Events programme

6th Meeting of the Russia-ASEAN Dialogue on ICT Security-Related Issues

• Hall 3 LEBEDEV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Rapid digitalization has covered almost all of humanity, including Russia and the ASEAN countries. The Internet, cashless payments, unmanned vehicles, and cloud data storage have made everyday life easier and more convenient. However, as information and communications technologies (ICTs) are developed and introduced, the risks of their criminal use increase. Given the cross-border nature of such threats, the only possible solution is to strengthen international cooperation. The Russia — ASEAN Dialogue on ICT Security-Related Issues is an example of effective partnership in this area. It is based on adherence to the principles of sovereign equality of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, and bridging the digital divide. It is important not to slow down the pace of cooperation set at the anniversary Russia — ASEAN summit in Kazan, and to strengthen coordination at relevant international platforms, as well as in the field of experience exchange and personnel training. • Russia — ASEAN interaction in the field of information security within the dialogue partnership and the UN. • Capacity-building measures to counter threats in the digital environment. • Enhancing cooperation in the area of public-private partnership.

Business IT Breakfast (Invite-Only). Digital Childhood Without Borders: Best International Practices For Child Safety Online

• "GORKY" PANORAMIC VENUE (3rd FLOOR)
• Russian, English, Spanish, Arabic, French

Session partner: The Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment Ensuring children’s safety in the digital environment is becoming a shared responsibility for governments, online platforms, technology companies, and civil society organizations. Countries are developing their own approaches to age restrictions, protection of children’s data, and the safe use of digital services. The discussion will provide an opportunity to compare international practices and identify solutions that can be scaled up and serve as a foundation for further cooperation. Special attention will be given to the establishment of the Global Alliance for Child Online Safety for sharing expertise, developing joint initiatives, and building international partnerships. • What child online safety models are already being implemented in different countries, and what results are they delivering? • How can we strike the right balance between children’s safety, access to digital services, and the protection of personal data? • How can international cooperation and the pooling of expertise from different countries contribute to scaling up effective practices?

Panel Discussion. Humans Need Humans: Trust in Media in the Age of AI

• Hall 2 LANDAU
• English, Russian, Spanish, Arabic, French

Session partner: TopBLOG of the Presidential Platform “Russia – Land of Opportunity” As artificial intelligence and automated content creation develop at an unprecedented pace, trust is becoming one of the key factors in effective communication. The media landscape is saturated with information, generated content, deepfakes, and algorithmic recommendations, while audiences increasingly struggle to understand who actually stands behind the information they consume. This gives rise to a paradox: the more technology there is in media, the greater the demand for a human presence – an author, a journalist, or an expert who takes responsibility, explains the context, and evokes empathy. Trust is built on transparency, consistency, willingness to take responsibility for mistakes, and open dialogue. The speakers will discuss which professional functions remain irreplaceable, where technology can strengthen trust, and where it may replace human judgment. Particular attention will be paid to AI-content labeling, source verification, transparency of editorial processes, the role of platforms and journalists’ personal brands, and the criteria audiences use to assess the credibility of content. • Why is trust in the media declining rather than growing in an era of information abundance and AI tools? • What professional functions of journalists, editors, and hosts cannot be replaced by algorithms? • How should generated content be labeled, and how can audiences develop critical-thinking skills? • How to build an open dialogue with audiences in the age of algorithms and generated content?

Round Table. Practices Of Implementing Digital Sovereignty: National Strategies, Legislation And Global Experience

• Hall 4 POPOV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: HSE Center for African Studies The roundtable will bring together Russian and African experts, representatives of ministries, government agencies, universities and research centers to discuss leading global practices in building independent digital infrastructure. Within the framework of the discussion, experts will examine opportunities for the use of modern information technologies with access to source code as an alternative to global technological monopolies, as well as approaches to updating and monitoring the implementation of national digital strategies, including key performance indicators related to infrastructure development, internet penetration and cybersecurity. The discussion will conclude with the presentation of the “Alliance for Digital Sovereignty of African Countries” initiative — a new international institution focused on digital sovereignty and public administration modernization through knowledge sharing, digital public services, stronger government institutions, and professional networks connecting governments, businesses, universities and research centers. • Opportunities for the use of IT solutions to achieve digital sovereignty in African countries. • Progress towards achieving key targets of national digital strategies and modern tools for monitoring their implementation. • Regulatory and legal frameworks as a foundation for strategic documents, including the development of legislation on personal data protection, the use of artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity standards and regulations. • Formats of international cooperation in the framework of efforts to achieve digital sovereignty.

Journalism School. «Kommersant’s Day». The Age of Total Digital: Distribution, Algorithms, and Generative AI in the Newsroom

• Hall 1 KOROLEV
• English, Russian, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: “Kommersant” Publishing House • Distribution technologies: how platform algorithms and smart feeds change the content's path to the reader. • Artificial intelligence in news production: where AI genuinely helps (summarization, headline generation, first-draft rewriting, data analytics) and where it creates risks. • Competition for attention: how a media’s website holds its own against Telegram channels, algorithmic platforms, and neural networks.

Panel Discussion. The City In 3D: How Digital Twins Are Transforming Urban Life

• Hall 4 POPOV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: the Government of Moscow The modern metropolis has become the most complex object of governance in human history. As technology advances, an increasing number of smart cities around the world are adopting digital twins to address complex urban challenges, from long-term planning and traffic flow modeling to environmental monitoring. According to the Moscow Department of Information Technologies, there are currently more than 1,200 digital twins worldwide adapted to the specific needs of different regions. Today, smart cities around the world are actively integrating various technologies into digital twins to model lighting, pedestrian movement, seasonal changes and even wind patterns. Experts agree that in the coming years, digital twins will increasingly evolve through integration with AI agents, enabling cities to anticipate future scenarios before decisions are made. The session will explore how the functions of digital replicas of cities are evolving from simple monitoring toward predictive management, and whether we are ready to entrust AI agents with forecasting the development of an entire city. • How can digital twins help make more effective management decisions and save urban resources? • How can millions of fragmented data streams be seamlessly integrated into a single, dynamic 3D model? • How will the integration of AI agents into digital twins enable cities and entire countries to anticipate future developments? • What future challenges can we address with digital twins?

Panel Discussion. The Value of a Name: Domain as a Digital Asset

• Hall 3 LEBEDEV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ Domain names have long ceased to be merely technical website addresses. In 2026, AI.com was sold for $70 million — an absolute record for publicly reported domain transactions, more than twice the previous high. According to RU-CENTER, the second quarter of 2026 saw the year’s record transaction in the .ru domain: a two-letter domain was sold for 17 million rubles. The Domain Market Business Activity Index (DMI) grew by 22.7%, while the average price on the secondary market reached approximately 59,000 rubles. Regulation is changing at the same time. From September 1, 2026, anonymous registration will no longer be possible in the .ru and .рф zones: all domain administrators will be required to undergo identification through the Unified Identification and Authentication System (ESIA). For some, this means greater trust and stronger protection against phishing; for others, it creates an additional administrative burden and the risk of losing domains registered in third parties’ names. Finally, ICANN has launched the second round of its New gTLD Program. Following the first round in 2012, more than 1,000 new domain extensions were introduced, compared with just 30 before 2012. In 2026, ICANN received more than 1,600 applications for new domain extensions. For the industry, this means a new wave of registrations — and renewed questions about what makes a domain name valuable. • What determines the value of a domain name in 2026 — and why are record-breaking deals like the $70 million sale of AI.com possible? • How will regulatory changes affect the market: by increasing trust or putting assets at risk? • What will the second round of New gTLDs mean for the industry — a new wave of registrations or a fundamental shift in the market?

