Highly sensitive sensors: the first implantation of a neural interface in the brain
Maxim Ostras, director
This year, quite an interesting event wasimplantation of a new type of neurointerfaces. This is a unique invasive solution, because it does not require making holes in the skull to implement it – the electrodes are directed to the desired area of the brain endovascularly, through the jugular vein.
As is customary in DeepTech startups, far fromAll scientific and technological hypotheses can be confirmed. And we are no exception: we had to abandon some design aspects of the product being developed. However, constant discussions and brainstorms with the team and potential consumers allow us to correct the situation and move further towards the goal.
Also in 2022, there were difficulties with the purchasecomponents and pieces of equipment - it just took more time. External challenges made it possible to unite the team more strongly - the guys began to work with much greater efficiency. This had a positive effect on the atmosphere within the team.
If only this year we were just startingproduct development, we would focus more on the market than the technology. Technology teams often “sin” with this, shifting the focus from the client and his pains to technology as such.
Quantum Communications: First Cryptographic Device Certification
Pavel Vorobyov, Executive Director of QRate, a developer of electronic devices based on quantum cryptography
The main technological victory of the year isobtaining by our colleagues a positive conclusion of the regulator on the quantum key distribution device. They did a great job and got results that clearly demonstrate the efficiency of the technology. In the field of quantum communications, obtaining a positive opinion is a big step towards future certification.
In 2022, we are faced with a market restructuringcomponents. Some manufacturers of microcomponents left the market due to sanctions on the sale of a certain list of products, so we had to quickly look for alternative sources of supply and build new supply chains. Despite the great difficulties, there are also certain victories: it has become much easier to interact with the state on issues of import substitution.
If only we had started this yearproduct development, we would immediately focus on solving customer needs. They would analyze the solutions they are using now and propose useful improvements using quantum cryptography.
The main technological victory of the year is obtaining a positive regulatory opinion on a quantum key distribution device
IT development: transition to domestic software
Alexey Pelevin, CEO and founder of PRAVO TECH
Import substitution is the main event of the industry,which shook everyone this year: both vendors and businesses. Departure of SAP, Oracle, Microsoft from Russia was most strongly reflected in our market. Russian IT companies and vendors faced a challenge - to make a breakthrough and quickly replace foreign products that have deeply penetrated business ecosystems - from small to corporations. At the same time, it is important to migrate data from previous systems and correctly implement them into the existing IT structure of the company.
In addition, AI and decisionsupport system - that is, when algorithms, thanks to the analysis of big data, help lawyers make the right decisions. There is an algorithm that calculates the probability of the outcome of a court case. It is very accurate - 82%. More than 2 million cases are registered annually in the "Card Index of Arbitration Cases". As soon as the case is registered in court, you can immediately calculate the probability of its outcome. And if some procedural event occurs in the case, the probability is recalculated on the fly. These data are already used by the largest banks in their scoring models.
The first thing that gets in the way is humanfactor. A certain conservatism, which is used to work traditionally in Outlook, Office, Excel, does not allow you to look at the technology a little wider. The second problem is that the legal function in most cases is perceived as serving. Until lawyers learn how to prove their business value, their funding will be carried out on a residual basis. The third problem is that, unfortunately, there are not enough players and solutions, approaches and platforms on the Russian market to choose from. Such a complex of problems leads to a slowdown in the emergence of meaningful solutions.
Basic principle:The more turbulent the situation in the world—financial, economic, geopolitical—the more work lawyers have. The more work lawyers have, the more technology is in demand. We also see a positive trend that will have a long-lasting effect - a decrease in the share of foreign solutions, many of which had an outdated interface, in favor of Russian user-friendly systems.
If only we could start developing our ownproduct, I would advise you to go to your users and clients as early and quickly as possible - don’t be afraid to show them even prototypes. Yes, at first it may be “painful” due to the number of refusals, but with every week and month you understand better and better in which direction to develop the product. The approach I recommend is much more effective than analyzing competitors, because you don’t always know what “features” people are buying from them. Especially when it comes to the development of complex systems.
Quantum Computing: Progress in the Development of the Semiconductor Quantum Platform
Ruslan Yunusov, co-founder of the Russian Quantum Center
Today, both in Russia and in the world, scientists traditionallyare creating quantum processors on four platforms: superconductors, ions, atoms and photons. Each has its own advantages, so it is not yet possible to single out a clear leader among the platforms. The main technological event in the field of quantum computing in 2022 can be called significant progress in the development of a new semiconductor quantum platform.
