Maxim Zagornov will moderate a panel session at SPIEF 2026

On June 3, the zero-day of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), the panel session “Russia and the UAE: New Pathways for Technological Cooperation” will be held by Business Russia with the support of the Distrubuted Power Generation Association. The moderator will be Maxim Zagorynov, the Business Ambassador of Business Russia in the UAE, President of the Distrubuted Power Generation Association, and Director of the ITS Center for Autonomous Energy at MIPT.

SPIEF website: a key business event in the economic sphere, held annually in Saint Petersburg. This year the forum will run from June 3–6 under the slogan “Pragmatic Dialogue – The Path to a Stable Future.” As tradition, it will bring together leading politicians and business representatives, scientists, and public figures to discuss current issues in the Russian and global economy.

On June 3, within the SME Forum at SPIEF’s zero-day, Business Russia and the Distrubuted Power Generation Association will conduct the panel session titled “Russia and the UAE: New Pathways for Technological Cooperation”.   The session aims to discuss concrete growth points and mechanisms for effective technological partnership between Russia and the UAE, as well as tools to support and stimulate technology exchange between our countries.

It should be noted that the UAE’s strategy to become a global technology hub entails substantial investments in high-tech sectors and the development of international partnerships, including with Russia. Leading universities and the Mubadala investment fund are interested in cooperating with Russian technology companies in areas such as AI, robotics, fintech, space, bioeconomy, distributed and renewable energy. The rapid growth of computational loads from training neural networks and operating data centers stimulates demand for efficient data-center power supply solutions and expansion of international partnerships in this field.

A key question is how to overcome barriers to technology transfer, strengthen Russia’s technological sovereignty, and create synergies with leading international players.

The session of Business Russia and the Distrubuted Power Generation Association will focus on identifying specific growth points and discussing mechanisms for technological partnership between Russia and the UAE, as well as exploring new opportunities for commercializing Russian developments in the Middle East market.

Speakers include:

• Dmitry Livanov, Rector of MIPT
• Samuel Mao, Co-Chair of the UAE University Climate Network, Senior Director of the Institute and Professor at Khalifa University
• Timur Kornilov, Managing Director for Strategic International Partnership, Knowledge Transfer and Technologies, Skolkovo Foundation
• Khalid Al Marzuki, Vice President for International Business Development, KEZAD Group
• Natalia Popova, First Deputy CEO of the Non-Governmental Development Institute Innopraktika
• Ekaterina Petrova, Director of Innovations and Technological Development at российская Venture Company; Director of the GenerationS corporate accelerator
• Andrey Antonov, General Director and Founder of Credo (Credo.Tech)
• Alexey Kamynin, General Director of CHZEO
• Anton Kuchin, Founder of "DIGITAL LAB"

The session will be moderated by Maxim Zagornov, Business Ambassador of Business Russia in the UAE, President of the Distrubuted Power Generation Association, Director of ITS Autonomous Energy at MIPT, and Group of Companies “MKS.”

We invite everyone planning to participate in SPIEF-2026 to attend the session of Business Russia and the Distrubuted Power Generation Association, or join the live broadcast.

Session date: June 3, 2026 
Session time: 12:00 – 13:30 
Venue: Saint Petersburg, EXPOFORUM Convention and Exhibition Center, Peterburgskoye Shosse, 64, Building 1, Pavilion G, Hall G4 
Live broadcast: at the link