Panel Discussion. Ai In Media Production: Film, Advertising, Platforms

• Hall 2 LANDAU
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session Partner: Autonomous Non-Profit Organization “Institute for Internet Development” Generative AI is rapidly reshaping the way media content is created — from scripts, music and visual assets to films, advertising and video games. It is making production faster and more cost-efficient, enabling new creative formats and transforming established workflows. At the same time, it is challenging traditional notions of authorship: where does human creative input end and machine-generated output begin? And what ethical principles should govern the use of other people’s likenesses, voices and creative works? As AI adoption scales across the media industry, new regulatory questions are emerging. How should AI-generated and AI-modified content be labeled? What rules should govern the use of synthetic voices and likenesses? And who should be held accountable for the final result? Across Russia and international markets, the industry is seeking to balance technological innovation with copyright protection, audience transparency and the role of human authorship. • Where is the line between AI as a creative tool and AI as an independent content creator — and who is responsible for the outcome? • What labeling standards are needed for AI-generated and AI-modified content to ensure transparency and maintain audience trust? • How can media companies scale AI-driven production while protecting copyright and upholding ethical standards?

Journalism School. «Kommersant’s Day». AI in IT Media: Topics, Tools, and Formats

• Hall 1 KOROLEV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: “Kommersant” Publishing House The development of AI at the intersection of government and corporate interests. • What is happening with AI in Russia: what is allowed, what is not, and what we are doing ourselves. • Collecting and verifying data in the digital environment: how to search for, check, and structure information about complex technologies (cloud services, telecom infrastructure, neural networks). • Practical case study: covering the AI market in Russia, striking a balance between tech hype, real business cases, and industry analysis.

High-Level Plenary Session. The AI Race: One Set of Rules or Many?

• Digital Solutions “Concert Hall”
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

The global economy and a key factor of geopolitical influence. Competition is unfolding not only over computing power, data and proprietary models, but also over the right to shape the rules governing the development and use of AI, establish standards for safety and trust, and define principles for data governance. Russia is consistently developing its own AI development and regulatory framework: setting requirements for national and sovereign models, scaling the adoption of AI across the economy and public administration, and expanding computing infrastructure. At the same time, a new architecture of international AI governance is emerging. The United Nations is creating a universal platform for intergovernmental dialogue; China, together with Russia, is developing alternative institutional infrastructure; India is promoting a broad-consensus model; the European Union is developing the most detailed regulatory framework; while the United States is focusing on technological leadership and export controls. Against this backdrop, a key question is whether a common set of rules for AI is possible, or whether the world is moving towards fragmentation into competing technological blocs. The plenary session with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko will examine different approaches to AI regulation and highlight practical mechanisms for ensuring genuine AI sovereignty. • What legislative, financial and infrastructure mechanisms are required to ensure genuine independence in AI? • Can competing systems of standards coexist, or is fragmentation inevitable? • How can countries become co-creators of the rules rather than subjects of regulation? And who is ready to take action? • Which models of international cooperation — model sharing, joint R&D, and transfer of expertise — work in practice?

Bloggers' School Opening. Welcome Networking

• "GORKY" PANORAMIC VENUE (3rd FLOOR)
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: New Media Workshop Opening Session of the Media School.

Round Table. Digitalization And Education: Challenges And Opportunities Of AI

• Hall 3 LEBEDEV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: MGIMO AI Centre The digitalization of education and the development of AI technologies are reshaping approaches to skills development and creating new opportunities for the digital economy. At the same time, countries face practical barriers to expanding IT education, adopting new technologies and developing the digital skills needed for economic growth. The discussion will focus on practical approaches to developing digital skills, scaling educational solutions and assessing their contribution to the digitalization of the economy. • How are technologies and AI transforming approaches to skills development and digital competencies? • What barriers hinder the scaling of digital and IT education, and how can they be addressed? • How can education contribute to accelerating the digitalization of national economies and reducing the digital divide?

Journalism School. 360° Content: Interactive Formats, Banners, and Special Projects in the Digital Media Ecosystem

• Hall 1 KOROLEV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: “Kommersant” Publishing House Packaging commercial and native content through modern digital formats (interactive special projects, banner mechanics, multimedia landing pages). • Digital formats of the Kommersant Syndicate: how to create interactive content that holds the audience's attention (special projects, infographics, multimedia longreads, banner integrations). • Adapting one idea to different media: distributing content through digital channels without losing reader trust. • The ecosystem of native content and special projects: the difference between editorial, commercial, and native digital products. How to work with technology clients and partners.

Visionary Lecture. From Brainwaves to Space: Where AI, Art and Science Intersect by Ferdi Alici

• Hall 4 POPOV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

What happens when brainwaves are transformed into paintings, scientific discoveries become immersive spaces, and data becomes a language that connects people across cultures? In his presentation, Ferdi Alici will introduce the audience to the world of OUCHHH Studio, where art, science and technology converge through artificial intelligence. Drawing on projects inspired by human biology, neuroscience, particle physics and space exploration, he will explore OUCHHH’s creative process — from selecting meaningful data and developing AI systems to creating large-scale installations in public spaces. He will also demonstrate how brain activity signals captured through EEG can transform an artwork in real time, turning participants into its co-creators. • How can AI help us understand and experience what usually remains invisible? • How can scientific data and real-time signals from the human body become living works of art? • How can collaboration between artists, researchers and technology developers make complex knowledge more accessible and create a shared cultural experience?

Visionary Lecture. AI Agent Economy: What Happens When AI Takes the Lead by Evgeny Chereshnev

• Hall 2 LANDAU
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

AI is gradually ceasing to be a tool that people use on demand and becoming an independent participant in economic processes. AI agents are already capable of analyzing data, setting tasks, choosing how to solve them, and interacting with other systems — from production and logistics management to financial operations and customer services. As these systems move from individual experiments to large-scale deployment, the very architecture of business is changing: some decisions that previously required employee involvement at every stage are being delegated to machines. The next stage is the emergence of an AI agent economy, in which humans define goals and boundaries while a significant share of operational decisions is made and executed by autonomous systems. This is changing the traditional division of roles within companies, as well as approaches to management, accountability, and performance evaluation: if an agent makes a decision, who is responsible for its consequences? How should an organization be structured when digital agents interact with one another faster than humans can intervene in the process? And what happens to the economy if AI becomes not merely a human assistant, but an autonomous decision-maker responsible for countless everyday choices? • Where is the line between automation and giving AI genuine decision-making authority — and who should define that line? • How will corporate structures, employee roles, and management processes change when some decisions are made by networks of interacting AI agents? • Who is accountable for a decision made by an autonomous agent, and how can human control be maintained in an economy operating at machine speed?

Bloggers' School. Master Class. Media Trends 2026: Platforms, Formats, Ideas

• "GORKY" PANORAMIC VENUE (3rd FLOOR)
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: New Media Workshop What's changing in media in 2026? This lecture breaks down key platform trends, new content formats, and shifts in audience behavior. We'll discuss how to find ideas, adapt your media strategy, and use trends to solve concrete tasks.

