Yamal IT Expedition Pushes AI and Homegrown Tech Into Arctic Cities
Regional officials in Russia’s Arctic are testing artificial intelligence tools and locally built software to knit together a unified digital ecosystem.
A team from the Department of Information Technology and Communications of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug has wrapped up the latest stage of a sweeping “IT expedition.” Specialists traveled through the Yamal District, Labytnangi, and Salekhard with a single goal: to build a shared digital environment for the region’s residents.
During workshops and training sessions, participants explored a regional artificial intelligence platform, learned how to use Seatable — a domestic data management system — and tackled urgent topics like cybersecurity and replacing Western software with local alternatives.
The focus was on tangible upgrades: digitizing government services, expanding the “Moroshka” unified resident card program, and improving network connectivity. By moving city to city, the expedition identifies specific local needs and matches them with the right tools.
Launched in 2024, the IT expedition aims to cover all municipalities in Yamal. The broader project seeks to build a modern digital ecosystem to support urban and rural communities across Russia’s Arctic.
