Projects - Institute of the Information Society

The Institute has completed the following key projects either independently or jointly with expert teams from other organizations:

Analysis of Main Trends in ICT Development for the period till 2030

The work was accomplished in 2009 on request of the Ministry of Communications of RF. Long-term problems and challenges as well as major factors of the communications and IT sectors development in Russia and in leading industrial countries have been determined. IIS experts outlined an hierarchy of most important goals and objectives for an innovative development of the above sector for medium- and long-term perspective. They also designed a technological road map of the sector’s development in Russian Federation till 2030.

Examination and Analysis of Official Web Sites of Public and Local Authorities of RF in regards to their Compliance with Federal Legislation

In 2009 IIS worked out a methodology of examination (monitoring) of official web sites of subjects of RF with respect to their compliance with provisions of Federal Law # 8-FZ "On Providing Access to Information regarding the Work of Public and Local Authorities" (dated February 09, 2009), including methods of examination. IIS specialists elaborated questionnaires for examining official web sites of regional government authorities. A group of experts examined the web sites, processed the results and prepared an analytical report for the customer: the Russian Ministry of Economic Development.

Working Out Proposals on Improvement, Optimization and Unification of Structure and Content of Indexes in Forms of Federal Statistical Monitoring in the sphere of Communications

IIS analyzed laws and regulations in the sphere of communications with respect to introduction of changes in effective forms of federal statistical monitoring. They proposed lists of forms that require changes or cancellation, of statistical indexes to be included in forms of federal statistical monitoring taking into account changes in relevant legislation as well as emerging technologies and services. The work was completed in 2009 within a state contract with the Russian Ministry of Communications.

Program of ICT implementation in the Ministry of Culture of RF

The work was accomplished in 2009 on request of the Main Data Centre of the Ministry of Culture of RF. IIS made analysis of ICT use in the operations of the Ministry, proposed a revision of current goals and objectives of ICT implementation, as well as that of expected results, recommended approaches to resource provision for the program, list of specific projects, and mechanism of program implementation.

Providing Expert Advice for Developing the Standardized ICT Solutions for the Regional Informatization in the Russian Federation

In 2007 the needs assessment of the regional standardized ICT solutions was conducted as part of the Federal e-Russia program (2002-2010) by request of Federal Agency on Information Technologies. This work resulted in developing the recommendations for implementing the Concept of regional informatization in the Russian federation and conducting a contest for the selection of pilot regions for implementation and testing of standard ICT Solutions in 2008. In 2008 the legal and technical assessment of eight standardized ICT solutions was completed to ensure their compliance with the Standard Program of ICT Development and Use in a RF Region and with the Rules of Developing, Testing, Upgrading and Implementing the Standard ICT Solutions for the Russian Regions. In addition, the IIS specialists worked on improving the methods of governing the development and adaptation process for the proposed technological solutions based on the architectural approach to building the information systems.

Developing the Standardized Program for Implementing the Modern ICTs in the Public Authorities as part of the e-Government Program

The Federal Agency of Information Technologies was the state primary initiator of this project, which was completed in 2008. The key executive entity was “Informexpertise.” This work was completed in accordance with the priority tasks identified by the Strategy of the Information Society Development in Russia, Presidential directives based on the State Council meeting of July 17, 2008 as well as the Concept of Forming e-Government system in Russia prior to 2010. The IIS developed methodological recommendations, which allowed a given agency to implement the standardized program while adapting it to their specific conditions. The Program also identifies the principles of determining priority tasks and directions which ought to be automated in the government.

Developing the ICT Training Programs for Government Authorities’ Employees

In 2007 three documents were created as part of the “Electronic Russia 2002-2010” Program based on the state contract between the Federal Education Agency and the Institute of the Information Society. These documents included the Concept of ICT Training for government officials, the packet of standardized programs for government ICT Training, and a set of methodological recommendations for the training process. The general principles of distance learning approach were determined taking into account the differences in personnel requirements as well as levels of Internet access for various categories of organizations and target audiences. Also identified were skills and knowledge sets necessary for each segment of the target audience. As a result of activities carried out in 2008, a complete set of training materials, instructions, and electronic versions of study modules were developed for the government employees.