Round Table. Russia — Southeast Asia: E-Governance Knowledge Sharing

• Hall 2 LANDAU
• English, Russian, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Innopraktika Digital transformation of public administration requires not only technological solutions, but also a skilled workforce, reliable digital infrastructure, interagency cooperation, cyber resilience and modern approaches to data regulation. Russia and the countries of Southeast Asia have different but complementary experience. Russian practices in the development of digital public services, digital identification, electronic document management and platform-based solutions can be studied and adapted with due regard to national priorities, legislation and digital sovereignty. For Russia, in turn, the experience of Southeast Asian countries in developing regional digital cooperation, infrastructure interoperability, cross-border payments and data exchange, as well as adapting services to different administrative, linguistic and cultural contexts, is of particular interest. The discussion will focus on the mutual exchange of knowledge and practices rather than the transfer of ready-made solutions. Participants will discuss how to move from one-off presentations to long-term cooperation through training programs, expert and research tracks, exchanges between relevant government authorities, joint project teams and pilot initiatives in the field of digital government. • Which Russian practices in digital public services, digital identification, interagency data exchange and platform-based solutions can be studied and adapted in Southeast Asian countries? • Which practices of Southeast Asian countries in digital public infrastructure, cross-border digital trust, electronic payments, inclusive services and regional cooperation could be useful for Russia? • How are the development of digital competencies among public servants, the quality of public services, citizens’ trust and digital sovereignty interconnected? • What is the current trajectory of digital transformation in Southeast Asian countries, and which areas are shaping the region’s digital agenda today? • What human resources, institutional, infrastructure and regulatory conditions are necessary for the sustainable digital transformation of public administration? • What approaches are needed to strengthen the cyber resilience of government systems and build trust in digital services among citizens and businesses? • How can knowledge exchange be organized as a continuous process? From educational programs and expert exchange to mutual internships, joint research, project teams and pilot initiatives?

Bloggers' School. Practical Workshop. Content Lab: From Idea to Publication

• "GORKY" PANORAMIC VENUE (3rd FLOOR)
• English, French, Russian, Spanish, Arabic

Session partner: New Media Workshop Forum participants create content about the Global Digital Forum in real time, shooting short videos and writing posts for their own social media. The workshop runs as a live newsroom: from finding an idea and filming to the final text and publication. Everyone leaves with a finished piece and an understanding of how to make content fast and authentic.

Panel Discussion Global Internet Governance in a Multipolar World: Development Vectors after WSIS+20

• Hall 4 POPOV
• Russian, English, Spanish, Arabic, French

Session partner: Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation (WSIS) The Internet is becoming one of the key spaces for interaction among states as the world moves toward a multipolar order. Different centers of power are developing their own technological solutions, regulatory approaches, and digital ecosystems, seeking to ensure the resilience of critical infrastructure, protect data, and independently define their digital development priorities. At the same time, the risk of fragmentation of the global digital space is increasing, with the emergence of separate segments governed by different rules and standards. Against this backdrop, the search for a model of global Internet governance that can reconcile national digital sovereignty with opportunities for international cooperation is becoming increasingly important. Existing mechanisms and platforms for international dialogue, including the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), remain central to this discussion, alongside efforts to develop common approaches to security, standards, and cross-border digital cooperation. • How can a unified global digital space be preserved as individual states strengthen their digital sovereignty? • What mechanisms of international cooperation are needed to build a more balanced system of Internet governance? • How can common rules and standards be developed while taking into account the interests of different centers of digital development?

Workshop. Projects Across Economic Sectors: Current Challenges Аnd Opportunities For Cooperation With African Countries

• Hall 3 LEBEDEV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: HSE Centre for African Studies African governments are facing the challenge of ensuring access to healthcare, education, financial and public services amid rapid population growth and uneven development of physical infrastructure. Digital solutions can help expand access to services, improve their quality and reduce the costs associated with their delivery. At the same time, the introduction of new technologies faces a number of challenges, including limited connectivity and insufficient digital skills among the population, particularly in rural and remote areas. During the event, participants will have an opportunity to explore expert and analytical materials on digital markets in African countries, as well as current challenges, opportunities and solutions across a range of sectors, including the digitalization of public administration, cybersecurity, energy, logistics, financial monitoring and tax administration, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and other IT products and services aimed at strengthening food sovereignty. Based on the analytical materials presented, participants will be able to identify promising modern initiatives that could be piloted in their countries in line with national strategies and development priorities.

Journalism School. «Kommersant’s Day». Russian IT Journalism: Market, Topics, and Trends

• Hall 1 KOROLEV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: “Kommersant” Publishing House A map of IT journalism in Russia: who shapes the agenda, and how leading newsrooms work with technology topics. • The structure of Russian IT media: national business media, specialized (niche) outlets, and new media (specialized Telegram channels). • The key cross-cutting themes currently driving the business agenda. Similarities and differences between the Russian and international agendas: which topics overlap and which don't align at all.

Business Breakfast (Invite-only). Cross-Border Payments: How Technology Is Changing Rules of the Game

• "GORKY" PANORAMIC VENUE (3rd FLOOR)
• English, Arabic, French, Russian, Spanish

Session partners: Bank PSB Public Joint-Stock Company, A7 Against the backdrop of the transformation of the global financial infrastructure, international settlements are becoming not just an operational task, but a significant technological and managerial challenge. • How do modern technologies help to overcome barriers to cross-border payments and build resilient settlement chains in an environment of high uncertainty? • How to reduce compliance risks when working with foreign counterparties? • How can financial processes be adapted to the new regulatory and sanctions landscape? • What role do digital currencies and alternative payment systems play in ensuring the smooth flow of payments?

Panel Discussion. “AI-sation” As Smart City Trend

• Hall 2 LANDAU
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: the Government of Moscow According to UN estimates, the artificial intelligence technology market is set to grow approximately 25-fold over the next ten years. In this regard, the development and implementation of advanced digital practices is now a key factor in improving the quality of urban life. AI can rightfully be called the fastest‑growing technology in history, having overtaken the internet and, among other things, making a significant contribution to the development of smart cities. Thanks to neural networks, city authorities can make decisions based on real‑time data, whilst residents can promptly access public services and share feedback. Experts will discuss the transformation of the urban digital landscape through AI technologies. During the session, special attention will be paid to practical cases of implementing AI assistants in the urban environment, as well as the effects of scaling up, replication opportunities and the resources required to achieve this. • How do digital assistants change the way residents interact with the city? • What does a city need to move from atomic AI solutions to a large‑scale system that covers all areas? • What resources are critical for scaling AI technologies? • How to assess the sustainability and contribution of AI solutions being implemented to the city’s development?

Practical Workshop. Digital Transformation at the Forefront of Global Healthcare System Development: from Treating Diseases to Preventing Them

• Hall 3 LEBEDEV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Center for Global IT Cooperation Digital transformation changes the global healthcare system. We witness a shift from a model focused primarily on treating diseases that have already developed to one centred on prevention and proactive health management throughout a person’s lifetime. Modern technologies make it possible to develop new approaches to longevity medicine and healthcare: artificial intelligence, big data, telemedicine, wearable devices and personalized medicine platforms are opening up new opportunities for the early detection of risks and health management. This transition is becoming particularly relevant for healthcare systems that need to simultaneously improve both the accessibility and quality of medical care. A particular challenge lies in applying such technologies in resource-constrained settings, where digital transformation can serve as a tool for improving the accessibility and quality of healthcare. How can digital technologies fundamentally alter the balance between the costs of treatment and prevention within national healthcare systems? • Which digital prevention models have already proven their effectiveness in different countries and can be scaled up? • How to ensure the ethical and legal framework for the use of health data as we transition to a proactive model? • What infrastructural, personnel, regulatory barriers hinder the widespread adoption of digital solutions in prevention, especially in countries of the Global South? • How can the digital transformation of healthcare become a hub for international cooperation rather than a source of new technological dependence?

