Dispatch From Russia: Legal Tech Startups Emerge, But Adoption Lags

A visit to Moscow reveals a burgeoning legal technology industry with an emerging ecosystem of startups, though adoption by Russian law firms remains slow. The Skolkovo Innovation Center, a government-funded hub, supports numerous startups across various tech sectors. The Skolkovo Technopark, housing the Innovation Center and the Skolkovo Institute of Technology, offers a futuristic environment with advanced transportation solutions. Despite the progress, the legal tech market in Russia faces challenges in widespread adoption.

Group-IB to help Waves blockchain platform repel phishing attacks

Group-IB, a cybersecurity firm, has partnered with the Waves blockchain platform to combat a phishing scam targeting Waves users. The scam involved fraudulent Facebook pages offering bonuses to access user accounts. Group-IB, known for its expertise in high-tech crime, praised Waves for its proactive measures. The collaboration aims to protect users and set a standard in the crypto industry. Group-IB has a history of investigating cybercrimes and recently saw increased investment from Altera Capital, highlighting its industry potential.

How to stop humans killing each other once we get to Mars

The article discusses the challenges of ensuring crew cohesion and psychological health during long-duration space missions, particularly to Mars. The NASA-funded HI-SEAS program simulates Mars-like conditions on a Hawaiian volcano to study these issues. Dr. Kim Binsted, the principal investigator, highlights the importance of selecting resilient crews and the potential for conflict. The project aims to understand and mitigate these challenges to ensure successful missions. Other international efforts, such as the Mars-500 mission, are also mentioned.

New generations of U.S. citizens are growing up in Russia

The article discusses the increasing trend of birth tourism among Russians, where they travel to the U.S. to give birth, ensuring U.S. citizenship for their children and access to the country's private medical care. The trend, once popular among the wealthy, is now being utilized by the middle class, facilitated by companies like Status-Med. Miami is a favored destination due to its climate and medical costs. The article highlights the stark contrast between the Russian and American healthcare experiences, as recounted by individuals like Nina and Alexandra Badanina, editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine. Despite the high costs associated with birth tourism, the desire for U.S. citizenship and better medical services drives this trend. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow states that medical tourism is legal, provided visa applicants can fund their medical expenses.

Russian teams to demonstrate bionic limbs and power of the mind at Cybathlon

The article discusses the preparation of Russian teams for the world's first Cybathlon, an event for disabled individuals using assistive technologies, set to take place in Zurich. Sergei Semaikin, a participant, demonstrates his brain-computer interface (BCI) skills, controlling a character on a screen with his mind. The technology for his participation is developed by Neurobotics. Other participants, such as Alexander Pankratov and Konstantin Deblikov, are using prosthetic arms developed by Kleiber Bionics and Motorica, respectively. Dmitry Ignatov showcases his training with a prosthetic leg from Orto-Kosmos. The article highlights the innovative assistive devices, still in the testing phase, and the Russian teams' confidence in their performance at the Cybathlon. The event is also supported by Russian development institutes like the Skolkovo Foundation and Russian Venture Company, with the aim of showcasing the potential of Russian technology on international markets.

Skolkovo startup develops prototype for 3D printer to make satellites on board ISS

Two Skolkovo startups, Anisoprint and Sputnix, have developed a prototype 3D printer capable of manufacturing satellites directly on the International Space Station (ISS). This new printer, which uses fibre-reinforced plastics, promises to produce stronger and more durable objects compared to the existing U.S. printer on the ISS. The project, initiated by Sputnix, aims to revolutionize satellite production by eliminating the need for rigorous pre-launch testing and reducing the overall weight and cost of materials. The prototype has garnered attention, including an inspection by President Vladimir Putin, and has undergone testing at the Sirius educational center. Despite the challenges, including regulatory approval from Roscosmos, the startups are optimistic about the future of additive manufacturing in space.

C3D Labs launches new visualizer for engineering software developers

C3D Labs, part of the Skolkovo IT cluster and a subsidiary of ASCON Group, has released a new module called C3D Vision for its C3D Toolkit, aimed at engineering software developers. The visualizer is tailored for the CAD industry, offering features like edge hiding, pixel culling, and mirroring. Beta testing was conducted with Center GeoS, which provided positive feedback. The C3D Vision 2016 module is available for a three-month trial, and the toolkit is utilized by CAD system developers and educational institutions worldwide.

'Give and take:' when giant companies join forces with startups

Multinational corporations like SAP are increasingly collaborating with small startups to foster innovation and adapt to market changes. Andrej Bievetski, managing director of SAP Labs in the CIS, emphasizes the mutual benefits of such partnerships, where startups provide agility and fresh ideas, while large companies offer expertise, resources, and market access. SAP supports startups through technology platforms, mentoring, and certification, helping them scale globally. The focus areas for SAP include the Industrial Internet of Things and machine learning, aiming to drive digital transformation and smart data processing.

On the menu of the future: crushed maggots

Amid the high-tech displays at Skolkovo’s Startup Bazaar, Novye Biotekhnologii showcased their innovative high-protein food supplement made from dried and crushed greenbottle larvae, branded as Zooprotein. This supplement, currently used in animal feed, is predicted to enter the human food market soon. The company, founded by Alexei Istomin and his family, emphasizes the ecological and health benefits of insect protein over traditional sources like fishmeal. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation supports entomophagy as a solution to global food insecurity and environmental issues. Despite the cultural resistance in Western countries, the company is working towards certifying its product in Russia, with Istomin himself already incorporating insect protein into his diet.

Nature already invented a cure for HIV: how human genome editing could change the world

Scientists at the Skolkovo Foundation discussed the potential and ethical implications of human genome editing, focusing on its application in treating diseases like HIV, X-SCID, and sickle cell disease. Marina Popova of AGCT highlighted the use of genome editing in HIV treatment, inspired by natural immunity found in some individuals. The article also covered advancements in gene editing technology, such as CRISPR, and the ethical debates surrounding the modification of human embryos. The discussion included perspectives from various stakeholders, including religious organizations and scientists, emphasizing the need for ongoing dialogue on the subject.