Rostelecom creates the AI Scaling Center, an open consortium designed to unite infrastructure, technologies, expertise, and market needs for the industrial implementation of AI solutions across key sectors of the Russian economy. The agreement to establish the center was signed at the Architectural Council, an industry event where the X.Technologies cluster annually brings together key players in the Russian AI market, including IT developers, infrastructure and investment partners, science representatives and major corporate clients.
The Skolkovo Foundation, along with the companies InBoost, Manaraga, Guardora, Chaitech, Chatme.AI and KIT, have become initial participants in the AI consortium. The starting platform for the initiative is Fazum, a company within the X.Technologies digital cluster. In the future, other interested technology companies developing AI and major corporate clients will be able to join the center's work.
The key task of the AI Scaling Center is to assist Russian businesses in overcoming systemic barriers that currently hinder the industrial implementation of artificial intelligence in Russia. These primarily include talent shortages, limited infrastructure, fragmented demand and the absence of a sustainable investment model. By pooling resources, using a unified infrastructure, reusing technologies and competencies, and consolidating outreach to major clients, the center will enable the implementation of AI solutions faster, cheaper, and more predictably.
The center's scope of activities will include AI consulting with process diagnostics and the calculation of economic effects; the development and operation of an AI platform with a library of standard industry solutions; the formation of product teams working on the client's side; the supply of secure hardware and software complexes for on-premise infrastructure; as well as competence transfer and personnel training.
"By creating the AI consortium, we act as architects of a new open ecosystem built on the Build-Operate-Transfer model" Dmitry Reydmanm, Head of the X.Technologies Cluster and Director for Digital Business Development at Rostelecom said. "The AI Scaling Center will operate as a commercial organization focused on creating value for all participants. We invite leading technology companies, as well as clients, to join this work to jointly solve the strategic task of developing the Russian AI market and increasing the competitiveness of the national economy at the global level".
The open innovation model is optimal for finding, developing, and implementing advanced technologies worldwide. We are ready to contribute our expertise to the creation of an open consortium for the development and scaling of AI, together with technological leaders, partners, and residents of Skolkovo, as well as with the participation of leading research centers of Skoltech and MIPT. The emergence of such a consortium significantly increases the chances of implementing the strategy for the accelerated adaptation of AI in Russia"- Pavel Novikov, Managing Director of the Expertise Center of the Skolkovo Foundation added.