Master Class. High-Tech Market Rules: Strategies for the International Growth of Technology Companies

• Hall 1 KOROLEV
• English, Russian, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Skolkovo Foundation Entering a new market is not only a matter of registering a legal entity or finding a distributor. For startups and established IT companies, key challenges include understanding market needs, validating demand, identifying initial industrial customers, adapting the product, building a partner network, and launching pilot projects. This practical session by the Skolkovo Foundation will focus on soft landing tools for technology companies entering new international markets, as well as opportunities for international companies considering Russia as a platform for developing technology cooperation. The discussion will explore practical mechanisms for engaging with innovation ecosystems: gaining access to industry and corporate partners, finding customers and clients, integrating into technology value chains, supporting localization, launching pilots, developing joint products, and implementing R&D projects. • Where should a technology company start when preparing to enter a new international market? Which elements of the product, business model, and sales strategy require adaptation when operating in another country? • What soft landing formats are available, and how can a startup or established company choose the most suitable one? • How can companies leverage innovation ecosystems, technology parks, accelerators, and development institutions to find partners, customers, and investors? • What mistakes do companies most often make when expanding internationally — and how can they shorten the time from the first contact in a new market to the launch of a joint project?

High-Level Plenary Session. Digital Sovereignty: From Resource To Export Asset

• Hall 4 POPOV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Digital sovereignty is becoming one of the key factors of national resilience and competitiveness. For countries seeking to maintain independence in critical areas — from infrastructure and connectivity to data, cloud technologies and artificial intelligence — the challenge is no longer limited to replacing individual foreign solutions. It is about building their own digital ecosystems capable of ensuring technological independence, resilience to external constraints and long-term development. Some countries already have substantial practical experience in building comprehensive digital sovereignty systems encompassing infrastructure, platforms, services and ecosystems of national companies. The next step for national economies is to turn this accumulated capacity into an export asset. Russia is ready to work with partners to explore models of technological cooperation that would enable countries of the Global South to develop their own digital ecosystems without completely disengaging from global IT corporations. The discussion will explore how to combine technological independence with openness, which digital solutions can serve as the foundation for new international markets, and how to build an environment for trusted technological cooperation between Russia, China, India and other countries of the Global South. • What does digital sovereignty mean today? Where is the line between technological independence and the need to remain globally interconnected? • How can digital sovereignty be transformed from a tool of economic protection into a source of economic growth and an export asset? • How can an environment for trusted digital cooperation and joint technology value chains be created among countries of the Global South?

Panel Discussion. National Code Without Borders: Exporting Art, Technology And Media

• Hall 4 POPOV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Bank PSB Public Joint-Stock Company Cultural code is a real marketing tool that helps Russian goods and products stand out in international markets, build a recognisable brand image and develop an emotional connection with audiences abroad. • How do meanings, traditions and artistic practices become a competitive advantage in exports? • Can media technologies enhance export potential? • How to formulate an export value proposition based on a cultural code? • What tools are best suited for adaptation and promotion of Russian goods? • Where to look for partners and grant funding for export projects?

Panel Discussion. The Digital Architecture of the Future: Co-Designing Technological Sovereignty for Russia and Africa

• "GORKY" PANORAMIC VENUE
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Center for Global IT Cooperation Africa today is a key hub for shaping new global rules of the game on the digital track. The countries of the continent face the challenge of making a technological leap and protecting national data despite limited resources and a shortage of skilled personnel. Under such conditions, the concept of a ‘digital constructor' – a set of universal blocks from which any country can assemble its own unique system, taking into account local legislation and traditions – becomes more relevant than ever. When seeking practical solutions for countries striving for technological independence, it is important to propose non‑standard solutions. Russia, which has built up its unique experience under extreme conditions of unprecedented sanctions pressure, is well-placed to share such solutions. • What role does digital sovereignty play in the development strategies of African states, and to what extent is control over infrastructure a necessary condition for the effectiveness of long‑term investments? • Does the lack of external supplies really stimulate the emergence of indigenous breakthrough technological solutions? • Which elements of Russia’s experience in developing digital infrastructure can be adapted to the needs of African countries, taking into account the differences in the level of institutional development, human resources, regulatory environment and technological dependence on external suppliers? • What is needed to integrate Russian technological solutions into African markets, which have historically been oriented towards Western certification standards, data exchange protocols and established models of interaction with international vendors?

Panel Discussion. «Fax Me Maybe» - Forgotten Rituals of the Digital Age

• Hall 2 LANDAU
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: the Government of Moscow According to expert estimates, more than 6 billion people around the world are online right now. Residents of megacities today can easily and quickly book an appointment with a doctor, check their child’s school reports and submit water meter readings. Smart city is no longer a futuristic concept, but an environment in which millions of people live. At the same time, certain habits are disappearing from everyday life: queues at the clinic, face‑to‑face interaction with a cashier, and handing over fare money to a bus driver. Technology has become so interwoven with our lives that we can now access services without practically ever leaving home – all we need is a smartphone. Experts from around the world will discuss which habits of city-dwellers have already disappeared for good and what new opportunities technologies offer us to connect and look after one another in the age of digitalisation. And most importantly – what lies ahead? • Technology has become second nature to residents of major cities – is that good or bad? • Can a digital service replicate the warmth of face-to-face interaction? • What aspects of current urban life will seem just as strange to us in 10 years’ time as a queue for a certificate does today? • How does technology help people take care of each other in a smart city?

Panel Discussion. Education As A Tool For Digitalization: International Cooperation And Development

• Hall 1 KOROLEV
• English, Russian, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: MGIMO AI Centre Education in the field of information technology accelerates digitalization of national economies. At the same time, countries face the need to expand IT education, develop digital skills and address barriers that limit the adoption of digital technologies across different sectors of the economy. The discussion will focus on the impact of education on the development of digital technologies and economies, approaches to measuring this impact, and the role of international organizations and the private sector in supporting countries, particularly those in the Global South, and reducing the digital divide. • Which aspects of education have the greatest impact on the level of digitalization of national economies? • How can barriers to expanding IT education and increasing the adoption of digital technologies across the economy be addressed most effectively? • What role can international organizations and the private sector play in developing digital skills and reducing the digital divide?

Master Class. Govtech: How To Build A National Services Platform

• Hall 3 LEBEDEV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Building a national public services platform is like assembling an aircraft carrier in mid-flight. Government agencies are reluctant to share data: each has its own registries, contractors, and reasons to be wary of other agencies. Legacy systems cannot simply be switched off, as they support essential services such as pension payments and property registration. Meanwhile, users expect everything to work quickly and around the clock: open the app, click, and get the service. The session will examine the experience of Russia, with Gosuslugi used by the majority of the adult population, and the Philippines, with eGovPH, which has reached 60 million downloads, over 900 million transactions, and 1,323 integrated government systems. Both cases demonstrate significant results, while also highlighting the serious risks associated with disruptions during periods of rapid growth. The session will provide a practical analysis of these two cases at different stages of maturity: how they began, which steps were essential, how trust was built between government agencies and the public, how security threats are addressed when handling personal data at scale, and the current state of each initiative. • What are the essential elements of a national platform's architecture at the outset — such as unified digital identity and a framework for connecting government agencies — and what can be developed later, and why is this sequence important? • What should be done with outdated systems? They cannot simply be switched off, but leaving them unchanged is not an option either. Which approaches to working around legacy systems, integrating them, and migrating to new infrastructure have proven effective in practice? • What changes when a country's data is brought together within a single environment in terms of the threat model, access control, and security incidents? What improvements have been made in response to such incidents?

