How ITSF-2021 Went: a New Format, Top Headliners, 100+ Key Players in the IT Market

’This year, we have decided to change the event’s format, making it more intimate. This decision was due to the epidemiological situation in the country. The very fact that we are able to gather in this hall today is already a great success in itself’, said Victor Dyachkov, Chairman of the Board of ICL Group, in his welcoming speech. ’Today, ITSF is attended by our key clients and partners, and I’m sure that we are all ready to synergise our ideas, goals, objectives and strategies. It is important that we discuss together the changes that have taken place and are taking place in the Russian and global IT markets, make our predictions concerning future global changes that will take place in the next 5–10 years and determine how businesses can prepare for them to increase their efficiency.’

Traditionally, the plenary session serves as a formal opening to the forum. It was attended by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Vasily Shpak, Minister of Digitalisation of Public Administration, IT and Communications of the Republic of Tatarstan Airat Khairullin, Deputy Director for Information Security of Lenta LLC Dmitry Gladchenko, IT Director of Avtovaz JSC Pascal Barbier, General Director of Voskhod Research Institute Andrey Badalov, Head of Huawei Public Contracts Dmitry Bedarev, Managing Director of Terrasoft Aleksey Klochkov and Head of ICL Group Victor Dyachkov.

A key topic of the plenary discussion was Global IT Changes in People’s Minds, Life and Business. The experts discussed key trends in the development of the IT sector in the upcoming years, which included the intensification of the introduction of AI technologies in various sectors of the economy, the use of Big Data capabilities, increased control in cybersecurity, the development of the Internet of Things and import substitution, among other topics. The speakers also discussed how innovative technologies help build new effective models for business processes, accomplishing national objectives etc.

For instance, the head of the Digitalisation Ministry spoke on Tatarstan’s experience in carrying out a digital transformation of its governmental structure, digitalising services to make them more convenient for residents and businesses, as well as creating digital platforms that help make the lives of its citizens more convenient and comfortable.

He noted that the introduction of digital technologies carries both great potential and new risks. First and foremost, this concerns the growth of cybercrime, possible job losses caused by automation and the reinforcement of ’clip thinking’, among other things. According to the minister, this process raises a number of ethical issues, such as the violation of people’s privacy. ’Nevertheless, the future belongs to IT technologies, and we hope that Tatarstan will be among the first to enter this future’, Airat Khairullin concluded.

Over the course of the day, the forum also hosted lectures and discussions with top headliners: famous Russian big data specialist, founder of Social Data Hub Artur Khachuyan, Russian futurist Danila Medvedev, business angel and expert in digital business transformation and effective team building Vladimir Marinovich, independent expert and business consultant on information security Aleksey Lukatsky.

At round tables moderated by media representatives and business partners of ICL Group, experts discussed the development of the digital economy, insourcing and outsourcing, cybersecurity, import substitution and smart enterprise strategies.

In addition, the forum hosted an exhibition showcasing IT solutions from key vendors and partners of ICL Group that featured advanced solutions from global and domestic manufacturers working in the field of digital technologies. ICL Group had a dedicated stand with its own solutions, services and equipment as well. This allowed all participants of the conference to get expert advice and find a suitable solution for their business’s needs.
As usual, the event was supported by partners of ICL Group. This year, these included Huawei (platinum partner), Terrasoft (gold partner), Kod Bezopasnosti (silver partner), Fortinet (bronze partner), Schneider Electric (special partner), Aruba (special partner), DeviceLock DLP, Pure Storage, Rostelecom-Solar, Check Point, Microsoft, MONT, Astra Linux and Baikal Electronics (demo zone partners), Marvel Distribution, OCS Distribution and Treolan.