The iDigital-38 Digital Solutions Forum Brought Together Over 800 Participants

On November 28, the closing of the iDigital-38 Digital Solutions III Forum was organized with the support of INRTU in the Irkutsk Youth House. The event ended up with a resolution aimed at the regional IT-industry development. The winners of the Forum-held competitions and hackathons were awarded with prizes.

The iDigital-38 event was organized by the Ministry of Digital Development and Communications of the Irkutsk Region, Forus Group of Companies and INRTU. The project's main focus was on implementing the best digital solutions, modernizing technologies and training in the IT field, and involving the youth in problem-solving in the real sector of the economy.

The Youth House hosted five sections that brought together over 800 representatives of government, business, education, students and schoolchildren. The participants of each section put forward proposals for the region's digital industry development, which the moderators presented at the closing ceremony.

Irina Shevtsova, General Director of Forus Group of Companies, moderated the section "Experience of the Region's digital transformation in view of the modern IT trends".

"We notice how the audience, the number of speakers and the quality of their presentations are growing. We were pleased with the level of training of INRTU undergraduates who develop artificial intelligence technologies for the benefit of medicine and various industries. 

At the section, the IT staff shortage issue became acute. Many companies intend to double their IT staff in a few years. Business representatives proved eager to employ interdisciplinary specialists," she said.

Igor Rymorenko, Minister of Digital Development and Communications of the Irkutsk Region leaded the discussion on digitalization of the public sector. The Minister proposed to train schoolchildren in artificial intelligence technologies, improve training in information security, and develop new ways of communication between authorities and citizens.

Alexey Anoshko, Head of the INRTU Laboratory of Network Systems and IT Infrastructure, told about IT internship opportunities for young people. For regional IT companies not only IT specialists are required, but also psychologists, economists, marketing specialists and even competent philologists to develop voice assistants.

At the end of the event, Vladimir Smirnov, INRTU Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, awarded the winners of competitions and hackathons. This year, as part of iDigital-38, INRTU launched a contest of IT projects for schoolchildren and students, the second IrkCyberDef cyber training, and the Alt Festival of Russian operating systems. In partnership with the En+ holding company, the University organized a hackathon on 1C "A simple to-do planner and no more".

The IrkCyberDef was won by the Venator team. The second rated the Cyber Shaman team. The third line of the leader board was awarded to EOWC.

The winners of the 1C hackathon were the combined team INRTU and Irkutsk State University students - participants of the IT Academy program. The Quart-Cotix team of Angarsk Industrial and Economic Technical School took the second place.

The winners of the IT projects for schoolchildren and students contest were awarded 50 thousand rubles each by INRTU. The representatives of Irkutsk State University of Railway Transport, who presented a VR-trainer to study the design and faults of the railroad contact network, were recognized as the leaders among students.

The Schoolchildren's Best Project nomination was awarded to the Kvart-Kotiks team. They developed a game to introduce young people to the cultural heritage and unique nature of the Baikal region.