Joint Meeting of the Public Councils of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation and Rossotrudnichestvo

• Hall 3 LEBEDEV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Public Councils of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation and Rossotrudnichestvo As part of the Global Digital Forum, a joint meeting of the Public Council of the Russian Ministry of Digital Development and the Public Council of Rossotrudnichestvo will be held. (Invite-only)

Public Talk. The Murder of Pluralism: Theory and Practice. From Radical Liberalism and "Cancel Culture" to the AI-Powered "Thought Police"

• "GORKY" PANORAMIC VENUE
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Rectors' Club. Education By New Rules: Outpacing AI Trends

• Hall 2 LANDAU
• English, Russian, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics Artificial intelligence is reshaping the skills in demand and the very logic of workforce development. Educational programmes are designed years in advance, while AI tools and technologies evolve in a matter of months. Skills that until recently were essential for entering a profession are gradually being automated. Demand is shifting towards systems thinking, the ability to work with AI, interdisciplinary expertise, responsibility and a deep understanding of specific fields. Universities must prepare specialists for a labour market whose rules are still taking shape. The response lies in moving from fixed educational programmes to more flexible ecosystems that combine fundamental education, practical business challenges, research and continuous retraining. Different models of cooperation between universities, governments and industry are shaping new approaches to curriculum development, joint laboratories and research centres, teacher training and the identification of skills in demand. For university rectors from Russia and countries of the Global South, the key question is: what should students learn today, and how can education systems stay ahead of technological change? • How can educational programmes evolve as quickly as AI technologies without abandoning fundamental education? • How should the path into a profession change as AI increasingly takes over routine tasks traditionally performed by entry-level specialists? • Who should define new skills and invest in developing them — universities, governments or businesses?

Panel Discussion. Telecom Infrastructure: Demands and Solutions. Global Experience

• Hall 1 KOROLEV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Rostelecom • Digital transformation across economies and industries is driving demand for the high-speed transmission of growing volumes of data. Key drivers include the development of artificial intelligence, which processes vast amounts of data and requires efficient data transport and exchange; the expansion of data center capacity across the banking and other sectors; and the global growth in content consumption across mobile and fixed-line networks. • Existing optical infrastructure is increasingly struggling to keep pace with growing traffic volumes, while fiber networks are gradually becoming outdated. This is driving demand for new solutions capable of meeting both domestic and international needs as digital development accelerates worldwide. These challenges will shape the discussion. • What new demands are countries facing in terms of telecom strategies and infrastructure development? • What technologies are currently being deployed worldwide and what projects are being implemented to address telecommunicational challenges? • Are national companies involved in implementing the telecommunicational projects?

Panel Discussion. The Next Computing Frontier: The Quantum Era

• Hall 4 POPOV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: State Atomic Energy Corporation “Rosatom” Quantum technologies are emerging as one of the promising areas of the next technological cycle. Unlike many mature digital technologies, quantum computing, communications, and sensing are still at the stage of actively developing technological and industrial ecosystems. This creates a window of opportunity for countries developing their own capabilities and infrastructure: quantum technologies may be an area where countries can not only catch up with established technology leaders, but also develop their own solutions and secure positions in emerging value chains. Fundamental science remains at the core of this development — quantum mechanics, quantum optics, condensed matter physics, and information theory. These disciplines have already laid the foundation for new computing architectures, sensors, and communication systems. Sustainable development of quantum technologies therefore requires a combination of strong scientific expertise, infrastructure, applied programmes, and a skilled workforce. At the same time, a gap remains between countries in terms of access to advanced computing resources and expertise. National quantum programmes, international scientific and technological cooperation, and models for remote access to quantum computing resources can help expand access and accelerate the development of new capabilities. A key question is which areas of quantum technology can move from experimental development to practical applications and economic impact, and which development models can make the quantum technology ecosystem more accessible to countries with different levels of resources and infrastructure. It is important to determine where domestic development and infrastructure are essential, where international cooperation is more effective, and where quantum resources can already be accessed without building a complete technological value chain within a country. • Which areas of quantum technology currently have the greatest potential for practical applications and technological development across countries? • How can fundamental research and applied quantum programmes be combined to build a sustainable technological foundation? • Which models of quantum infrastructure development, workforce training, and international cooperation can accelerate the development of national capabilities? • How can countries at different levels of technological development gain access to quantum computing and other quantum technologies?

Practical Workshop. Agritech on Thin Data: Satellite, Drone and the Farmer’s Phone

• Hall 3 LEBEDEV
• English, Russian, Spanish, French, Arabic

Food security increasingly depends on the ability to accurately assess crop and soil conditions and anticipate weather-related risks. However, for many rural communities, the traditional model of digitalization — relying on large volumes of high-quality data, stable connectivity, and costly infrastructure — remains out of reach. This is where “thin data” comes into play: satellite imagery, drone data, ground-based measurements, and even information collected by farmers using their smartphones. Russia and countries of the Global South are already developing solutions that make it possible to use technology even in environments with limited data and weak digital infrastructure. The key challenge is to turn fragmented data into practical tools for increasing crop yields, managing risks, and strengthening food sovereignty, while transforming local innovations into scalable solutions for different markets. • How can satellites, drones, and smartphones be used where data and infrastructure are limited? How can practical agritech models be developed to reflect the actual conditions farmers face, rather than ideal digital environments? • Which agritech solutions developed in Russia and the Global South have the potential to be scaled to other markets? • How can digital solutions be made accessible not only to large agricultural corporations, but also to small-scale farms?

Bloggers' And Journalists' School. Master Class. Promoting National Events and Holidays: The Case of Russia's Unity Day

• "GORKY" PANORAMIC VENUE (3rd FLOOR)
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: New Media Workshop What artificial and generative intelligence are, how neural networks work, and which tools journalists, editors, and authors are already using. Using real examples, we'll look at how AI is changing content creation and distribution, the human role in media, and where the industry is headed next.

Panel Discussion. International Cooperation In Information Security

• Hall 2 LANDAU
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation The session will address international cooperation in information security (IIS) through multilateral platforms, primarily within the framework of the Global Mechanism on ICT Security established in 2026. The discussion will also focus on strengthening cooperation with developing countries, including capacity-building in ICT security; coordination through the Global Intergovernmental Register of Points of Contact for the exchange of information on computer attacks and incidents, launched at Russia’s initiative as the first universal confidence-building measure in the digital sphere; and UN-sponsored exercises on responding to computer attacks.

