Project of artificial intelligence cluster in Bashkiria was included in ASI shortlist

The project by Arthur Biktimirov, a native of Bashkiria, an expert at the ASI National Technological Initiative Center for Neurotechnologies and VR, was included in the shortlist of 100 promising ideas for the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI). The idea involves creating a medical engineering center for the development and implementation of artificial intelligence in Bashkiria.

Projects were selected by regional, federal, and international experts from more than 15 thousand submitted ideas. Ideas will be examined face-to-face at the Strong Ideas for the New Time forum events, hosted by ASI and the Roscongress Foundation on November 11-13.

Artur Biktimirov has been working for several years in Vladivostok but was born and educated in Bashkiria. His project to create a medical engineering center to develop and implement artificial intelligence technology was considered at the government level on behalf of the Head of the Republic Radiy Khabirov.

"This is a very interesting project for the study and implementation of artificial intelligence technologies, virtual (VR) and augmented (AR) reality, neural networks (BCI), big data, IT technologies and electronics at the interface with neurophysiology and medicine. These technologies will be widely developed very soon. They will allow integrating humans and computers, creating a superhuman, printing human organs on a 3D printer for transplantation, and simulating cells and genomes.

Today, leading clinics globally, including in Russia, are already performing operations to implant various electronic chips, curing hearing and vision impairments, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, psychiatric diseases, and cerebral palsy neuro-tumors. Separately, these areas are developed in different regions of the country. However, where they will be able to combine and develop these technologies, there will be a new research and production cluster of breakthrough technologies of the post-information society," Biktimirov said.

According to the researcher, Ufa may well become a good location for a federal-level medical and engineering cluster that would work throughout the country.

"With the emergence of Research and Educational Center (REC), the republic will reach a new level of global recognition. Having learned that a large-scale federal project is being implemented in my homeland, I decided to offer my vision of neurotechnology development, namely, creating a medical and engineering center for neurotechnology, working at the junction of the neuronet and healthnet markets. Due to the creation of this center at REC, Bashkortostan may become a leader in Russia and one of the leading clinics in the world," said Artur Biktimirov.

The Ministry of Health of Bashkiria, however, does not see the prospects of the project, which was highly appreciated by the ASI experts, and expresses outright incredulity in its regard.