Popularizing digital technologies, increasing interest in IT specialties, promoting the development of the digital economy and digital literacy in Russia – these are the goals of the Digital Marathon competition organized by Sber and School 21. This was stated by the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sberbank German Gref, who gave the lecture “Technology and People” on the eve of Student Day at the Moscow campus of School 21 and launched the first all-Russian competition “Digital Marathon”. .
According to the head of the company, the skills he listed today are necessary both for people to realize themselves and achieve success in a rapidly developing world, and for the country as a whole to raise the economy to a new level.
“Of course, the most important challenge is the speed of adaptation to technology development,” said German Gref. For example, he said that over the past year, Sber’s large language models have started to work 4 times more efficiently.
According to him, creating your own technology stack (a set of technologies necessary to create a product) is critical, especially in today’s complex geopolitical conditions.
“To create a network like GigaChat, it took 10 years of investment in building a multitude of competencies,” said Gref.
He added that today Sber is the only bank in the world that produces its own line of smart devices.
According to the president of the company, this became possible thanks to the huge team of experts assembled: from programmers to philologists.
Gref said that the Digital Marathon competition was organized by Sber and School 21 to provide an opportunity to test and improve the level of digital skills, demonstrate their knowledge in various areas related to digital technologies or take their first steps in the IT field.
The competition, which can be attended by anyone over the age of 18, includes tasks at different difficulty levels for both experienced IT experts and those who are new to the high technology field.
The competition will last until June 29. Prizes await the winners: Expert level participants will receive 1 million rubles for the first place, 500 thousand rubles for the second place, 300 thousand rubles for the third place. Winners and prize winners at other levels will be able to win trips to Sber resorts Manzherok and Mriya Resort&SPA, a certificate of study at Sber University, smart devices and Sber products.