GS Group

GS Group is a Russian investment and industrial holding, the key competence of which is the development and production of electronics. Also among the main activities of the holding for 2020 are the development and production of microelectronics, the development and integration of software products, R&D and the production of nanomaterials, deep wood processing, the production and management of media content, the creation and management of television broadcasting projects, full-cycle advertising activities, activities in the field of television measurements.

The headquarters of the holding is located in St. Petersburg. The flagship investment project is the Technopolice GS innovation cluster in the Kaliningrad Region, where a full cycle of production of electronic devices (from microcircuit packaging to finished product packaging) is being implemented and a wide range of contract production areas are offered.

History

2024

Rosatom, GS Group and Aquarius create a joint venture for the production of printed circuit boards

On June 5, 2024, information appeared that the Scientific and Production Association "Critical Information Systems" (NPO CIS), which is part of the Rosatom state corporation, the Aquarius group and the GS Group holding intend to form a joint venture (JV) for the production of full-cycle printed circuit boards. Such products will be used in a wide range of devices and equipment - from telecommunications and computing equipment to industrial automation platforms and data storage systems. Read more here.

Start of ODM production

GS Group has provided high-tech unique products under the customer brand. In May 2024, the holding solves a full cycle of turnkey tasks - from the development of design documentation to inclusion in the register of products of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. GS Group announced this on May 13, 2024.

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GS Group

In the GS Group competency portfolio, the maximum functionality at the cost is not higher than Asian ODM sites: development of design documentation, selection of configuration, organization of multimodal logistics, production of case parts, installation of printed circuit boards, testing of finished products, installation of the necessary software, provision of individual factory packaging and service. In addition, the company is accompanied by the procedure for obtaining an opinion of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and obtaining "Russian citizenship" for new products.

We offer the development and production of RAP products and do so at a price not exceeding the cost of such services in China. In addition, we help our customers collect a complete and correct package of documents for entering equipment into the register of products produced in the Russian Federation, "he said, adding that the holding has already concluded five contracts for mass production, another seven are under discussion.

The existing production facilities of GS Group allow the production of up to 1 million client devices and more than 100 thousand servers per year. The company provides complete customization based on customer needs, offering the necessary design solutions from dust, humidity or intrusion sensors on server chassis to additional connectors in tablets and smartphones. The service is particularly in demand among system integrators and resellers who have the opportunity to develop and produce products of the radio-electronic industry (RAP) within the framework of government orders and equipment certification for critical information infrastructure.

GS Group invests 182 million rubles in the modernization of electronics production

By the end of March, GS Group will invest 182 million rubles in modernizing the production of the CTS plant, a contract electronics manufacturer in the Kaliningrad region. The company announced this to TAdviser on March 14. The GS Group expects that the modernization will increase the installation speed of motherboards (including server boards) up to three times and increase labor productivity by 30% by the end of 2024. Read more here.

Purchase of Villa Porr

In February 2024, the Consult-Technology company, part of the GS Group holding), made the purchase of the Porr villa in the village of Primorsk , Kaliningrad Region. The transaction took place at an auction with an initial price of 30.9 million rubles. Read more here.

Plans to launch production of printed circuit boards for advanced electronics

In early February 2024, it became known that the Russian computer manufacturer GS Group will create its own production of printed circuit boards that will be used in advanced electronic devices. The venture is expected to be operational by 2026.

According to the Kommersant newspaper, the GS Group project involves organizing the production of printed circuit boards to the 7th accuracy class. The output capacity will be 5 million square meters. dm per year. It is assumed that the launch of the plant will help meet the growing demand for domestic components in the current geopolitical situation, which provoked a shortage of foreign components. According to estimates, in 2023, approximately 500 thousand motherboards were manufactured at the site of NPO CTS JSC (part of the GS Group holding). For comparison, in 2022, the volume of board production amounted to 390 thousand units. Thus, growth was recorded at around 27% year-on-year.

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GCS Group

We see that Russian electronics manufacturers have seriously increased their presence in the domestic market. This contributed to an increase in the load of contract board production. If in 2022 these were mainly boards for laptops, then in 2023 these were complex server boards, personal computer boards and even boards for telecom industry equipment, "says Fedor Boyarkov, vice president of production development at GS Group.

The amount of investment in the new GS Group project as of early February 2024 was not reported. Market participants estimate the cost of launching the production of printed circuit boards to the 7th accuracy class at €60 million, or approximately 5.89 billion rubles at the exchange rate as of February 12, 2024.

