DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION, EXPERIENCE AND EXAMPLES OF ADVANCED IMPORT SUBSTITUTION – CEO OF EXPOFORUM INTERNATIONAL, PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN UNION OF EXHIBITIONS AND FAIRS SERGEY VORONKOV TOLD HOW THE FORUM-EXHIBITION "RUSSIAN INDUSTRIALIST-2022" WILL RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGES OF THE TIME. THE EVENT WILL BE HELD IN ST. PETERSBURG FROM NOVEMBER 29 TO DECEMBER 1, 2022 AT THE EXPOFORUM CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTER.
– Sergey, please, tell us in general terms what is the forum-exhibition "Russian Industrialist-2022"?
– This year the event is held under the auspices of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) with the participation of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia and the Government of St. Petersburg.
"Russian Industrialist" will become a federal platform for discussions and consultations of big business with the state, leading technology companies, medium and small businesses on the development agenda in modern conditions of limited resources and sanctions pressure.
"Russian Industrialist-2022" consists of five key thematic blocks: industrial policy (forms of support for industrial enterprises); import substitution; modern engineering education (Engineering Forum); digital transformation of industry; international industrial cooperation.
The project will bring together specialists from various industries on one site: instrumentation, radio electronics, robotics, machine tool construction, metalworking. The architecture of the project contains congress, business and exhibition programs, which are complemented by specialized excursions. Satellite and parallel events include the Composite Forum, the Forum of Automotive Industry Enterprises, the Forum on Robotics from the Creonomika cluster, the XVII International Forum-Exhibition on the Development of Transport Corridors and Logistics Infrastructure TRANSTEC, as well as the 30th International Exhibition of Security Equipment and Equipment for Safety and Fire Protection Sfitex. All related events will be of interest to industrialists.
– Are there any features of the current event that distinguish it from the previous ones?
– The main feature and difference of the current forum-exhibition is its status. "Russian Industrialist-2022" is an international event at the federal level. The organizing committee includes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin, Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov. We hope that they will speak at the opening ceremony and take part in the plenary session.
- Can you name any particular events within the framework of the forum?
– The congress program "Russian Industrialist-2022" includes more than 80 events. Among the key ones are the plenary session "The New Look of Russian Industry in a changing world: import substitution, modernization, personnel", the conference "Import Substitution in the interests of high–tech industry", meetings of the committees and commissions of the RSPP and a meeting of the Board of the RSPP, which should be especially noted, since the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs represents the real sector of the Russian economy Engineering Forum is also worth highlighting. Within its framework, presentations of leading Russian engineering schools are planned with the support of the Ministry of Science and Education. 90 universities have applied for participation. As a result, 30 candidates were selected.
The key requirements were digitalization, readiness to completely redesign the training and training program, co-financing from industrial enterprises for which professional personnel will be trained, their willingness to invest about 4 billion rubles in the process of training, retraining teachers, equipping laboratories and classrooms. An average of 500 specialists should be trained during the project period.
Among the participants, the Bauman Moscow State Technical University should be noted. The leader of their aerospace project is cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev. Now he is on the ISS, but he will arrive directly from orbit at the forum-exhibition "Russian Industrialist-2022".
Important areas of the Engineering Forum are the training of IT specialists, the St. Petersburg Scientific and Educational Congress.
With the support of the Committee on Industrial Policy, Innovation and Trade of St. Petersburg-Excursions to industrial enterprises of the city are planned for participants and students of St. Petersburg. Among them are the Raketa Watch Factory, the Imperial Porcelain Factory, and the Multifunctional Marine Transshipment Complex (MMPC) "Bronka", Leningrad Bakery Plant named after S.M. Kirov, Izhora Pipe Plant, Proletarian Plant, SredneNevsky Shipyard.
As part of the business program, the Import Substitution, Subcontracting and Business Contacts Exchange will operate – a large-scale business platform where the largest industrial enterprises and government customers will negotiate with new import-substituting manufacturers, suppliers and contractors. More than 1000 business meetings are expected.
Buyers are large industrial companies, factories, large and medium-sized businesses that have a need to replace imported technologies and products. Suppliers are domestic companies offering new solutions for the Russian industry in the field of IT technologies, instrumentation, engine building, mechanical engineering, industrial safety and ecology, robotics, marketing and advertising, logistics, technical means of labor protection and others. In total, more than 100 participants are expected.
