RIF: Born from the Cream of Runet

Intuition and Complex Algorithms

Even 28 years after the first RIF, many experts struggle to define what it truly is.

At its core, it was an initiative of users themselves—ordinary citizens, businesses, the entertainment industry, and internet providers. It also reflected an urgent need to bring order to Runet, a space with immense potential. And, most importantly, it expressed a drive for self-identity: creating Russia’s own informational and commercial ecosystem without relying on foreign guidance or approval.

Today, RIF is without exaggeration the most important annual event in Russia’s IT industry. It has become the central stage for discussing the challenges and prospects of domestic IT business, as well as the achievements of technological sovereignty—not only in the virtual space but also in the real economy. It is thanks to the synergy between industries and projects, once thought incompatible, that bold and ambitious plans were born, setting new standards of success and opportunity.

Do You Remember How It All Began?..

The first RIF took place in 1997, initiated by ROCIT, one of Runet’s oldest civic organizations. At the time, the internet was demanding closer study—as a platform, a tool, and a virtual replacement for countless everyday processes. Yet for many in Russia it was still seen as secondary, little more than a medium for correspondence and social networking.

This underestimation of Runet’s potential explains the diversity of RIF’s early years. The forum became a stage for anyone connected to Russia’s digital space—in other words, virtually everyone.

Since then, RIF has been held annually, traditionally as a three-day off-site event. In 2008 its importance was highlighted when President Dmitry Medvedev attended the opening, warmly welcoming participants and wishing the forum success.

Key Milestones

If the first forum drew only about 250 people, within a few years organizers had to introduce participation fees to control growing demand.

The forum expanded rapidly in scope and geography. In 2003, two parallel RIF events were held in Moscow and Perm.

By 2006, RIF came under the umbrella of the Russian Association for Electronic Communications (RAEC). That year also saw the launch of the “All-Russian Internet Marathon,” a series of regional events.

The broader context is worth noting. In 2003, representatives of the internet community met with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at the Government House—an official recognition of Runet. That same year, a coordination center for Russia’s national internet domain was established, Moscow State University introduced a degree in internet journalism, and authorities were mandated to create and maintain official websites.

In 2009, RIF merged for several years with the “Internet and Business” conference, rebranding as “RIF+KIB.”

In 2020, responding to the pandemic, the forum successfully shifted online without losing momentum.

In 2023, RIF announced the launch of RUVIKI, Russia’s open electronic encyclopedia, developed entirely on domestic infrastructure. The project, an essential component of intellectual sovereignty, was designed to improve the quality and reliability of information available to both Russian and international users.

In 2024, Runet celebrated its 30th anniversary. That year’s forum was seen as especially symbolic, focusing more than ever on forecasting the industry’s future.

Runet Is Us

Despite repeated predictions of its decline, RIF continues to evolve and attract new audiences.

The secret lies in the nature of communication itself. Networking has always been RIF’s defining feature. Beyond formal sessions, panels, and presentations, the forum thrives on informal conversations—connections that link people, projects, and entire industries.

As veterans point out, even if certain topics aren’t raised on stage, they can always be discussed in private. And with the forum drawing the industry’s most authoritative voices, RIF remains a place where the most pressing issues can—and will—be debated.