Creating the Information and Reference System for Supporting the All-Russia Attestation Commission (VAK) of the Russian Federation Ministry of Education

During the first phase of the project (2008) the IIS analyzed the domestic and international experience of using the ICT for expert activity to evaluate professional achievements of scientists and teachers. As well, the concept of information system that would support activities of the All-Russia Attestation Commission was created. The second phase brought about the prototype of the information system and draft legislation that would enable its content provision and proper functioning.

Conducting e-Readiness Assessments

Since 2001 the Institute undertakes constant efforts aimed at assessing the level of Information Society development in Russia. Currently the following analytical reports represent the most significant outputs of this work (in reverse chronological order):

In 2005-2006 two IIS leading experts - Yuri Hohlov and Sergey Shaposhnik - were involved in implementing the project on monitoring telecommunications and the information Society. The prime objective of this FP6 project was to provide the European Commission with information on the development of the Information Society and the telecommunications market in Russia and some other New Independent States as well as barriers to such development. In the course of realization of the project four intermediate (spaced in half-year intervals) reports were prepared, which reflected the changes in CIS countries. The European Commission released a final report for the project "Monitoring of Russia and Ukraine (priority 1) and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Moldova (priority 2): Telecommunications and the Information Society".

Developing Forecast Indicators for Information Society Development based on the State Statistics and Administrative Reports

The project was completed in 2008 according to the state contract between the Federal Education Agency and the Institute of the Information Society as part of implementing the “Electronic Russia 2002-2010” Program. The Institute developed a system of indicators describing the key directions and factors of information society development at the federal and regional levels as well as created methodology and tools for collecting primary data required for calculating these indicators. The IIS tested these methods and tools during the final stages of the project using the 2007 data and also prepared a forecast of the key information society development indicators annually up to 2015.

Developing the Program of ICT Development and Use in the Republic of Tatarstan

This project became of the results of implementing the Protocol of Intentions in the field of implementing the comprehensive project “e-Government of the Republic of Tatarstan”, which was signed by the Tatarstan Cabinet of Ministers and the IIS on February 21, 2006. Development of the regional program of ICT development and use in Tatarstan in 2008-2010 was carried out as part of the state contract with the Information Technologies Center of Tatarstan until December 2007. The program draft was approved at the Tatarstan Cabinet of Ministers meeting on February 11, 2008.

Draft Sample Legislation “About the Internet”

This document was created by the Russian Association of Electronic Communications and the IIS by the request of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS countries. As part of this project the legal review of existing legislative practices in the CIS countries was prepared. The draft legislation was discussed at the meeting of the Information Policy Commission of the Federation Council on January 28, 2008 and brought about a wide public resonance.

Methodological Support of Implementing the Concept of Regional Informatization

In 2006 the IIS completed the project “Developing recommendations for implementing the Concept of Regional Informatization” as part of the “Electronic Russia 2002-2010” Program at the request of the Federal Agency on Information Technologies. As well, a tender was held to select the pilot regions for implementing and testing the standardized ICT solutions, which were created with the funds from the federal budget. As a result, the analytical report was prepared entitled “Analysis of ICT Development and Use in the Russian Regions” along with the Draft Standardized Program for ICT Development and Use in the Russian regions and Methods of its Adaptation for a Specific Region. A list of standard ICT solutions was created that were provided by the federal budget, and the system of their creation and dissemination in the Russian regions was set. The organizational support was provided for the Council of Regional Informatization under the Ministry of Informatization and for holding the tenders to select the regions for 2007 IT projects. In 2007-2008 the research was conducted and recommendations were developed for creating the system of implementing the regional informatization activities and voluntary certification. As a result, analytical report was produced which depicted the state of ICT use and development in the Russian regions as well as implementation of regional informatization programs. The report also included draft legislation, recommendations on standardized solutions’ applications in the regions, proposed list of activities aimed to support the dissemination and adoption of ICT in the regions and proposed systematic organization of the voluntary certification for regional informatization.