I would like to add that the search for new partners, suppliers, sales markets, building new logistics and cooperation chains are all vital conditions for the existence of Russian business in general and domestic industry in particular in modern realities. Exhibitions and congresses are the most effective way to solve current problems. They contribute to the rapid establishment of communication and allow you to find new customers or new partners ready for long-term cooperation in the shortest possible time.
– Who will be among the participants of the forum-exhibition?
– More than 300 exhibitors are expected at the exhibition. 40 companies from 20 Russian regions and Belarus have already confirmed their participation. Among them are "Belarusian machines", "Lipetsk Technology", "AMN ENGINEERING", "Northern Dawn", "Power Machines", Nevsky Plant, Sevkabel, "Red October", LOMO, Obukhov plant and others. Collective expositions will be presented by regional departmental organizations, such as, for example, the Office for Ensuring the Activities of the Representative Office of the Komi Republic in the Northwestern Federal District, the Ministry of Industrial Policy of the Republic of Crimea, the Export Support Center of the Leningrad Region, the Service for Work with Indigenous Peoples of the North of the administration of the Surgut district.
In September, negotiations will be held with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kazakhstan on attracting Kazakhstani enterprises to participate in the forum-exhibition.
Delegations are expected not only from the countries of the near and far abroad. Representatives of Latin America, India, Turkey, Iran, and Myanmar showed interest in the forum.
– Are there any special goals for the upcoming event?
– One of the most important tasks of the Russian Industrialist-2022 is to further enhance the attractiveness of engineering education and show young people that they have made the right choice and that their knowledge, skills and abilities will be in demand in the labor market. Engineering and technical sciences are the most popular scientific direction among Russian students. According to statistics, 32% of applicants chose it in 2022.
Therefore, satellite events of the youth program are planned within the framework of the forum, where special trainings will be held, the results of launching student startups will be discussed. A Forum of working youth and a Career Guidance Forum will also be held. One of the key organizers of these events will be the St. Petersburg branch of the Higher School of Economics.
In parallel with the Russian Industrialist, the St. Petersburg International Scientific and Educational Salon will be held on the Expoforum site from December 1 to 3. The flow of future specialists is expected to be large.
– And the final question. What changes could you note in the organization of the work of the "Russian Industrialist" compared to previous years?
– The project itself changes after the time. "Russian Industrialist" proclaims digitalization as one of the key thematic blocks and integrates itself into this process. In the telegram channel of the project, you can quickly find out about all the new products and exclusive news that are waiting for visitors of the forum-exhibition. A special section "Keychain of utilities" has also been created on the project's website. With its help, potential participants, based on their wishes and needs, will receive relevant proposals on the forms and methods of participation.
– Sergey, please, tell us in general terms what is the forum-exhibition "Russian Industrialist-2022"?
– This year the event is held under the auspices of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) with the participation of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia and the Government of St. Petersburg.
"Russian Industrialist" will become a federal platform for discussions and consultations of big business with the state, leading technology companies, medium and small businesses on the development agenda in modern conditions of limited resources and sanctions pressure.
"Russian Industrialist-2022" consists of five key thematic blocks: industrial policy (forms of support for industrial enterprises); import substitution; modern engineering education (Engineering Forum); digital transformation of industry; international industrial cooperation.
The project will bring together specialists from various industries on one site: instrumentation, radio electronics, robotics, machine tool construction, metalworking. The architecture of the project contains congress, business and exhibition programs, which are complemented by specialized excursions. Satellite and parallel events include the Composite Forum, the Forum of Automotive Industry Enterprises, the Forum on Robotics from the Creonomika cluster, the XVII International Forum-Exhibition on the Development of Transport Corridors and Logistics Infrastructure TRANSTEC, as well as the 30th International Exhibition of Security Equipment and Equipment for Safety and Fire Protection Sfitex. All related events will be of interest to industrialists.
– Are there any features of the current event that distinguish it from the previous ones?
– The main feature and difference of the current forum-exhibition is its status. "Russian Industrialist-2022" is an international event at the federal level. The organizing committee includes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin, Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov. We hope that they will speak at the opening ceremony and take part in the plenary session.
- Can you name any particular events within the framework of the forum?
– The congress program "Russian Industrialist-2022" includes more than 80 events. Among the key ones are the plenary session "The New Look of Russian Industry in a changing world: import substitution, modernization, personnel", the conference "Import Substitution in the interests of high–tech industry", meetings of the committees and commissions of the RSPP and a meeting of the Board of the RSPP, which should be especially noted, since the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs represents the real sector of the Russian economy Engineering Forum is also worth highlighting. Within its framework, presentations of leading Russian engineering schools are planned with the support of the Ministry of Science and Education. 90 universities have applied for participation. As a result, 30 candidates were selected.
