Information Technology and Society: Russian Foundation will be established for the development of domestic software

Minister of Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation Nikolai Nikiforov reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin about an initiative to support Russian software development.

At the meeting, Nikolai Nikiforov mentioned that many clients of the government level and private businesses in Russia are concerned about the situation at the field of information technology and would like to get the opportunity purchase Russian high-technology products.

In order to solve the current problem head of Minkomsvyazi of Russia proposed to develop a comprehensive program that will support the Russian software developers and to develop all the necessary products for building an information sovereignty of Russia and supporting friendly partner countries.

As one of the forms of support Nikolai Nikiforov suggested the President to consider the establishment of a separate trust fund for the Russian software development, taking as analogue a form similar to the Universal Communication Services Foundation. Reminding, that this fund is now implementing in Russia the most ambitious in the world project of laying of fiber-optic communication lines to provide Internet access for the residents of small settlements with population of 250 people and more.

Russian President supported the idea of such the foundation and requested to work over this problem in the Government and to discuss it with the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Finance.