The XVI International Economic Forum ‘Russia - Islamic World: KazanForum 2025’ hosted the first session of the year ‘Digitalisation as a new standard: transformation of construction and infrastructure in the development of cities and agglomerations’ organised by the REBUS Forum. The event brought together more than 360 participants, including representatives of authorities, businesses, international experts and young professionals, to discuss key trends in digitalisation in construction, housing and utilities and urban development. The session was moderated by Albert Yakovlev, Deputy Minister of Digital Development of the Republic of Tatarstan.
International dialogue and practical cases
The session opened with a speech by Yaroslav Nilov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Labour and Social Policy, who stressed the need for a balance between federal and regional initiatives in the digitalisation of construction. The speaker emphasised: ‘The digitalisation of construction requires a balanced approach: innovation should not outpace legislation. Our task is to create legal conditions under which technologies work for people, rather than becoming a barrier to development’.
Vladimir Kudryashev, Deputy Minister of Construction of Tatarstan, presented the republic's successes in implementing GISOGD and TIM modelling. ‘Digitalisation of the construction complex is the key to shortening the investment and construction cycle, increasing efficiency and creating comfortable conditions for citizens. The introduction of GISOGD of RT has already reduced the time of approvals by 5 times and increased the transparency of processes,’ said the representative of the Ministry of Construction of Tatarstan.
International experience was complemented by Rajendra Kumar, a professor from India, who spoke about digital transformation of cities through the integration of smart technologies in transport and energy. ‘India's experience in creating smart cities is a synthesis of high technology and care for people. For example, in Bhubaneshwar, we implemented a smart transport system, reducing traffic jams by 30%, and engaged citizens through digital platforms - 1.6 million suggestions from residents helped improve the urban environment,’ said the architect from India. Interest was also aroused by the case study of Innopolis, where Mayor Dmitry Vandyukov demonstrated how digital solutions have improved the quality of life in Kazan's satellite city.
Technologies for sustainable development
Nadezhda Zykova, Acting Director of NIIPI Urban Planning of the Moscow Region, presented an innovative approach to the location of social infrastructure using heat maps and data analysis. Olga Pavlova, member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, emphasised the role of participatory design, where the voice of residents through digital platforms determines the improvement of yards and parks. The speaker noted: ‘Digitalisation in urban development is not just a technology, but a tool for creating a comfortable environment where everyone is comfortable: children, adults and the elderly. It is important to maintain a balance between innovation and humanity, so that technology unites and does not replace live communication’.
Andrey Lupiy from the Digital Development Agency noted that AI has ceased to be a ‘hype’ and has become a tool for optimising construction processes, reducing costs by 20%. Sergey Butorin, Head of Parks of Russia, shared his experience of creating ‘smart’ public spaces where noise and light sensors improve the comfort of citizens.
A story about urban digital innovation by Feray Yılmaz, Deputy Mayor of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality. ‘Gaziantep demonstrates how digitalisation is transforming the city's infrastructure: from intelligent water supply management through a SCADA system that reduced water losses by 20% to a geo-information platform that accelerated recovery from the 2023 earthquake by 3 times. This proves: technology is not a luxury, but a tool for survival and development of modern cities,’ the speaker shared.
Investment and human resources: challenges of the future
Nikolay Parfentyev, representative of the Ministry of Construction of the Russian Federation, announced the strategy of digital transformation of the industry until 2030, including the reduction of document turnover by 2 times and training of personnel to work with TIM-technologies. The session participants unanimously supported the need to develop PPP projects, as it has already been implemented in Tatarstan, where private investment pays off through digital services.
‘Digital transformation is no longer the future, but our present. Technology now makes it possible to halve construction time and reduce errors by 40 per cent. But most importantly, we are creating cities for people, where technology works for comfort while preserving historical heritage. By 2030, 90% of projects will use digital twins - this is a new standard of quality of life’, - said the speaker in his speech.
Results and prospects
Olesya Baltusova, Assistant to the Raisa of the Republic of Tatarstan and head of the organising committee of the REBUS Forum, emphasised:
‘The digitalisation of the construction industry is first and foremost about people. We are introducing technologies not for the sake of ticking boxes, but to actually improve the quality of life in our cities. Today's discussions have clearly demonstrated that when data, artificial intelligence and international experience work together, we get not just ‘smart’ but truly comfortable cities.
It is especially valuable that modern solutions make it possible to carefully integrate new technologies into the historical environment. We see examples when digital tools help preserve our heritage, making it both more accessible and safer for future generations.
This is true transformation - when technology serves people, not the other way round’.
The REBUS Forum is a platform for dialogue between government, business and society on the digitalisation of construction and infrastructure. In 2025, the event was included in the top 5 industry forums in Russia according to RBC.