Development of E-Government services and standards in Tver Region

This project was completed in August 2007 as part of the state contract between the IIS and the Department of Transport and Communications of the Tver Region. The work included carrying out e-readiness assessment; working out the informatization standards for the Tver Region, which determine the region’s e-government architecture; drafting a regional target program for ICT development and use in Tver Region (Electronic Tver Region).

Developing Draft Municipal Program “E-Moscow 2008-2010”

In the context of research efforts made by request from the Moscow Informatization Department, based on the analysis of ‘E-Moscow (2003-2007)’ program implementation experience, the IIS drafted a concept for the city target program “E-Moscow” till 2010 and an outline for this program. In May 2007 the proposal for new e-Moscow 2008-2010 program was completed.

Developing e-Government Architecture for the Republic of Tatarstan

Project was carried out by IIS together with N.G. Chebotarev’s Research Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics at Kazan State University by the request of the state enterprise “Center of Information Technologies of the Republic of Tatarstan” in 2006. As a result of this work, a report on the research project was prepared entitled “E-Government Architecture of the Republic of Tatarstan.” The report contains a review of foreign and domestic experience of designing e-government architecture and introduces results of preliminary examination of the ICT use by governmental authorities of the Republic of Tatarstan. A pilot model portal of e-government architecture in Tatarstan was also developed as part of this project.

Developing Moscow's Unified Cultural Information System

Moscow’s Unified Cultural Information System (MUCIS) represents the basis for implementing the long-term strategy and comprehensive informatization program of the cultural sphere in Moscow. The project has been carried out since 2004. Legal framework for the system was developed and specialist education and training was provided during the first phase (chief executive entity was Moscow Telecommunications Corporation and the co-executor was the Institute for the Information Society). Consortium headed by IIS started developing the first stage of the system’s implementation requested by Moscow Committee on Culture in December 2006. MUCIS is brought about as an integrated system consisting of applied and functional subsystems. The following subsystems were developed in 2006-2008: “Moscow Public Libraries” [including the use of ‘single reader’s card’ technology], “Moscow Museums”, “Moscow Cultural Authorities” and ”Moscow Culture Portal”. Full-scale interaction between the aforementioned subsystems and with exterior information systems was carried out at further stages of the MUCIS implementation in Moscow. New capabilities were added, such as possibility to search and view information about the various events taking place in the city’s music and art schools, to perform expanded search of museum items’ and library documents’ descriptions, as well as ability to enroll in music and art schools as students.

Participation in Developing the Moscow Region Governmental Internet Portal

ABC company acted as a main contractor in implementing the first phase of a business portal project of Moscow region’s authorities and draft regulations in the field of electronic communication between the regional government and citizens as part of the program “E-Moscow Region for 2006-2009”. IIS carried out development of technical requirements for the portal and technical project for its creation, launched the system’s first line, and worked out draft administrative and e-administrative regulations in the field of service provision for the citizens in 2006.

Developing Voronezh Regional Administration Portal

This project was carried out according to a government contract between the administrative department of Voronezh region and the IIS. It provided for construction of an information system “Voronezh Regional Administration Internet Portal”. 2006 was marked by preparing the technical documentation on detailed design and applied software support, conducting preliminary tests and launch activities, supplying with maintenance staff, developing of regulatory documentation regarding system exploitation, conducting experimental running and putting the system into industrial operation. In 2007 the industrial implementation and guarantee service of this system was planned.

Developing the Website for Administrative Department of Moscow Government on Moscow Economic Security

Project was carried out in 2006 by the request of Moscow Informatization Department and Administrative Department of Moscow Government on Moscow Economic Security as part of the city program ‘E-Moscow’. Performance specifications and detailed design on web-site construction were prepared, software was developed, and experimental running and test were conducted.

Participation in Developing the Culture and Arts Gateway

2006 was marked by providing English-language content for the prototype of the Moscow City Portal, which is being developed in the context of city program “E-Moscow”. The work was completed by IIS on demand of the state unitary enterprise “Granit Center”. IIS also took part in developing a program and principles of preliminary tests of the portal’s 2^nd phase.

