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Digital Transformation of Key Industries to Be Discussed at SPIEF

Digital Transformation of Key Industries to Be Discussed at SPIEF

The ‘Technologies Shaping the Future’ track of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will feature three sessions devoted to the digital transformation of economic sectors.

One of the main sessions with this focus will be devoted to digital technologies in industry. Russia has set the goal of increasing non-resource and non-energy exports to USD 250 billion per year by 2024. The digital transformation of industry is seen as key tool for its implementation and will result in the increased competitiveness of Russian products and the country’s integration into global commodity chains. Increased labour productivity is another anticipated result of digitalization. In modern Russia, labour productivity amounts to roughly USD 26 per hour, which is three times less than in Germany and the United States, and two times lower than the OECD average. The session will be moderated by Digital Economy General Director Yevgeny Kovnir and will feature the following participants: Skolkovo Foundation Chairman of the Board Viktor Vekselberg, Norilsk Nickel President and Chairman of the Management Board Vladimir Potanin, Ericsson President and CEO Borje Ekholm, and Nokia Solutions and Networks Senior Vice President for Europe Jan Van Tetering, among others.

The ‘Digital Subsoil Use’ session will answer the question of why the digitalization of subsoil use is important for Russia today. Geological exploration is a strategic industry on which Russia's economic development depends. The potential economic effect of the Russian economy’s digitalization could increase the country’s GDP up to RUB 8.9 trillion, which amounts to 34% of total expected GDP growth. The session will be moderated by Rosgeology General Director and Chairman of the Executive Board Sergey Gorkov. The panellists include: Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dmitry Kobylkin, Russian Academy of Sciences President Alexander Sergeyev, and InfoWatch President Natalya Kasperskaya, Chairman, Managing Director of Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited Hemant Kanoria, among others. 

“The introduction of modern technologies will provide a new impetus to the development of geological exploration – a strategic sector on which our country’s prosperity depends”, Sergey Gorkov said.

The issue of cybersecurity will be discussed during the session ‘Digital Frontiers: By Limiting Cyberspace Are We Limiting Opportunities?’ Along with the widespread digitalization of processes and all sectors of the economy, new technological challenges and threats are emerging. Information has become the most valuable and vulnerable asset, and nowadays not only the state, but major companies as well are becoming responsible for the security of their customers in the digital environment. As the free Internet develops, more and more digital boundaries are being built to protect users in cyberspace. What awaits us in the future – segmented Internet or carte blanche? What does a safe and transparent digital world look like? And do we have a chance to achieve it? These questions will be discussed by the session participants, including Kaspersky Lab General Director Eugene Kaspersky and MTS President Alexey Kornya. The session will be moderated by Sberbank Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board Stanislav Kuznetsov.

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