Semiconductor technologies are the basis of modernmicroelectronics. They are well developed, have the ability to operate at room temperatures, and are easily scalable for mass production of products. The semiconductor (silicon) quantum platform is attractive primarily because of its potential to create quantum coprocessors (QPUs) manufactured using standard microelectronic technologies. In 2022, scientists managed to increase the accuracy of operations to 99.96% and increase the accuracy preparation of the quantum state. We can say that another candidate platform has appeared in the world for creating a multiqubit quantum computer.
As for the difficulties, we encounteredsuspension of a significant share of supply contracts. And this, of course, affects the pace of work. For a number of positions, the production period for equipment may exceed a year, and if the contract is re-signed, the countdown begins anew. Government support helps. We see that the country does not give up on high-tech development: federal initiatives are being launched to support scientists, road maps are being extended. The current situation, in a sense, has become an additional catalyst for the development of domestic technologies.
If only we were to developtechnologies, then we would increase the timeframe for the implementation of the planned stages - we would allow time for force majeure circumstances and the search for alternative options. But you can’t predict everything, the development of a new technology and any high-tech product is an equation with a large number of unknowns.
Voice assistants: widespread introduction of robots with artificial intelligence
Denis Balura, founder and CEO of the Tomoru platform for creating smart voice robots
Automation and cost reduction have beenkeynote in business in 2022. Previously, only large companies could afford to implement voice assistants and assistants: small and medium-sized businesses were left with auto calls and IVR systems. This year, even those who have just started their own business have got robots with artificial intelligence.
At the beginning of the year, part of the technologicalinfrastructure was not located on the territory of the country. There was a high risk of reducing the stability of the platform. At the top of the list of development tasks was the transfer of a significant part of the system to Russian servers, which we did not without difficulties, but quickly coped with. And after the departure of foreign companies that solved the problems of marketing, automation and work with clients, the budgets of Russian companies began to remain inside the country. Companies began to invest their resources in domestic players. That is, the demand for the platform has grown organically.
Startup development is a journey in itselfthorny. What we went through eventually led us to where we are now and to the prospects that await us. What we would definitely do differently would be to immediately start using our product on our own. At an early stage, we ourselves did not understand the full potential of the technology.
Automation and cost reduction were the keynote in business in 2022
Robotization: mass debut of Russian RPA manufacturers
Mikhail Verisov, Director of RPA Next
In the "world of RPA" the key events of the foreseeableof the past were the departure of Western vendors - suppliers of RPA platforms, and the massive entry into the market of Russian manufacturers. I had to quickly test all manufacturers of RPA platforms and transfer everything that had been done earlier to domestic software.
The main goal was to do everything possible tomaintain the pace of development of software robotization for our customers. To do this, the team had to carefully work on the process of porting software robots. As a result, we even came up with a pipeline for migrating RPA robots to the Russian platform using the Kanban methodology.
Now it has become much more convenient to deliverfor software license customers: there are no exchange rate differences, conversions, etc. On the other hand, prices for licenses of Russian RPA platforms are, of course, significantly lower: their price is two and sometimes four times lower than their Western counterparts.
Our team is not directlyproduct developer: we have been RPA integrators since 2018, we work with all Russian platforms and have robotized several hundred business processes. If we started only now, we would enter the market more aggressively. It should be taken into account that detailed awareness of enterprises about RPA technology and the capabilities of software robots today remains at a rather low level.
eSports: Creating a Virtual PC Mode
Alexey Lykov, head of cloud gaming services VK Play
VK Play Cloud created a virtual computer mode in 2022. The service allows users to manage their Windows desktop as if they were their own PC.
The most difficult thing in technology development this yearhas become a connection to Android-based platforms. This is especially true for the issue of latency for cloud games. If for regular videos the user can use the player built into a specific Android build, then for low latency - not. The development team wanted to ensure the most efficient experience on different devices. A lot of work has been done to improve and will continue to improve the quality of low latency streaming.
To make a cool product in the cloudgaming, the market needs qualified specialists, who, unfortunately, are not yet available in Russia. Specialists can only be found in foreign companies. It is very difficult to assemble a really effective team, which I had to go through the hard way. However, the mistakes made made it possible to grow strongly and understand what was done wrong before. If the existing knowledge was earlier, everything would be much easier and faster.
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