Construction of an Information Exchange Subsystem for the 2nd line of Automated Information System for Moscow Budget Administration

Work on the project requested by the Moscow Department of Economic Policy and Development started in December 2006. By mid-2007 the development of specific technical requirements for subsystem’s modules, software, technical project and documentation was completed, as well as putting applied software into operation, modeling network architecture and information exchange, and testing changes introduced at the production stage.

Designing an Integrated Automated Information System for International Assembly of Capitals and Big Cities

IIS carried out this project in 2006 by the request of Moscow Department of International Relations. The project included R&D on development of TOR, preparing a feasibility study and technical project for the integrated automated information system for International Assembly of Capitals and Big Cities (IAIS IAC). The main goals of IAIS IAC are increasing Moscow’s participation in IAC activities, positioning Moscow as a dynamic megapolis, promoting Moscow enterprises’ goods and services to other cities’ markets, assisting in economic interaction between Moscow and other cities’ businesses, improving internal and external information exchange between IAC Secretariat and Moscow Department of International Relations through ICT use.

Designing Automated Information System “Registration of Children”

According to the government contract signed by the Moscow Department of Education, IIS and CROC company, developed an interdepartmental automated information system designed to provide Moscow Department of Education with communication tools for interaction with territorial authorities on registration of children. The main goals of the system are supplying Moscow municipal councils with instruments allowing them to work with information about children between the ages of 0 and 18 years old who live on the territory of a respective municipality.

Coordinating the activity of the Russian e-Development Partnership

Russian e-Development Partnership (PRIOR) is a volunteer association of organizations and individuals putting together their efforts and resources in order to provide mutual informational, technological, consulting, financial, organizational, and other types of support to achieve common goals and objectives. The major goal of PRIOR is to facilitate dynamic and comprehensive development of the Information Society and to build the Knowledge Economy in Russia. The Institute of the Information Society put forth the initiative of creating PRIOR and was authorized to act as Partnership’s coordinating party by the PRIOR organizational conference of November 30, 2001.

Creating Russia Development Gateway Portal

Creating Moscow Development Gateway

This work was completed as part of the special program event of the e-Moscow city program in 2003-2005, which strives to improve the effectiveness of the efforts undertaken to implement the city policy, city programs and projects geared towards developing the Information Society and the Knowledge Economy. The Moscow Development Gateway is part of the Network of Development Gateways of the Russian Federation and is maintained in Russian and English.

Developing the Monitoring System of Moscow's Advancement to the Information Society

This activity is completed since 2003 as part of the special program event of the e-Moscow municipal program. The project proposes the monitoring methodology, which includes conceptual framework, system of indicators, classification, and statistical and sociological instruments. The project is based on the international experience while also taking into account Moscow’s specifics as a major urban conglomerate. Based upon the results received form the initial stages of work, the Moscow’s e-Readiness Assessment report was prepared. The task of developing a full-fledged comprehensive methodology of monitoring the information society development has not been solved globally or in Russia. Thus, the work completed by the IIS as part of e-Moscow project can be considered groundbreaking.

Participation in Developing the Unified Automated Information System "Development - 2"

Information System "Development - 2" intends to provide comprehensive analytical support for administrators and specialists of the Moscow City Department of Economic Policy and Development working towards achieving sustainable phase and creating conditions for Moscow’s stable socioeconomic development. The chief executive body is the Science and Research Institute of Information Technologies, and the co-executor is the Institute for the Information Society. The work started in 2004 and will be continued throughout 2005.

Supporting the Functioning of the Moscow Secretariat of the UN ICT Task Force Regional Network for Europe and Central Asia

Russia proposed to create this Regional Network, and it was officially established on April 29, 2002 at the European regional meeting in Geneva discussing the work of the UN ICT Task Force and the preparation for the UN World Summit on the Information Society. 16 countries of Europe and Central Asia were members of the Network until UN ICT Task Force accomplished its mandate in December 2006. IIS maintained the Regional Network secretariat, which provided organizational support for the participants’ activities.

Europe and Central Asia Virtual University

This University was initiated by the World Bank Institute in 2001 and was coordinated by the IIS in 2001-2003. The University’s goal was to create and develop a consortium of universities in Russia and Central Asia that would generate a unified distance-learning environment in the region based upon using the ICT and Russian as a common working language. In 2002-2003 the project was supported by the National Training Foundation.