It is also noted that since the beginning of 2023, several Russian companies have announced plans to establish the production of printed circuit boards both for their own needs and for third-party customers. In particular, the "Core Group" launches a line of boards at the plant in Dubna, the capacity of which can be up to 4 million square meters. dm per year. In addition, the manufacturer of automotive electronics "NPP Itelma" intends to invest up to 2 billion rubles in the creation of an enterprise for the production of printed circuit boards up to the 6th accuracy class. The intention to start production of boards is also indicated by the electronics manufacturer Beshtau^[1]

Increasing motherboard production

At the end of January 2024, it became known that Russian computer manufacturers are increasing the production of motherboards. This is due to the increasing number of orders for domestic products due to the shortage of foreign products that has formed in the current geopolitical situation.

According to the Kommersant newspaper, in February 2024, the GS Group launches an additional line for the production of boards. The company notes that in 2023 the number of orders increased by 28% - up to 500 thousand units. And in 2024, contracts were signed for the production of twice as many boards. As part of the expansion of production, GS Group will invest approximately 200 million rubles in the purchase of additional equipment, the creation of testing zones and warehouses. As a result, production capacity will double - up to 1 million products per year.

GS Motherboard C592

Fyodor Boyarkov, vice president for production development at GS Group, notes that in 2022 the company manufactured mainly laptop boards. In 2023, complex server boards and solutions for telecommunications equipment were added to them. The expansion of capacities, including the production of motherboards, is also announced by the Russian company Fplus.

Market participants say domestic companies are developing products mainly for Intel and AMD chips. However, the creation of products for modern processors "released since the beginning of the sanction pressure" arises difficulties, since they do not have official documentation that allows integrating the chip onto the board. Therefore, developers in the Russian Federation are forced to design solutions for processors of previous generations. Some companies are negotiating with Chinese organizations to gain access to a modern board design developed with the support of chip manufacturers. However, this reduces the degree of localization of development in Russia, increases the cost and timing of design.^[2]

2023: Launch of smartphone and computer development and production

Investment and industrial holding GS Group expands its competence in the production of electronics and announces the launch of another area of ​ ​ activity - the development and production of smartphones and computer equipment. GS Group announced this to TAdviser on June 28, 2023. The holding plans to start mass production of the first devices - smartphones, tablet computers and laptops - in 2023.

The first plant for the contract production of domestic smartphones has been built in Russia. 3.5 billion rubles were invested in it
Photo source: mmbiztoday.com

The product line provides a large range of devices: user, office and professional. Production will be launched in Russia at the facilities of the Technopolice GS innovation cluster enterprises (an investment project of the GS Group holding in Gusev, Kaliningrad Region). The products will be manufactured under the brands of customers with possible customization (according to the ODM model). GS Group in 2023 invests about 3.5 billion rubles. in the development, creation of samples, licensed software, as well as in retrofitting production.

Production capacities for this group of products are planned at the level of 30 thousand devices per month.

For several years, we have seen a significant increase in demand for domestic computing equipment - this is one of the priority segments in the framework of import substitution. There are all opportunities for localizing such products in Russia. Over the 15 years of development of Technopolice GS in the Kaliningrad region, we have developed competencies in the development and packaging of microcircuits, assembly of printed circuit boards, development and production of cases for electronics and power supplies, and the production of turnkey devices. In addition to orders for contract assembly of devices in the Technopolice GS cluster, we see the interest of customers in ODM production under their brands. To launch this area, we built the entire system - first of all, we formed a team with developed competencies in the development of smartphones and computer equipment, and are ready to enter large-scale production as soon as possible, noted by Fyodor Boyarkov, Vice President for Production Development at GS Group.

2021

Cooperation with Baikal Electronics in the development of the domestic electronic component base

Baikal Electronics and GS Group begin cooperation in the development of the domestic electronic component base. Baikal Electronics announced this on November 30, 2021. Read more here.

GS Group joined the Computing Technology Consortium

GS Group became a member of the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization for the Development of the Radio-Electronic Industry "Consortium" Computing Technology "(ANO" VT ") in April 2021.

"GS Group will represent in the Consortium the interests of DSS solution manufacturers, developers and manufacturers of integrated circuits, companies engaged in the production of computer equipment on a contract basis. Joining the Consortium is a logical and strategically important step for our further development. As part of the Consortium, we plan to submit proposals to improve the legal situation of developers and manufacturers of computer equipment in the interests of the development of this market, "commented Sergey Dolgopolsky, Director of Government Relations at GS Group.