Global Dialogue On AI Ethics: Expert Forum On New Challenges

• Hall 4 POPOV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Sberbank of Russia. Part I Artificial intelligence is entering a new phase of development. AI systems are becoming increasingly autonomous, with the ability to plan and execute actions independently, use digital tools, interact with other systems, and perform ever more complex tasks. These advances bring new ethical challenges, including AI safety, the limits of AI agent autonomy, maintaining meaningful human oversight, and establishing clear lines of accountability for AI-driven decisions. At the same time, the global AI ethics agenda is evolving. In recent years, countries and international organizations have established foundational principles for the responsible development and deployment of AI. As AI capabilities advance rapidly and new vulnerabilities and operational challenges continue to emerge, these principles must be regularly reassessed to ensure they remain relevant and effective. This session will bring together Russian and international experts to examine emerging challenges in AI ethics, from agentic AI and AI safety to the boundaries of autonomy, human oversight, and accountability. Particular attention will be given to the prospects for global cooperation and a series of focused conversations exploring the ethical implications of AI in education, healthcare, and smart cities. • Which principles governing AI development and deployment can be universally applied, and where must national and cultural contexts be taken into account? • To what extent do existing responsible AI principles and frameworks developed by countries and international organizations address the challenges arising from the latest advances in AI? • Can countries with different legal systems, cultural traditions, and approaches to technological development establish common frameworks for AI ethics and safety? Part II AI Ethics in Specific Fields Interview-style mini-sessions exploring the ethical issues surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in specific fields.

Practical Workshop. Cybersecurity And AI: New Challenges And New Protection Tools. Incident Analysis

• Hall 3 LEBEDEV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Bank PSB Public Joint-Stock Company Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the cybersecurity landscape, creating new opportunities for both malicious actors and professionals responsible for protecting digital infrastructure. On the one hand, AI enhances the capabilities of attackers: it enables them to create more convincing phishing messages and deepfakes, automate reconnaissance, and accelerate the preparation of attacks. On the other hand, it opens up fundamentally new opportunities for defense — from detecting anomalies and predicting incidents to automating the response of SOC teams. • How is the landscape of cyber threats evolving in the era of AI? • What tools enable businesses and governments not merely to catch up with cybercriminals, but to stay one step ahead of them? • How does AI help to prevent complex attacks? • Where do the risks in the uncontrolled integration of AI into infrastructure lie? • How to secure the AI systems — from models and data to APIs and internal assistants?

Bloggers' And Journalists' School. Lecture. Global Challenges of the Digital Space

• "GORKY" PANORAMIC VENUE (3rd FLOOR)
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: New Media Workshop Digitalization is changing not just technology, but how people consume information, who they trust, and how they form their picture of the world. In this session, the Media Leaders Association discusses the challenges media industries around the world face in the age of the platform economy, artificial intelligence, and information warfare. What do media managers worldwide have in common, and where do their approaches fundamentally diverge? A conversation among professionals on how to build resilient media systems amid global digital transformation.

Partner Program (Invite Only). 3rd Russia–Iran ICT Forum

• "GORKY" PANORAMIC VENUE (3rd FLOOR)
• Russian, English

Session partners: Center for Global IT Cooperation, Rhino Ventures The development of the digital economy is creating new opportunities for technological and business cooperation between Russia and Iran. The Russia–Iran ICT Business Forum will bring together leading companies from both countries to exchange best practices and technological solutions, hold B2B meetings, expand business networks, and explore opportunities for joint projects. Particular attention will be given to practical mechanisms for Russian and Iranian companies to enter new markets and develop cooperation with partners from third countries. • Which ICT areas offer the greatest opportunities for Russia–Iran technological cooperation? • What formats and tools can help turn business contacts into joint projects and new market opportunities?

Visionary Lecture. Sovereignty in the Modern Digital World

• Hall 2 LANDAU
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Artificial intelligence and digital platforms are transforming the economy and everyday life. They shape how people access information, choose products and services, how businesses interact with consumers, and how governments engage with citizens. As the digital environment becomes an integral part of everyday life, so does the influence of those who control its key technologies, infrastructure and operating principles. Disruptions to critical systems, restrictions on access, or changes to the terms of their use can affect not only individual organizations, but entire industries and essential government functions. In this context, digital sovereignty is becoming a strategic priority. The ability to independently manage data, develop critical technologies and define the principles governing the digital environment is increasingly important for pursuing national priorities and ensuring the resilience of the state. The decisions made today will determine whether the potential of artificial intelligence and digital platforms can contribute to economic development, unlock human potential and improve citizens’ quality of life. • What defines digital sovereignty for a state today? • How are new communication channels transforming the management of the information space? • How can countries harness the potential of artificial intelligence while maintaining independence in decision-making? • Why are digital platforms and services becoming critical elements of the economy and society? • How can Russia’s experience help other countries develop their own digital ecosystems?

Panel Discussion. Game Worlds: Who Is the Real Creator?

• Hall 4 POPOV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Association of Game Operation and Development Professionals The gaming industry is one of the sectors of the creative economy, where generative AI is already reshaping the entire content — from pipeline creation, concept art, storytelling, and visual assets to coding, game world design, and the production of ancillary content. New AI-powered tools are transforming game development workflows while raising fundamental questions about authorship, ownership of AI-generated content, the use of copyrighted material in model training, the protection of distinctive visual identities, and the value of intellectual property. Using the gaming industry as a case study, the panel will explore how AI is reshaping the role of human creators in digital content production and the intellectual property issues that arise when AI is involved in creating game worlds. Key questions for discussion: • As AI takes on a greater role in creating game worlds, what remains the essential contribution of human creators, and who owns the results of human–AI collaboration? • How will the widespread adoption of AI in game development transform industry roles, professions, and the skills required? • How is AI reshaping the economics of game development and content production? • What becomes a company's most valuable asset when technology enables content to be created faster and at an unprecedented scale?

Presentation and Workshop. Digital Sovereignty in a Multipolar World: Tools for Assessing and Harmonizing Approaches to IT Cooperation

• Hall 1 KOROLEV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Autonomous Non-Profit Organization “Center for Global IT Cooperation” Digital sovereignty is becoming a strategic resource for states as a multipolar world takes shape. To ensure the resilience and control over critical digital infrastructure, data and technologies, objective tools are needed to assess national capabilities, including in times of crisis. One such tool will be the universal Digital Sovereignty Development Index for states, illustrated using the BRICS countries as an example, with the possibility of further expansion to include the countries of nationality of the speakers. As part of the session, a workshop involving potential co-sponsors and signatories of the Index, at which methodological approaches and opportunities for adapting it to national and regional contexts will be discussed. The session will conclude with a formal signing ceremony for the final document on the participation of interested countries and organizations in the development and application of the Index. • What is digital sovereignty in a multipolar world, and how does it relate to the objectives of international digital cooperation? • Why do existing international digital development rankings fail to reflect states’ actual capacity to maintain digital resilience and autonomy? • How can the State Digital Sovereignty Index serve as a practical tool for countries in the Global South when formulating national strategies? • What methodological challenges arise when assessing digital sovereignty, and how can these be addressed at the international level? • How can the approaches of different countries to digital sovereignty be harmonised without imposing a single model?