Publishing the Information Society Journal

The Information Society journal has been published since 1989 by the All-Russia Institute of Interdisciplinary Research. In 1998 the IIS jointly with the Russian Engineering Academy established and started publishing the new version of the Journal. The Information Society currently holds the status of an international information and analytical editorial. The Journal became a winner of the 7^th All-Russian Mass Media Festival "All Russia-2002" in the nomination "Publications dedicated to the issues of media-society". Since 2004 the Journal is published jointly with the Russian e-Development Foundation.

Infocity Moscow

The project was started in 1998 by the initiative of the IIS. At the early stages it was completed jointly with the Moscow Telecommunications Corporation COMCOR, Sun Microsystems, Lotus, ATIK and other companies, whose efforts were directed at creating a prototype district of an information city (Infocity) of the future based upon the existing information infrastructure. This project strives to facilitate the widespread access to the information resources and services, to provide the maximum possible number of services that could be offered to the end-user – a city resident. In 2000 as part of the Infocity the pilot project was launched, which was based at the Tolstoy’s Central Library of the Centralized Library System #1 of the Southern Administrative District of Moscow. The Infocity project gained the status of a separate program event of the municipal program e-Moscow since 2003 as requested by the Executive Department for the Territories of the City of Moscow. In 2006 the IIS enabled development of the draft regulatory, organizational, methodological and operational documents for use and development of the second phase of the Infocity information system as well as participated in content creation for it.

Information and Methodological Support for Creating and Utilizing the Russian Digital Libraries (Elbib Project)

This project took place in 1998-2006 with the financial support of the Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research. The project results and outcomes are described in detail at the interactive informational portal Russian Digital Libraries. As part of this project, the scientific e-Journal Digital Libraries was published since 1998 (mass media registration certificate #019036 of July 1, 1999 by the Russian Federation State Committee on Print Media), the Digital Library Registry was completed, the CD series "Electronic Libraries" was issued, the methodological materials were generated in order to assist the DL community members in their everyday work on creating and utilizing digital libraries, collections, resources, and documents.

Participation in Generating the Development Concept for the Regional Information and Analytical System of Perm Region for 2005-2007

The Concept is aimed at enabling improved effectiveness and efficiency of the regional government authorities’ work based on the extensive use of ICT. The Concept was developed in line with the strategy of socioeconomic development of the Perm region. The chief executor of the project is the Regional institution Information and Computing Center of the Perm Regional Administration; other executors include Ural Computer House, IVS Company, IIS, First Perm Internet Center, and Parma-Telecom Company. This project essentially represents the development concept of the e-Government platform for the Perm region. The Concept was approved by the Perm regional administration in 2004.

Participating in Developing the Systems Project Metasystem "e-Moscow"

The systems project Metasystem e-Moscow determines the conceptual framework of the metasystem, which represent a set of technologically and organizationally integrated information systems with common governance. Such an arrangement containing Moscow’s information resources serves the goal of providing information services for government authorities, municipal structures and Moscow residents. The chief executor is e-Moscow company; co-executors are IBS and Jet Infosystems companies as well as the IIS. The Institute developed a section dedicated to the architecture of the systems project. The project was completed in 2004.

Legislative Projects of the IIS

Participating in Organizing Contest "Best Region in the ICT Field"

The contest was held in 2002 and 2003 as part of the Federal Program e-Russia with RosBusinessConsulting (RBC) as a chief executor. The Institute developed the contest’s concept, methodology for determining the winners, nominations, criteria for evaluating the regions, and surveys for estimating the level of regional electronic development.

Awareness Raising Project "World Summit on the Information Society: Expectations of the Russian Regions"

This project includes a series of workshops on the Information Society in Rostov-on-Don, Samara, Irkutsk and Krasnoyarsk, which was organized on October 16-22, 2003, as well as publication of the book with the same title in Russian and English with the support of the British Council Russia.

