<ul>
    <li>a selection of more than 600 open data sets on urban infrastructure facilities</li>
</ul>

<ul>
    <li>more than 30 sets of data collected by the Department of Prospective Projects of the IT Department of Moscow Government according to ISO37120 and U4SSC international standards</li>
</ul>

<ul>
    <li>news, research, monitoring, reports and other "smart city" analytics</li>
</ul>

    <p>
    This section will be useful for foreign companies, governments and analysts to study the Moscow practices and look for new ideas for their projects. The section will be regularly updated in the future.&nbsp;
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/na-ict-moscow-dostupen-pervyi-angloiazychnyi-katalog-moskovskikh-reshenii-smart-city/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

ICT.Moscow launches the first English-language catalog of Moscow smart city solutions

    <p>
    An international version of the blockchain tech base<a href="https://ict.moscow/en/projects/blockchain/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> has become available</a> at ICT.Moscow. The new section presents 52 Russian practices of technology application in various fields. Practices of the Federal Tax Service of Russia, Sberbank, Norilsk Nickel, the Moscow Government, Rostelecom, Kaspersky Lab, Russian Railways, S7 Airlines, M.Video, Megafon and others are included in the section.<br>
</p>
    <p>
    For ease of study, all practices are divided into several categories: FinTech, Public sector, Industry and Energy, Logistics and Transport, Retail, MedTech, E-document flow, EdTech, HR-Tech, Real estate and other. Most of the cases are presented in the areas of FinTech - 16 and Public sector - 13.<br>
</p>
    <p>
    Cards with descriptions of blockchain solutions developed by Moscow developers, and market analytics are also available in the new section.
</p>
    <p>
    Project will be useful for analysts and smart city experts, as well as developers of blockchain projects to find new scenarios and partnerships. In the future, the blockchain tech base will be regularly updated with new cases.<br>
</p>
    <p>
    
</p>
    <p>
    <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/na-ict-moscow-zapushchena-mezhdunarodnaia-versiia-bazy-znanii-o-blokcheine/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>
</p>

Tech base contains 52 Russian cases of technology application