The SME Forum

The IT industry is actively addressing the challenges posed by the digital transformation of the Russian economy. As foreign vendors withdraw, it creates a stimulus for the development of new IT solutions and the enhancement of existing ones. Consequently, Russia has emerged as one of the top three global leaders in the adoption of fintech services. Domestic IT companies have gained confidence in their capabilities and are prepared to meet the demands of consumers, not only within Russia but also internationally. The increasing demand for Russian software serves as a catalyst to tackle ambitious tasks and venture into niches previously dominated by other players, including those in countries open to collaboration with Russia in the field of information technology. Are there export opportunities for the Russian IT business? Is the small IT business ready for exports? Is there a demand for Russian IT solutions overseas? What state support measures exist for exporting Russian digital solutions? How can intellectual property be protected abroad? What are the projections for the future of Russian IT product exports?

Moderator
Alexey Zharkov, TV journalist, TRK Russian World

Alexey Zharkov

TV journalist, TRK Russian World

Panellists
Elena Volotovskaya, Vice President for Investments at Softline; Head of Softline Venture Partners
Dmitry Dyrmovsky, Chief Executive Officer, Speech Technology Center
Maxim Parshin, Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation
Alexander Svinin, Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Indonesia (online)
Vladimir Troyanovsky, Deputy General Director, National Payment Card System

Elena Volotovskaya

Vice President for Investments at Softline; Head of Softline Venture Partners

Dmitry Dyrmovsky

Chief Executive Officer, Speech Technology Center

Was born in 1979 in Mirny, Arkhangelsk Region. In 1996, he graduated from the Specialized Educational Scientific Centre at Novosibirsk State University. Then studied at the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy under the program of training engineers in high-tech areas. He graduated in 2001, received a diploma with honors and a gold medal.
Dmitry Dyrmovsky has been working at Speech Technology Center since 2004. In 2007, he was appointed the head of the company’s Moscow branch. Since 2013, he is Chief Executive Officer of the Speech Technology Center. In 2014, he graduated from the Executive course at the IMD Business School (Switzerland).
Vice-President of the National Association of Contact Centers. Member of the Board of Directors, Russian Software Products Association «Russian Software». Member of the Expert Council on software of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation.

Maxim Parshin

Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation

Born on July 23, 1976 in Mytishchi, Moscow Region. In 1998, Mr. Parhin graduated from Moscow State University and, in 2001, he completed a post-graduate course. In 2008, he graduated from the International Institute of International Business under the Russian Foreign Trade Academy (MBA).2002–2013: deputy division director, division director and then deputy department director at the Russian Ministry for Economic Development.2013: He was appointed Deputy General Director of FSUE Mail of Russia.2014–2015: Deputy Director, Federal Service for Labour and Employment. 2016–2018 — Head of the Department for the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses and Competition of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. Maxim Parshin was awarded the Certificate of Honour of the Government of the Russian Federation. On August 16, 2018 was appointed to the position of Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation.

Alexander Svinin

Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Indonesia

Date of birth: January 4th, 1988Place of birth: Syktyvkar, Komi RepublicEducation: National Research University Higher School of Economics Sankt Petersburg, Master in Public AdministrationBiography Alexander Svinin was born and grew up in Syktyvkar, the capital of the Komi Republic. In 2005 he was admitted to the Saint Petersburg State University of Engineering and Economics and in 2009 he graduated with the Bachelor’s degree. Two years later, in 2011, he graduated from the National Research University Higher School of Economics Sankt Petersburg with the Master’s degree in Public Administration.CareerAlexander has started his career path in the human resources department of the Leningrad Optical Mechanical Association.In 2007 he came as an assistant to the Kelly Services, and then was promoted to the consultant role.From 2010 to 2011 he worked as a consultant in the ANKOR. In 2012 he launched his own company Smart Start that aims to help the recent graduates to find a job through the social networks.In 11 months Smart Start had more than 45,000 students from 20 regions of Russia registered, and more than 350 companies placing their vacancies in the application. In 2012 Alexander was elected as member of the board of “Opora Rossii”.In 2015 he became an assistant of the Secretary of the Civic Chamber.Also, in 2015 he became the head of the project “Perspectiva”, launched by the Civic Chamber.In 2015 he headed the “Perspectiva” fund, the grantee of the presidential grants.In 2017 he became an Economic Counselor of the Head of the Udmurt Republic.Then in 2017 he was appointed to the acting First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Udmurt Republic.Since 2017 he is the First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Udmurt Republic. From November 2020 - Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Singapore.

Vladimir Troyanovsky

Deputy General Director, National Payment Card System

Front row participants
Vasil Gazizulin, Founder, Managing Partner, TopFranchise.ru
Alexander Zakordonets, Development Director, Scanport
Anna Nikitchenko, Vice President, National Institute for Systems Research on Entrepreneurship
Igor Kheresh, Asset Management and M&A Director, RTK-Solar

Vasil Gazizulin

Founder, Managing Partner, TopFranchise.ru

Anna Nikitchenko

Vice President, National Institute for Systems Research on Entrepreneurship

From 2011 to 2018 - Deputy General Director, General Director of O2Consulting, since 2012 - Project Manager, since 2018 -Vice-President, National Institute for System Study of Entrepreneurship (NISSE).
Since 2009, she has completed as curator and performer over 100 consulting projects in the areas of digitalization and investment climate for supranational regulatory bodies, federal and regional authorities the authorities of the Russian Federation, the Government of Moscow, major corporations, subjects of innovation infrastructure and development institutions.
She graduated from the economics department of the Moscow State University. Mv Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU), has passed the program to improve qualifications "Corporate Governance" of the Moscow State University.

Igor Kheresh

Asset Management and M&A Director, RTK-Solar