The REBUS International Forum will continue its work in the summer of 2025 in Kazan, where, among other things, young architects and builders will present projects of the ‘smart’ Laishevsky district as part of the international campaign ‘ArchiTech 2025’.
International dialogue and practical cases
The session opened with a speech by Yaroslav Nilov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Labour and Social Policy, who stressed the need for a balance between federal and regional initiatives in the digitalisation of construction. The speaker emphasised: ‘The digitalisation of construction requires a balanced approach: innovation should not outpace legislation. Our task is to create legal conditions under which technologies work for people, rather than becoming a barrier to development’.
Vladimir Kudryashev, Deputy Minister of Construction of Tatarstan, presented the republic's successes in implementing GISOGD and TIM modelling. ‘Digitalisation of the construction complex is the key to shortening the investment and construction cycle, increasing efficiency and creating comfortable conditions for citizens. The introduction of GISOGD of RT has already reduced the time of approvals by 5 times and increased the transparency of processes,’ said the representative of the Ministry of Construction of Tatarstan.
International experience was complemented by Rajendra Kumar, a professor from India, who spoke about digital transformation of cities through the integration of smart technologies in transport and energy. ‘India's experience in creating smart cities is a synthesis of high technology and care for people. For example, in Bhubaneshwar, we implemented a smart transport system, reducing traffic jams by 30%, and engaged citizens through digital platforms - 1.6 million suggestions from residents helped improve the urban environment,’ said the architect from India. Interest was also aroused by the case study of Innopolis, where Mayor Dmitry Vandyukov demonstrated how digital solutions have improved the quality of life in Kazan's satellite city.
Technologies for sustainable development
Nadezhda Zykova, Acting Director of NIIPI Urban Planning of the Moscow Region, presented an innovative approach to the location of social infrastructure using heat maps and data analysis. Olga Pavlova, member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, emphasised the role of participatory design, where the voice of residents through digital platforms determines the improvement of yards and parks. The speaker noted: ‘Digitalisation in urban development is not just a technology, but a tool for creating a comfortable environment where everyone is comfortable: children, adults and the elderly. It is important to maintain a balance between innovation and humanity, so that technology unites and does not replace live communication’.
Andrey Lupiy from the Digital Development Agency noted that AI has ceased to be a ‘hype’ and has become a tool for optimising construction processes, reducing costs by 20%. Sergey Butorin, Head of Parks of Russia, shared his experience of creating ‘smart’ public spaces where noise and light sensors improve the comfort of citizens.
A story about urban digital innovation by Feray Yılmaz, Deputy Mayor of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality. ‘Gaziantep demonstrates how digitalisation is transforming the city's infrastructure: from intelligent water supply management through a SCADA system that reduced water losses by 20% to a geo-information platform that accelerated recovery from the 2023 earthquake by 3 times. This proves: technology is not a luxury, but a tool for survival and development of modern cities,’ the speaker shared.
Investment and human resources: challenges of the future
Nikolay Parfentyev, representative of the Ministry of Construction of the Russian Federation, announced the strategy of digital transformation of the industry until 2030, including the reduction of document turnover by 2 times and training of personnel to work with TIM-technologies. The session participants unanimously supported the need to develop PPP projects, as it has already been implemented in Tatarstan, where private investment pays off through digital services.
‘Digital transformation is no longer the future, but our present. Technology now makes it possible to halve construction time and reduce errors by 40 per cent. But most importantly, we are creating cities for people, where technology works for comfort while preserving historical heritage. By 2030, 90% of projects will use digital twins - this is a new standard of quality of life’, - said the speaker in his speech.
Results and prospects
Olesya Baltusova, Assistant to the Raisa of the Republic of Tatarstan and head of the organising committee of the REBUS Forum, emphasised:
‘The digitalisation of the construction industry is first and foremost about people. We are introducing technologies not for the sake of ticking boxes, but to actually improve the quality of life in our cities. Today's discussions have clearly demonstrated that when data, artificial intelligence and international experience work together, we get not just ‘smart’ but truly comfortable cities.
It is especially valuable that modern solutions make it possible to carefully integrate new technologies into the historical environment. We see examples when digital tools help preserve our heritage, making it both more accessible and safer for future generations.
This is true transformation - when technology serves people, not the other way round’.
The REBUS Forum is a platform for dialogue between government, business and society on the digitalisation of construction and infrastructure. In 2025, the event was included in the top 5 industry forums in Russia according to RBC.
The REBUS International Forum will continue its work in the summer of 2025 in Kazan, where, among other things, young architects and builders will present projects of the ‘smart’ Laishevsky district as part of the international campaign ‘ArchiTech 2025’.