Open Innovations: Russia, a Story on Expanding Boundaries of "Digital Economy"

Russia is moving on the fast lane, when it comes to embracing digitization and enabling digital services for its citizens. The country is working on a Digital Russia 2024 plan. 

The second day of the Open Innovations Forum began with the presentation of the National Digital Economy Program. It was attended by Maxim Akimov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation; Konstantin Noskov, Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation; German Gref, President and Chairman of the Board of Sberbank; Elena Bunina, General Director of Yandex in Russia.

Russia regularly makes new decisions for the development of digitalization. Its success, among other things, depends on technological progress. That is why current trends in the constant focus of Russian experts.

During the presentation of the national program, Maxim Akimov spoke about the main areas of the digital economy:

“Two key things we will work on are the creation of a National Data Architecture, it must meet the needs of the parties and the state. We also need to work on data regulation. What used to be expensive now may not cost anything, but what we considered to be insignificant has become valuable. The digital economy has taken place, but it’s important how we manage it. ”

According to Konstantin Noskov, in this regard, the duty of the state is to create conditions so that each person or organization can connect to broadband Internet.

“Within 6 years we will move on to provide most of the state services via the Internet. The national program is the core of the development of other industries. Including health care and education. ” He added.

German Gref believes that services should be customized as much as possible, because today people do not want to use mass services, they like personal services.

As a result of its effort to create innovative digital solutions, today Russia is a front runner when it comes to deployment of digital technologies and accessing internet. The whole territory of Russia is covered with fixed mobile and satellite networks - enabling ease of internet use for its citizens.