Strategic Technology Alliances: A New Imperative for Business Cooperation in Eurasia

7 September 2022

Strategic Technology Alliances: A New Imperative for Business Cooperation in Eurasia

KEY CONCLUSIONS

There is a need for new technological alliances because the global technological frame is changing

“Globalism and everything global are raising more and more concerns because we are now reaping the fruits of globalism. By that I mean high diversification of our production and technological chains. We see that unfortunately when the general agreement is broken and rules of globalization are not followed, it bears significant risks to national sovereignty. At the same time, it is important to avoid the opposite extremity – full autonomy or regionalization under the principle of closed unions and alliances, as this scenario does not provide for long-term development. Regional alliance development becomes very important, but it should be based on inclusivity and openness for partnership,” Alexey Gruzdev, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.

“Instead of talking about politics, we can address technological policies. After 24 February, we have witnessed radical changes in the list of partners we can work with, build a common technological space with, and develop high-tech cooperation with. On the other hand, it is part of this lengthy and strategic process of reformatting the global technological frame. What we see now is the creation of new technological spaces. We are entering a new technological cycle with brand-new technological alliances,” Andrey Bezrukov, President, Technological Sovereignty Exports Association; Professor, Department of Applied International Analysis, MGIMO University.

“The ties between India and Russia are the cornerstone of Indian foreign policy. Russia is our trusted friend. Russia has benefitted the development of the Indian economy and plays an important role in the development of defence technologies. Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched a new programme called ‘New Strategic Technologies’. This programme has a roadmap for the Indian businesses that develop technologies and support the country’s geopolitical goals. <…> Any technologies that help us get rid of any dependencies are welcome. Political sanctions have affected technologies, and western countries frequently ban using technologies in our country. Naturally, we need to come up with a meticulous strategy and see how we can work under sanctions. Yet, it opens great opportunities for Russian companies to cooperate with India, much like it is a chance for Indian companies to work with Russia,” Skannd Tyagi, Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Starshot Ventures.

“We are now facing the task set by Russian President Vladimir Putin – shaping the great Eurasian partnership. The concept under development provides for the digital dimension of the greater Eurasia. Not everything is easy about it. On the one hand, we need to develop the digital infrastructure of this space. On the other hand, we need to align the digital policy and standards in this space. Moreover, we believe that all these things need to be based on the Eurasian Economic Union that is on the rise but faces certain problems and obstacles. Yet they are growing pains. Our space has such strong players as China, India, and some countries of the South-East Asia. They can become our partners, while being our competition. In this sense, the great Eurasian partnership can help us resolve this dichotomy,” Kirill Barsky, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Thailand.

PROBLEMS

Current state of technological development is vulnerable

“We need to set our priorities. Restoring all chains is an unrealistic task, much like substitute import in everything and hopefully outshine the import. That is another new term. This is why we need to identify the critical areas of technological vulnerability. For example, Swift – the payment system. By the way, there was an announcement in March that an alternative Russian-Indian payment system based on a Indian platform would get a trial run. So, we can confirm that first point: Swift is a critical area. The second area is digital financial assets. Now we are dealing with the legislation, while the countries that have a more supportive legislation are developing technologies more actively. While we are discussing that in theory digital financial assets can save us from sanctions, when it comes to payments, crypto enthusiasts are developing fast. This is why we need to launch pilot projects under experimental legal regimes as soon as possible to get a local taste of it. We pay skip on physical persons or wiring funds abroad for now, but we need to be developing this area. This could become a fundamental alliance for a new digital financial asset in friendly countries that would enjoy an opportunity to settle with Russia in their territories, as well as among each other,” Anna Sharipova, Managing Director for National Projects, Russian Technologies State Corporation.

SOLUTIONS

Eurasian space can build new ties and platforms for promoting Russian technologies

“Most importantly, to boost trade we need to avoid additional barriers for goods and technologies under current circumstances. That is being done in BRICS. Recently, we initiated the creation of the BRICS centre for industrial competencies. We would like to create such an open database for sharing best practices and technologies and for shaping new proposals on mutual development. <…> Together with our colleagues from the Ministry of Digital Development, we made a decision to establish a position of a digital attaché – this is not the final title. These are specialists to be detached to our trade missions and have high-tech competencies. They are supposed to evaluate our solutions represented by our trade missions and the need for our products and solutions on the market,” Alexey Gruzdev, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.

“As always, Russia has a window of opportunities and new horizons, when we can be more than participants in strategic projects. We can launch and lead them. Moreover, we can avoid old mistakes and old patterns and build those alliances on the principle of mutual respect with our partners, independence, and technological sovereignty. It means we need to understand that no political shift or political event in the world can undermine our technological sovereignty or a partner country. Because a technological university is the foundation of economic prosperity and growth in any country,” Vadim Glushchenko, Director, Center for Global IT-Cooperation.

“What are we doing under current conditions? Of course, we are building backup import and export channels. We now understand that we cannot put all eggs in one basket, and we need to diversify those ties. Most importantly, we need to shape the foundation for the future. A general agreement has been mentioned today. This is the cornerstone: any technological development must be based on a single or common standard. Otherwise, if we develop any technological platform, we will face the problem of aligning it with alternative technological platforms. This is the cornerstone for diversified technological development in the Eurasian economic union. Whatever is related to regulation or technological standards is taken to the national level,” Alexey Gruzdev, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.

“Another agenda that is closer to the one Rostec is managing is various business councils. The most notable one is Singapore Business Council. In this context, we are also developing a shared-use centre, which allows friendly countries united around this council to work in the soft is a service mode and avoid costly licence purchases. In addition, an information system is being developed that allows us to see suppliers and their target status online. This is, after all, procurement automation, which makes it possible to move from an information system to a system that is already automating international relations in terms of certain procurements,” Anna Sharipova, Managing Director for National Projects, Russian Technologies State Corporation.

Strategic Technology Alliances: A New Imperative for Business Cooperation in Eurasia

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