Developing the Comprehensive Program of Moscow's Advancement towards the Information Society (e-Moscow 2003-2007)

The Program, which is based upon consolidating the leading global experience and thorough analysis of the factors of Moscow’s development as an “information city”, was developed with IIS coordination, according to the request of the Government of Moscow (Department of Economic Policy and Moscow City Development) in 2001-2002. A number of organizations took part in developing this Program: Department of Economic Policy and Moscow City Development, Transportation and Communication Division of the City of Moscow, Committee of Telecommunications and Mass Media of the City of Moscow, Bank of Moscow, Moscow Committee on Science and Technologies, e-Moscow company, Moscow Telecommunications Corporation COMCOR, and Mobile Telematics Positioning Systems company. The Program was approved by the Directive of the City of Moscow # 367-PP of May 13, 2003. It has been implemented as a municipal program since the year-end 2003.

Concept of Moscow's Advancement towards the Information Society

The document proposing the paths of Moscow’s development as a modern information conglomerate was developed by the Institute in 2000 and is based upon an in-depth analysis of the global experience and the specific circumstances of the Russian capital. The Concept was elaborated in response to the request by the Moscow Government (Department of Economic Policy and Moscow City Development) and was approved on July 20, 2001 by the Moscow Mayor’s Resolution No. 715-РМ.

ThinkQuest in Russia

Between June 2001 and September 2003 the Institute served as a national partner of the international ThinkQuest contest for schoolchildren of 12-19 years old to develop the best educational web-site. The contest was held by the American nonprofit organization Advanced Network & Services, Inc. since 1996 and by the Oracle Education Foundation since 2002. The key goals of this contest include the development of the global educational space and facilitating the cooperation between students from various countries and schools with different level of technical capability. Currently the ThinkQuest project in Russia is implemented by the RELARN association.

Network Integration of Electronic Information Resources of the Leading Russian Libraries and Information Centers (LibWeb Project)

This work became an IIS project in 1998; prior to this time it had been completed by the initiative of several of the Institute’s founders since 1995 with the support from the Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research, Russian Federation Ministry of Science and Technology, and since 1996 – by the Russian Humanitarian Scientific Foundation. This groundbreaking project unified the efforts of the leading Russian libraries and information centers, provided an impulse to mobilize the existing and generate new electronic information resources in Russia, and facilitated in developing the subject-oriented library network. The latter is currently accessible to the domestic and foreign scientists, specialists, and organizations. The project was completed in 2003.

Participating in the Development of the Concept of Facilitating the International Collaboration and External Economic Relations in the ICT Sphere, including the Process of Russia's joining to the WTO

The work was completed according to the request by the Russian Federation Ministry of Communication and Informatization in 2002 as part of the Federal Program eRussia 2002-2010. The chief executor was Sociomaster company.

Preparing the Concept of Specialized Information System "Government Portal"

The work was completed by the request of the Russian Federation Ministry of Communication and Informatization in 2002 as part of the Federal Program eRussia 2002-2010. The chief executor was the Information Business Systems company.

Russian-English Glossary on the Information Society

This was the joint project by the IIS and the British Council Russia, which was implemented in 2001. The project resulted in developing the two-language glossary including 100 basic terms and concepts of the information society and its publication on the Internet.

Participation in the Development of the Methodological Framework for Improving the Effectiveness of the Information Interaction between the Government Authorities and the Public ("e-Government" Concept)

The project was completed in 2001by the request of the Russian Federation Ministry of Communication and Informatization. The project was jointly completed by the Institute of Systems Analysis of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the IIS and other organizations.

Participation in Developing the Systems Project of Creating the Moscow Citywide Information System

The project was developed in 1997-1998 by the IIS jointly with the Moscow Telecommunications Corporation COMCOR, InfoDom Company, and other organizations. The goal of this project was developing the Moscow citywide information system through further integration of the existing city information systems and large-scale use of Moscow’s extensive telecommunication infrastructure.

Participating in Creation of the Database of Court Files for Russian Defence Lawyers and Human Rights Activists

The project was completed in 1999 by the American nonprofit organization Freedom Channel, Inc. in collaboration with the Russian advocacy organization Advocates’ Training and with support from the National Endowment for Democracy (USA) and the grant #98-20.0. The technical side of the project was completed by the research team of the IIS. The system was designed for storing the materials of criminal cases with the specialists’ comments and providing them by user requests.