Business programme

In a world dominated by two competing tech superpowers – China and the US – many countries are struggling to secure technological sovereignty and maintain a sufficient foundation to continue their own scientific and technological development. Russia – like Germany, France, Japan, Brazil, India, Turkey, and others – is faced with a strategic challenge between joining one of the two main hubs, or attempting to build their own standards and systems. Decisions regarding technological direction, planning, and integration pathways will be among the biggest faced over the coming 20–30 years. Furthermore, cooperation in the tech sphere is becoming a key aspect of international relations. Russia, like other countries, is set to build a next-generation digital infrastructure, and is in a position to do so in cooperation with its partners, emphasizing open global standards and platforms. In forging scientific and technological alliances, Russia has the opportunity to move towards achieving technological independence, which will be key to building trust and making the digital environment more secure. What needs to be done to facilitate exports of Russian technologies and know-how? What should be Russia’s global technology strategy, and how should institutions operate in pursing the country’s goals? What steps could the government take to support Russian companies, build experience, and increase lobbying resources, which pale in comparison to those of international competitors? And what could be the government’s role in developing new technological standards and market norms and rules?

Moderator
Andrey Bezrukov, President, Technological Sovereignty Exports Association; Professor, Department of Applied International Analysis, MGIMO University

Andrey Bezrukov

President, Technological Sovereignty Exports Association; Professor, Department of Applied International Analysis, MGIMO University

Andrey Bezrukov currently serves as Associate Professor at MGIMO - the preeminent Russian school of Foreign Service. He is also an Advisor to the CEO of “Rosneft” – the largest public oil company in terms of reserves and production.
Among his areas of focus are geopolitics, information security, future studies and international corporate strategy, with particular interest in USA and Eurasia.
Prior to working for “Rosneft” Andrey Bezrukov had a career with Russian government and international consulting companies. He has lived and worked in the USA, Canada and France.
Andrey holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, an MBA from the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussees in France, a degree in International Economics from Canada and a degree in History from Tomsk University.
Andrey Bezrukov is an author of books and articles on strategy, international relations and future studies. He is a Member of the Presidium of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy and an expert of the Valdai Club. He regularly appears on the most watched Russian news programs.

Panellists
Mikhail Kovalchuk, President, National Research Centre ‘Kurchatov Institute’
Alok Kumar, Chairman, Akis Tech Ltd.
Valentin Makarov, President, Russoft Association
Thi Thu Giang Nguyen, Vice Chairwoman, Secretary General, Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (online)
Valery Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation
Andrey Fursenko, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation
Aleksander Yakovenko, Rector, The Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia

Mikhail Kovalchuk

President, National Research Centre ‘Kurchatov Institute’

Alok Kumar

Chairman, Akis Tech Ltd.

Valentin Makarov

President, Russoft Association

Makarov Valentin was born 16.04.1955 in Leningrad, Russia. Graduated from the Leningrad Aircraft Instrumentation Institute in 1978, in 1978-1985 he had been working in the Defense Industry. In 1985 entered the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute. Since “perestroika” time he has got good experience of organizing international cooperation (1988-1992 – secretary in the Russian Delegation to UNESCO, in 1996-2000 as deputy Chairman of International relations’ Committee of Administration of St Petersburg). He has also got extended managerial experience in private business (1992-1996 – in Interprivatization Foundation and in the EuroConseil Rusian-French JV consulting company).
President of RUSSOFT Association (earlier Fort Ross) since its foundation on 9.9.99, he has been organizer of lobbying campaigns in the Government and Chairman of numerous IT-events in Russia and abroad (RUSSOFT Forum, Software Outsourcing Summit, Mobile Software Forum, Russian IT-seasons). Chief-editor of the annual Russian export software industry survey since its beginning in 2003. Representative of Russian IT Association (APKIT) in WITSA in 2004-2006, 2012. Invited speaker at numerous international conferences and author of dozens of articles on IT in Russia.

Valery Falkov

Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation

Born 18 October 1978 in Tyumen, Russia.
1995–2003 – Studied Law at the University of Tyumen, PhD in Law.
2003–2012 – Occupied various positions (Department Head, Deputy Director of the Institute of State and Law, Vice-Rector for Additional Education, Director of the Institute of Law, Economics, and Management) at the University of Tyumen.
2012–2020 – Rector of the University of Tyumen.
2006–2013 – Member of the Tyumen Region Election Commission with a casting vote.
2009–2011 – Chairman of the Tyumen Region Council of Young Scholars and Specialists.
2013–2016 – Deputy of the Tyumen City Duma, Chairman of the Standing Commission for Urban Development and Land Use.
2016–2020 – Deputy of the Tyumen Regional Duma, Chairman of the Committee on Social Policy.
2015–2020 – Council of University Rectors of Tyumen Region.
21 January 2020 – Appointed Minister of Science and Higher Education by the President of the Russian Federation.
Awards and Honours:
Certificate of Honour from the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation (2003); Tyumen Regional Duma Honorary Badge (2009); Certificate of Honour from the Governor of Tyumen Region (2013); Diploma from the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of Russian Federation (2014); Certificate of Appreciation from the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Ural Federal District (2015); Certificate of Appreciation from the Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (2017).

Andrey Fursenko

Aide to the President of the Russian Federation

Born on July 17, 1949, in Leningrad (now St Petersburg). 1971 – graduated from Zhdanov Leningrad State University; Doctor of Physics and Mathematics. 1971-1991 – junior researcher, laboratory head, deputy director for research, leading researcher at the Ioffe Physical Technical Institute of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, Leningrad. 1991-1993 – Vice President of Advanced Technology Centre, St Petersburg. 1994-2001 – Director of Regional Foundation for Scientific and Technological Development, St Petersburg. From 2000 – Chairman of the Academic Council of the Centre for Strategic Research North-West Foundation. 2001-2002 – Deputy Minister of Industry, Science and Technology of the Russian Federation. From June 2002 – First Deputy Minister of Industry, Science and Technology of the Russian Federation. From December 2003 – Acting Minister of Industry, Science and Technology of the Russian Federation. March 9, 2004 – appointed Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. Since May 21, 2012 – Aide to the President of the Russian Federation. State award – Honorary Diploma of the Government of the Russian Federation.