KazanForum Programme to Feature First Ever IT Area and International Hackathon
KazanForum Programme to Feature First Ever IT Area and International Hackathon
05 May
A dedicated IT area, boasting its own business and educational programmes, as well as a series of technology events involving international experts and developers, will be arranged as part of the 17th International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World KazanForum”, about to take place at the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Centre in Kazan on 13–15 May 2026. The Area will be located at the “Russia – Islamic World” International Exhibition in Pavilion A2, where Tatarstan’s export-oriented IT solutions will be debuted to the public. Residents of the IT Park and Innopolis companies will demonstrate their developments in the fields of cybersecurity, fintech, education, robotics, and digital solutions for industry and the agro-industrial complex.
The Republic of Tatarstan’s digital team will hold a series of its own events, namely the International Fintech Hackathon CodeStorm which will unfold at the IT Park on 11–12 May. Over the course of 48 hours, 15 teams will fashion solutions to challenges set by partner banks, after which a jury will select five finalists. The winners will share a prize fund of 500,000 roubles and will be awarded right there at the Forum venue.
The IT Area’s business programme will kick off on 13 May with a plenary session entitled “Global FinTech Trends”, where experts will discuss the expansion of Russian financial services into CIS markets. On the same day, there will be another session on the export of IT solutions and the development of digital partnerships, as well as a few more specialised discussions on the introduction of such technologies into healthcare.
On 14 May, participants will discuss the export of IT solutions in the SportTech, EventTech, TravelTech, and Islamic FinTech segments, as well as the role venture capital plays in the development of technology projects. Still throughout the day, Sber will hold the Russian Islamic Economic Forum, which will feature sessions on partnership (Shariah-compliant) financing. On top of all that, the international IT Park Global Go-To-Market programme will proceed into its final round: winners will be awarded the opportunity to go on a business trip to Qatar and enter foreign markets via the international IT hub Corporate Innovation Hub. The day will conclude with another finals, now of the CodeStorm hackathon, where the competitors will present their finished prototypes.
On 15 May, the business agenda will focus on international cooperation in education as well as Russia’s technological partnerships with countries across the Middle East and North Africa. Moreover, the second AAOIFI International Conference on Islamic Finance and Investment will take place with the support of Sberbank and the Republic of Tatarstan. The experts will present case studies of joint educational programmes, research, and the expansion of IT companies into global markets.
The technological capabilities of KazanForum improve annually. This year, for example, the Forum support will launch GigaChat, the new AI assistant. It will serve as a modern tool for navigating the Forum venue and helping the participants find their way around the programme. In addition, with the help of the AI assistant, visitors will be able to receive up-to-date information about the speakers, along with the sessions and their content. Such integration has been made possible with the support of Sber, which is acting as the Forum’s GigaPartner–technological partner in the AI area–for the first time.
“By advancing the KazanForum platform, we are solidifying our bonds with OIC member states across technology and innovation. Last year, we attracted promising foreign start-ups to Tatarstan for the first time ever through carrying out the IT Park Global Startup Accelerator programme and the Kazan Digital Week event. This year, we are kicking things up another notch via implementing the IT Park Global Go-To-Market programme at the Forum: its winners will undergo expert training and take part in a business mission to Qatar, where they will be able to present their solutions to investors and government bodies at the international IT hub. We opened this centre last year to put into practice IT projects in the Qatari market and across the Gulf States in partnership with Al Adid Business. This model of bilateral cоoperation sets a new standard for the export of Russian digital products and sustainable technological partnerships on the international stage,” Ilya Nachvin, Minister of Digitalization of the Republic of Tatarstan, remarked.
The full programme of the Event is available on the Forum’s official website.
See you at KazanForum 2026!
The Roscongress Foundation acts as the Operator for the preparation and holding
of the Event, whereas ANO “Directorate for Sports and Social Projects” serves
as the Operator’s Executive Directorate.
The Republic of Tatarstan’s digital team will hold a series of its own events, namely the International Fintech Hackathon CodeStorm which will unfold at the IT Park on 11–12 May. Over the course of 48 hours, 15 teams will fashion solutions to challenges set by partner banks, after which a jury will select five finalists. The winners will share a prize fund of 500,000 roubles and will be awarded right there at the Forum venue.
The IT Area’s business programme will kick off on 13 May with a plenary session entitled “Global FinTech Trends”, where experts will discuss the expansion of Russian financial services into CIS markets. On the same day, there will be another session on the export of IT solutions and the development of digital partnerships, as well as a few more specialised discussions on the introduction of such technologies into healthcare.
On 14 May, participants will discuss the export of IT solutions in the SportTech, EventTech, TravelTech, and Islamic FinTech segments, as well as the role venture capital plays in the development of technology projects. Still throughout the day, Sber will hold the Russian Islamic Economic Forum, which will feature sessions on partnership (Shariah-compliant) financing. On top of all that, the international IT Park Global Go-To-Market programme will proceed into its final round: winners will be awarded the opportunity to go on a business trip to Qatar and enter foreign markets via the international IT hub Corporate Innovation Hub. The day will conclude with another finals, now of the CodeStorm hackathon, where the competitors will present their finished prototypes.
On 15 May, the business agenda will focus on international cooperation in education as well as Russia’s technological partnerships with countries across the Middle East and North Africa. Moreover, the second AAOIFI International Conference on Islamic Finance and Investment will take place with the support of Sberbank and the Republic of Tatarstan. The experts will present case studies of joint educational programmes, research, and the expansion of IT companies into global markets.
The technological capabilities of KazanForum improve annually. This year, for example, the Forum support will launch GigaChat, the new AI assistant. It will serve as a modern tool for navigating the Forum venue and helping the participants find their way around the programme. In addition, with the help of the AI assistant, visitors will be able to receive up-to-date information about the speakers, along with the sessions and their content. Such integration has been made possible with the support of Sber, which is acting as the Forum’s GigaPartner–technological partner in the AI area–for the first time.
“By advancing the KazanForum platform, we are solidifying our bonds with OIC member states across technology and innovation. Last year, we attracted promising foreign start-ups to Tatarstan for the first time ever through carrying out the IT Park Global Startup Accelerator programme and the Kazan Digital Week event. This year, we are kicking things up another notch via implementing the IT Park Global Go-To-Market programme at the Forum: its winners will undergo expert training and take part in a business mission to Qatar, where they will be able to present their solutions to investors and government bodies at the international IT hub. We opened this centre last year to put into practice IT projects in the Qatari market and across the Gulf States in partnership with Al Adid Business. This model of bilateral cоoperation sets a new standard for the export of Russian digital products and sustainable technological partnerships on the international stage,” Ilya Nachvin, Minister of Digitalization of the Republic of Tatarstan, remarked.
The full programme of the Event is available on the Forum’s official website.
See you at KazanForum 2026!
The Roscongress Foundation acts as the Operator for the preparation and holding
of the Event, whereas ANO “Directorate for Sports and Social Projects” serves
as the Operator’s Executive Directorate.