Panel Discussion. Open-Source Models: How To Balance Opportunities And Vulnerabilities

• Hall 3 LEBEDEV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Ivannikov Institute for System Programming of the Russian Academy of Sciences Open models are no longer simply a more accessible alternative to proprietary systems, they are becoming a distinct layer of the global AI infrastructure. In 2025–2026, Chinese open-weight ecosystems have gained significant traction, with Qwen emerging as one of the most widely used base models for further adaptation and local deployment. This is changing the economics of AI adoption for countries and companies: rather than training a foundation model from scratch, organizations can increasingly fine-tune an existing model on their own data, languages, and use cases — and deploy them on infrastructure they control. At the same time, a new model of regional AI cooperation is emerging. Initiatives such as SEA-LION in Southeast Asia, LatamGPT in Latin America, AI4Bharat in India, and national language-model programs in Indonesia, Thailand, and the Arab world show that competitiveness increasingly depends not only on model size, but also on the quality of local data, locally developed benchmarks, and the ability to build a developer ecosystem around a foundation model. For emerging markets, open models offer a way to accelerate the development of national AI capabilities while reducing dependence on a single provider. But greater openness also brings a new set of risks. The term “open source” now covers very different levels of openness — from publicly available model weights to open data, code, training methodologies, and safety evaluations. Once released, model weights cannot simply be recalled; safeguards can be modified; and a model’s quality and safety depend on the entire chain — from its provenance and licensing to the data used, fine-tuning process, and deployment environment. The key question is therefore no longer simply whether AI should be “open” or “closed”. It is how open a model needs to be to ensure accessibility and technological autonomy while keeping risks at a manageable level. • When should a country or company adapt an existing open model, and when does it make sense to train its own model from scratch? • What should actually be open — model weights, code, data, benchmarks, and safety-test results — and where are restrictions necessary? • How can the provenance, safety, and quality of open-source and open-weight models be assessed before they are deployed in government and critical sectors? • Can regional coalitions around data, languages, and AI models become a sustainable alternative to each country developing its own model independently?

Visionary Lecture. City Designed for People by Jeong-kee Kim

• Hall 2 LANDAU
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: WeGo In his keynote, SG Jeong-kee Kim from the WeGO Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) will explore how digital transformation is reshaping cities and why the next phase of the Smart City movement must move beyond technology toward human-centered, sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban development. Drawing on the diverse experiences of cities around the world, the keynote will examine how cities are responding to rapid advances of AI, data, and emerging technologies, while addressing the common challenges of measuring progress, sharing knowledge, bridging digital divides. The speech will introduce WeGO's role as a global platform connecting cities, corporations, instituions, highlighting initiatives such as the Seoul Smart City Prize, the Cities Future Readiness Indiex, and the WeGO Sustainable Smart City Champions as practical examples of how innovation can be recognized, urban readiness assessed, and future leaders empowered. The keynote will conclude by emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and the need to turn digital transformation into tangible improvements in people's lives.

Panel Discussion. Smart City KPIs: New Standard of Quality

• Hall 4 POPOV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: the Government of Moscow. Today metropolitan areas are becoming hubs for the development of smart city technologies. However, this naturally raises the question of how to assess the effectiveness of their implementation. There are a large number of international and national rankings and indices. For a long time, quantitative indicators, such as the number of cameras installed or the density of embedded built-in IoT sensors, remained the measure of smart cities success. However, this is no longer enough, and effectiveness of technologies is increasingly assessed through feedback from those for whom it is created. By prioritising the comfort and safety of its residents, a smart city becomes truly wise, creating the WISE standard. During the session, experts will discuss how new approaches and assessments of a smart city are becoming more human‑centered and how residents themselves are shaping new standards for a smart city. • How to assess the success of a smart city? • How to integrate modern human‑centric metrics into international and national smart city standards? • In what formats can residents be involved in planning the further stages of a smart city’s development? • If they had to choose just one KPI that best characterises a smart city under the new standard, what would the experts choose and why?

Panel Discussion. The Global Race for IT Talent: How Countries Compete for Tech Talent

• Hall 1 KOROLEV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Moscow Government Today, competition for human capital extends beyond the traditional labour market. It is not enough for cities simply to attract international specialists, academics and entrepreneurs — the key challenge is to integrate them into the economy and the urban environment. Traditional barriers, such as fragmented government departments and complex visa procedures, are giving way to an impatriation model based on the ‘one-stop shop’ principle: a seamless, end-to-end process that eliminates bureaucratic bottlenecks and transforms relocation into a convenient and manageable service. • How do cities compete for talent, and what factors influence a professional’s decision to choose one country over another? • How can we combine relocation, employment and the integration of foreign nationals into a single, seamless process — from their initial interest in a city to long-term integration? • What roles should the state, the city and the business sector each play in attracting foreign professionals? • Could impatriation become a new tool for a city’s economic development, and how should its contribution to human capital be assessed?

Practical Workshop. Language. Culture. Data: AI for Low-Resource Languages

• Hall 2 LANDAU
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Coordination Center for TLD RU/RF The development of language models depends heavily on access to high-quality texts, audio, and video data in national languages. In many countries, substantial collections of such materials already exist in the archives of public broadcasters, universities, research institutions, and cultural organizations. However, these resources remain largely underutilized in the development of modern AI-powered solutions. This workshop will bring together representatives of government agencies, national broadcasters, universities, and the technology community to explore approaches to organizing and leveraging national language data. Participants will examine international best practices, collaboration models between data holders and AI developers, and issues related to intellectual property rights, data access, and infrastructure. Working in country teams, they will then identify practical steps towards developing their own language resources for AI. Key questions for discussion: • What types of national language data are most critical for developing modern AI models, and how can countries assess their existing resources? • What collaboration models between governments, broadcasters, universities, and technology companies can enable the effective and responsible use of national language archives? • What organizational, legal, and infrastructure measures are needed to ensure that national languages are represented in the development of modern AI technologies?

Panel Discussion. NGSO Communication Systems: from National Ambitions to Regional Cooperation

• Hall 3 LEBEDEV
• Russian, English

Session partner: Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications (RCC) In the countries of Central Eurasia, non‑geostationary satellite systems are gaining ground, offering low signal latency and high data transfer rates. These qualities make NGSO highly sought-after in telecommunications, transport, emergency services and other sectors where geostationary solutions are technically or economically insufficient. At the same time, the development of NGSO in the region is proceeding without a coordinated framework: national approaches to regulation, the admission of foreign operators, standardisation and antitrust control are being developed in a fragmented manner. Such fragmentation leads to increased costs, a weakening of the region’s bargaining position and the risk of widening digital inequality. Meanwhile, allowing NGSO‑based communication systems onto a country’s territory entails a range of risks: on the one hand, there are concerns regarding the safeguarding of digital sovereignty and control over the information space; on the other, technical challenges persist, relating to potential interference with existing satellite constellations and the maintenance of the stable operation of the national communications network. The development of unified approaches – based on the principles of international, technical and competition regulation and following a model of multilateral cooperation – is becoming a prerequisite for sustainable digital development, technological independence and fair competition in the region’s NGSO market. • What advantages do NGSO systems offer – in terms of latency, bandwidth and coverage – that make them the preferred tool for addressing the digital divide in remote and hard-to-reach regions? • What economic, technological and political consequences does the fragmentation of national approaches to NGSO in the region lead to? • Which elements of technical regulation and standardisation require priority harmonisation? • How can a balance be struck between protecting national markets and ensuring fair competition when granting access to foreign NGSO operators? • What form of regional cooperation mechanism, modelled on international organisations, could ensure a unified approach to regulation, joint resource planning and support for socially significant projects?

Bloggers' And Journalists' School. Public Talk. A Planet Without Borders: A View from Space

• "GORKY" PANORAMIC VENUE (3rd FLOOR)
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: New Media Workshop Cosmonaut Sergey Valeryevich Prokopyev spent 567 days aboard the ISS alongside crews from different countries, at a time when cooperation on Earth was growing increasingly difficult. He also completed eight spacewalks. In conversation with the moderator, he will talk about what our planet looks like from space, why professionalism outweighs politics, and what it means to work as a team. A conversation about space, people, and what unites us.