The key requirements were digitalization, readiness to completely redesign the training and training program, co-financing from industrial enterprises for which professional personnel will be trained, their willingness to invest about 4 billion rubles in the process of training, retraining teachers, equipping laboratories and classrooms. An average of 500 specialists should be trained during the project period.
Among the participants, the Bauman Moscow State Technical University should be noted. The leader of their aerospace project is cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev. Now he is on the ISS, but he will arrive directly from orbit at the forum-exhibition "Russian Industrialist-2022".
Important areas of the Engineering Forum are the training of IT specialists, the St. Petersburg Scientific and Educational Congress.
With the support of the Committee on Industrial Policy, Innovation and Trade of St. Petersburg-Excursions to industrial enterprises of the city are planned for participants and students of St. Petersburg. Among them are the Raketa Watch Factory, the Imperial Porcelain Factory, and the Multifunctional Marine Transshipment Complex (MMPC) "Bronka", Leningrad Bakery Plant named after S.M. Kirov, Izhora Pipe Plant, Proletarian Plant, SredneNevsky Shipyard.
As part of the business program, the Import Substitution, Subcontracting and Business Contacts Exchange will operate – a large-scale business platform where the largest industrial enterprises and government customers will negotiate with new import-substituting manufacturers, suppliers and contractors. More than 1000 business meetings are expected.
Buyers are large industrial companies, factories, large and medium-sized businesses that have a need to replace imported technologies and products. Suppliers are domestic companies offering new solutions for the Russian industry in the field of IT technologies, instrumentation, engine building, mechanical engineering, industrial safety and ecology, robotics, marketing and advertising, logistics, technical means of labor protection and others. In total, more than 100 participants are expected.
I would like to add that the search for new partners, suppliers, sales markets, building new logistics and cooperation chains are all vital conditions for the existence of Russian business in general and domestic industry in particular in modern realities. Exhibitions and congresses are the most effective way to solve current problems. They contribute to the rapid establishment of communication and allow you to find new customers or new partners ready for long-term cooperation in the shortest possible time.
– Who will be among the participants of the forum-exhibition?
– More than 300 exhibitors are expected at the exhibition. 40 companies from 20 Russian regions and Belarus have already confirmed their participation. Among them are "Belarusian machines", "Lipetsk Technology", "AMN ENGINEERING", "Northern Dawn", "Power Machines", Nevsky Plant, Sevkabel, "Red October", LOMO, Obukhov plant and others. Collective expositions will be presented by regional departmental organizations, such as, for example, the Office for Ensuring the Activities of the Representative Office of the Komi Republic in the Northwestern Federal District, the Ministry of Industrial Policy of the Republic of Crimea, the Export Support Center of the Leningrad Region, the Service for Work with Indigenous Peoples of the North of the administration of the Surgut district.
In September, negotiations will be held with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kazakhstan on attracting Kazakhstani enterprises to participate in the forum-exhibition.
Delegations are expected not only from the countries of the near and far abroad. Representatives of Latin America, India, Turkey, Iran, and Myanmar showed interest in the forum.
– Are there any special goals for the upcoming event?
– One of the most important tasks of the Russian Industrialist-2022 is to further enhance the attractiveness of engineering education and show young people that they have made the right choice and that their knowledge, skills and abilities will be in demand in the labor market. Engineering and technical sciences are the most popular scientific direction among Russian students. According to statistics, 32% of applicants chose it in 2022.
Therefore, satellite events of the youth program are planned within the framework of the forum, where special trainings will be held, the results of launching student startups will be discussed. A Forum of working youth and a Career Guidance Forum will also be held. One of the key organizers of these events will be the St. Petersburg branch of the Higher School of Economics.
In parallel with the Russian Industrialist, the St. Petersburg International Scientific and Educational Salon will be held on the Expoforum site from December 1 to 3. The flow of future specialists is expected to be large.
– And the final question. What changes could you note in the organization of the work of the "Russian Industrialist" compared to previous years?
– The project itself changes after the time. "Russian Industrialist" proclaims digitalization as one of the key thematic blocks and integrates itself into this process. In the telegram channel of the project, you can quickly find out about all the new products and exclusive news that are waiting for visitors of the forum-exhibition. A special section "Keychain of utilities" has also been created on the project's website. With its help, potential participants, based on their wishes and needs, will receive relevant proposals on the forms and methods of participation.