The very first RIF.South forum will take place from September 3 to 6, 2021, in the Stavropol Territory, presenting a series of events devoted to the digital transformation of the economy, public administration, education, human resources, and online businesses.
RIF.South will be the first major project on digital transformation in the region. It is designed to raise public awareness of the most urgent and important IT and communications matters as the regional iteration of the Russian Internet Forum (RIF), a federal project that has been held in Moscow and across Russia since 1997. For over a quarter of a century now, RIF has been a highlight on the calendar of the IT sector, bringing together thousands of specialists and experts who exchange views, network, promote dialogue between the internet industry and the government, and nurture ideas on how to develop the internet in Russia. RAEC – the Russian Association of Electronic Communications – acts as the RIF 2021 organizer, supported by the corresponding government agencies, the leading internet companies on the Russian market, as well as representatives of the digital economy and related sectors.
RIF.South will include open lessons for schoolchildren, conferences on the digital transformation of various sectors, a hackathon on artificial intelligence, a regional IT hub of the Digital Breakthrough hackathon, and a final press conference.
“The digital transformation of the region is a major priority. We have focused our efforts on introducing digital technology in all the main social processes, while acting swiftly and efficiently. This includes sectors such as healthcare, education and public security. Promoting the digital transformation is one of the goals articulated by the Russian President and set forth in national projects. I am convinced that the RIF.South forum will serve as an additional impetus for further advances in the regional IT sector.
In addition to this, I believe that holding educational events for schoolchildren is so important. It is essential that young people get to know how to use digital products, learn the basic online safety rules and understand that apart from entertainment, IT opens up new opportunities in education and development,” Governor of the Stavropol Territory, Vladimir Vladimirov, said.
RIF.South will also include a series of lectures given by Russia’s leading experts and practitioners on a wide range of subjects from the history of AI and basic theory to analyzing real cases and the ethical aspects of AI. “The Stavropol Territory has great potential for developing and implementing digital technology. It is for this reason that we decided to hold RIF.South here as a series of events devoted to digital technology, but targeting various audiences. We will have a series of open lessons for schoolchildren, who will learn how they can unleash their potential in the online sector, how to stay safe online, and how to utilize digital products. There will also be a conference for industry professionals with a number of breakaway sessions featuring the leading speakers on the Russian internet. Those who have been working in the sector for years, as well as those who are only just taking their first steps, will benefit from these events. We will also offer an opportunity to the most daring IT professionals to take part in two hakathons,” RAEC Director Sergey Plugotarenko said.
Government officials, regional ministers for digital development, media and communications, representatives of the Russian IT market, as well regional companies, have been invited to attend these events.
To learn more about RIF.South forum and to register for the event, go to https://runet-id.com/event/rif-south21/.