Bloggers' School. Master Class. Disinformation Trends and Fact-Checking: Russian and International Experience

• "GORKY" PANORAMIC VENUE (3rd FLOOR)
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: New Media Workshop How to recognize fakes, work with local disinformation, verify information using OSINT, and prepare convincing debunking materials. The lecture covers current fake news mechanics, the role of deepfakes and neural networks, and the Global Fact-Checking Network (GFCN), along with the specifics of international fact-checking.

Visionary Lecture. Visionary Lecture The Digital Future Of The Creative Economy by Marina Mongush

• Hall 2 LANDAU
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: ANO “Creative Economy” The creative economy is inseparable from technology and innovation, and today it is entering a new stage of development — the transition towards a platform-based model. Platforms are no longer simply neutral distribution channels: they bring together creators, audiences, businesses and investors, concentrate data, shape recommendations and visibility, and define the rules of market access and monetisation. Platformisation is already transforming the entire lifecycle of a creative product — from ideation, financing and production to promotion, sales, audience feedback and the reuse of content. Competition is intensifying not only for content and infrastructure, but also for data, attention and trust. For the creative industries, this is changing the very logic of production and growth and creating a new set of strategic challenges: from building transparent commercialisation models to defining clear boundaries that ensure the power to determine the cultural value of a product does not shift to algorithms, but remains with people. • What does Russia’s creative economy look like today, and what role do platforms play in its development? • How are platforms transforming the production of creative products? • What competencies and management models does creative business need in order not simply to be present on platforms, but to design its own platform strategy? How can collaborations help that?

Journalism School. AI In The Newsroom: Implementation, Opportunities And Risks

• Hall 1 KOROLEV
• Russian, English, French, Spanish, Arabic

Session partner: Autonomous Non-Profit Organization for the Support and Development of Creative Industries “Creative Economy” Artificial intelligence has become a new operating environment for media, rapidly reshaping the newsroom model, from content production to decision-making, distribution and audience engagement. AI-powered tools and algorithms are already embedded in everyday editorial workflows: they process data, accelerate research and fact-checking, personalize content and help newsrooms scale production. Across the global media landscape, this is becoming a new factor of competitiveness. The advantage no longer comes simply from adopting technology faster, but from integrating it into the editorial system without compromising quality, editorial independence or audience trust. The session will bring together media professionals for a practical discussion on how this transition is already unfolding across different types of news organizations. Particular attention will be paid to the risks emerging in the new media environment and to the central question: what will the next-generation newsroom look like, and what role must remain uniquely human? • Which editorial processes can already be automated without compromising quality or audience trust? • How can news organizations measure the real impact of AI adoption? • What new roles, skills and management models are emerging inside newsrooms? • How should media organizations establish rules for working with generative content, deepfakes, data and copyright? • What aspects of journalism will remain fundamentally human in the era of algorithm-driven content production?

Round Table. Post-Production at AI Speed: Opportunities for Emerging Content Markets

• Hall 3 LEBEDEV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: Joint-Stock Company "National Media Group" Artificial intelligence and virtual production are gradually reshaping the boundaries between filming and post-production. Tools that automate rotoscoping, tracking, cleanup, background work, the creation and modification of digital locations, previsualization, editing, and localization are reducing the cost and time required for a wide range of operations. As a result, visual effects are becoming accessible not only to big-budget productions, while their use is expanding across film, television series, advertising, and digital content. As a result, the impact of AI extends beyond post-production, affecting the film industry as a whole — from production processes to the models through which content is created and released. At the same time, the post-production studio model itself is changing. While competitive advantage was previously driven largely by equipment, computing power, and the size of production teams, an increasingly important role may now be played by professionals who can combine artistic objectives, traditional VFX, and new AI tools. Investment structures, skill sets, and pipeline organization are also evolving. This transformation is also reshaping the geography of the global market. Countries that were previously only marginally integrated into international post-production chains due to the high cost of infrastructure and the limited scale of their industries now have an opportunity to build their own capabilities faster and enter international projects. For established production centers such as China, India, Thailand, and other Asian markets, AI creates an opportunity to move from providing individual production services toward developing their own technologies, IP, and global production pipelines. • Will global post-production remain concentrated around a few traditional hubs, or will AI create a new map of international film production? • How is AI changing the film industry today, and how will it transform it in the coming years? • What will a competitive post-production studio look like a year from now, and which professionals will be key to its success? • What should a studio keep in-house, what can be sourced from the cloud, and which operations should be automated — while artistic expertise and professional quality control remain critical?

Bloggers' School. Master Class. AI and the Future of Media

• "GORKY" PANORAMIC VENUE (3rd FLOOR)
• English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian

What artificial and generative intelligence are, how neural networks work, and which tools journalists, editors, and authors are already using. Using real examples, we'll look at how AI is changing content creation and distribution, the human role in media, and where the industry is headed next.

Journalism School. Media Consumption of the Future: How Neural Networks Will Change Content Formats for Mass Audiences

• Hall 1 KOROLEV
• Russian, English, Spanish, French, Arabic

Session partner: RG Media Generative neural networks are becoming a key factor in the transformation of the media industry and everyday information consumption practices. For media companies, digital platforms, the advertising market, and governments seeking to retain the attention and trust of mass audiences, the issue is no longer limited to automating individual editorial processes—from interview transcription to illustration generation. It's about changing the media model itself: content is no longer a ready-made product, uniform for everyone, but rather a dynamic environment created and adapted to the request, language, device, and context of a specific user in real time. The boundaries between text, video, and audio are blurring, the co-author is becoming an algorithm, and the cost of producing a single piece of content is approaching zero. Media holdings, streaming services, and platforms have already accumulated practical experience in implementing generative technologies—from personalized feeds and automatic dubbing to virtual presenters and interactive stories. At the same time, the mass distribution of synthetic content raises questions for the industry about trust, quality, responsibility, and the preservation of cultural identity. • What consumption formats will replace the usual feeds, broadcasts, and streams — and will the very concept of a "mass audience" survive if each user receives a unique, customized version of content? • Will dialogue with a neural network become the primary way to access information — and how will consumption itself change when content can not only be watched and read, but also "questioned," restructured, and customized? • Will the neural network become a full-fledged co-author from idea to release — or will it remain a tool? Where is the line between creativity and generation, and what will be valued more — originality, speed, or volume? • How will the role of a professional author, editor, and platform change when content production becomes practically free, and the main deficit is the attention and trust of the audience? • How can audience trust be maintained in the era of deepfakes and synthetic content? • Who will determine what the mass audience sees: editorial boards, platforms, or algorithms—and who is responsible for the results? • How will the "chain of trust" be structured in the media of the future: will editorial boards remain the guarantor of authenticity, will new verification institutions emerge, and will the "human-verified" label become a seal of quality? • Is neural networks becoming an agenda editor for billions of people: whose values, languages, and worldviews are embedded in the model?

Bloggers' School. Workshop. From Prompts to Agents: Working with LLMs

• "GORKY" PANORAMIC VENUE (3rd FLOOR)
• English, Russian, French, Arabic, Spanish

Session partner: New Media Workshop Participants will practice solving media tasks using LLMs: mastering the interface, writing prompts, working with context, and using built-in tools. We'll wrap up by looking at how to combine these techniques into a coherent workflow and move toward agentic systems.