On April 2, 2025, the V Youth Digital Forum (Youth RIGF 2025) was held at the Rossiya National Center, which has become a key platform for discussing issues of digital transformation, Internet governance and innovative technologies. The event brought together students, young professionals and leading IT industry experts. The general sponsor of the forum was VK, which traditionally supports initiatives aimed at developing digital technologies and the Internet ecosystem in Russia.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, addressed the participants of the Forum with a welcoming speech. He noted that it is up to the new generation of young talented professionals to decide what the Internet of the future will be like. This, in turn, will help Russia achieve technological sovereignty, a goal set for us by our President, Vladimir Putin.
More than 400 people took part in the Forum offline, and thousands of viewers joined online, highlighting the growing interest of young people in the development of the Internet and digital technologies.
During the opening of the forum, the award ceremony of the Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment "For a Safe Digital Childhood" was also held, celebrating projects aimed at improving digital literacy and creating a safe online environment for children.
Vadim Glushchenko, Director of the Center for Global IT Cooperation, noted: "Our forum is part of the ecosystem of the United Nations digital cooperation, so the issues we are discussing today largely overlap with topics of concern to young people around the world. As a technologically advanced country, Russia has digital solutions that we can share with our like-minded people. That is why on June 5-6 Nizhny Novgorod will host the first ever Global Digital Forum, which will bring together hundreds of experts from all over the world for an equal dialogue about a common digital future."
Traditionally, within the framework of the Forum, the Youth Digital Ombudsman and the Center for Global IT Cooperation were awarded the annual Digitalization for Good award. The purpose of the award is to identify and support young people (including IT specialists) who have made a special contribution to protecting the rights, explaining responsibilities, and responsibilities of citizens in the digital space; and improving digital literacy.
