TYUMEN, September 20Since 2022, Russian fuel and energy companies have made a number of significant steps towards import substitution of software, but problems with the transition to Russian software remain; Representatives of government and business discussed ways to solve emerging difficulties at the panel session «Infrastructure software for the industry: challenges, solutions, prospects» within the framework of the industrial and energy forum TNF 2023.
Development of multifunctional software systems
The session participants agreed that the development of universal, easily scalable software and hardware systems (SHC) is one of the key tasks for creating a sustainable foundation for technological sovereignty.
According to Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation Alexey Zarenin, one of the main difficulties faced by the developers was the definition of what PAK is. “Now we have a clear definition, and it is divided into three classes. PAK in medicine, in oil and gas and from the point of view of the firewall are completely different things,” said Zarenin.
According to the Deputy Minister, developers, even if they do not fall under any of the existing definitions, should not give up. «If you have developed a PAK, but do not fall under the definition, we will absolutely correct it. I ask everyone to come, tell us, submit applications and, accordingly, get involved. We are as open as possible. Oil and gas developers have nuances, since they cannot fall into either , nor to any other list,” the speaker noted.
Disassemble barriers and eliminate difficulties
At the end of last year, PACs were included in the register of Russian software of the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation. As a result, domestic developers of PAKs received tax breaks and various preferences in government procurement. Active work has begun on building domestic software and hardware stacks.
During the session, Deputy Minister of Energy of Russia Eduard Sheremettsev noted that he does not know a single country in the world that has 37 operating systems, but Russia already has it. “But if a truly independent solution is created, we can only welcome it,” he noted.
However, the speaker warned companies against developing their own, “exclusive” operating systems. “I know how they buy exclusive rights to software. And then a company of 100 people sits and sorts through the source code, not knowing what to do with it. And this is not necessary. After all, if there is a solution on the market, it is necessary to implement it. Moreover, this does not lead to special costs,” Sheremetsev noted.
The TNF Industrial and Energy Forum is the main forum in Russia, uniting professionals from energy companies. Customers and manufacturers meet annually to search for and implement joint solutions. The countdown dates back to September 2003, when the Oil Week was first held in Tyumen. In 2022, the forum received federal status. This year it takes place from September 18 to 21. The program includes discussions on the development of the fuel and energy sector, technology days and purchasing sessions of leading oil and gas companies.
About 10 thousand people will take part in the forum events. The TNF EXPO exhibition is held as part of the forum. This year, 68 companies and enterprises, including residents of the Tyumen oil and gas cluster, will present their products and innovative developments.