2020

Launch of LED production in Russia

On November 25, 2020, GS Group Holding announced to TAdviser that it was launching on the basis of its own microelectronic enterprise GS Nanotech (as part of the Technopolice GS innovation cluster, Gusev, Kaliningrad Region) a direction for the enclosure of LEDs. This is the maximum possible level of localization of such production in the Russian Federation for November 2020 . The stage of prototyping LEDs has already been completed. Read more here.

Joining the Board of the Association of LED Manufacturers and Systems based on them

GS Group Holding on July 24, 2020 announced the accession to the Board of the Association of LED Manufacturers and Systems Based on Them (APSS). The corresponding decision was made at a meeting of the APSS Board. GS Group will be represented on the Board of the Association by Andrei Martynov, Head of the Strategic Projects Department.

In 2020, the direction of the GS Group's activities related to the production of LEDs and systems based on them was chosen as one of the priorities. I set myself, as a member of the APSS Board, a number of tasks to protect the interests of the industry, including in terms of interaction with regulators. I am sure that the experience in this area, as well as the holding's production competencies in microelectronics, will be useful for all market players, "said Andrei Martynov, head of the strategic projects department at GS Group.

APSS is the only professional association in Russia in the LED industry. It actively forms the market for LED products and ensures the development of the LED industry in Russia. The association was created in order to convince all market agents, and primarily those responsible for its regulation and development, to reckon with national manufacturers.

Energy-efficient lighting is one of the priority areas of activity

Since 2020, GS Group has selected energy efficient lighting as one of the priority areas of activity. The holding has been developing and producing LED lamps and lighting control systems since 2014. Production is deployed on the basis of the Prancor enterprise (as part of the Technopolice GS innovation cluster). Production capacity - about 600 thousand products per year.

2019: Agreement on the establishment of a university campus in the Kaliningrad region

On October 23, 2019, GS Group announced that, together with BFU named after I. Kant and Gusevsky Polytechnic College, they signed an agreement on the development of educational programs for the university campus, which is being created on the basis of the Technopolice GS innovation cluster. Higher education programs (bachelor's, master's, graduate school), in the field of modern engineering, electronics and information technology will be developed until November 2020. Read more here.

2018

GS Group is a Russian investment and industrial holding company operating on the basis of its own high technologies in the field of telecommunications, advertising and media business, nanotechnology and in various industries. industries The headquarters of the holding is located in. St. Petersburg

Cooperation with Technopark of St. Petersburg in the development of Russian electronics

On November 29, 2018, GS Group and Technopark of St. Petersburg signed an agreement on cooperation in the development of advanced domestic robotic systems and related technologies and industries. The agreement provides for the unification of technological resources, competencies and potential of the parties in the implementation of various joint projects and programs in the interests of the Russian electronic industry.

In particular, the parties plan to conduct joint scientific research and development, cooperate in prototyping and testing new products on the technical basis of the enterprises of the innovation cluster "Technopolice GS" and the Regional Engineering Center in the field of electronic instrumentation (RIC RAP). Also, GS Group and Technopark of St. Petersburg are planning joint initiatives aimed at promoting the interests of the industry, developing and introducing joint educational programs that contribute to solving personnel issues of the modern electronic industry.

We are confident that the projects implemented under the agreement will contribute to increasing the competitiveness of Russian technologies in the world market, and the competence of GS Group enterprises in the development and production of innovative products and training for microelectronics will allow RIC RAP to effectively organize the work of a modern scientific and production site in St. Petersburg, - Evgeny Maslennikov, General Director of GS Nanotech.

RIC RAP was founded in the perimeter of the Technopark of St. Petersburg in response to numerous requests from leading developers and manufacturers of radio electronics and instrument making in St. Petersburg. The engineering center has become a kind of technology holder and integrator for industry small and medium enterprises. The forecasts for the development of the Russian market are close to the trends of the global radio electronics market, with the exception of a slightly greater demand for products of the special radio electronics segment. As of November 2018, the market volume is 930 billion rubles, and the expected volume by 2025 is 3 trillion rubles. The agreements reached with the GS Group holding in the field of combining technological resources and competencies will allow implementing joint projects, creating high-tech products of the next generation. We believe that our cooperation will lead to the spread of advanced electronic instrumentation technologies and strengthen the position of this industry not only in St. Petersburg, but throughout Russia.

Strategic partnership with Depo Computers

On October 8, 2018, GS Group Holding and Depo Computers announced a strategic partnership aimed at developing domestic information and communication technologies. The companies will jointly develop the production of computer equipment, peripheral and telecommunication equipment in the Russian Federation and cooperate in expanding the domestic element base and assortment of Russian electronic components. Read more here.

Launch mass production of SSDs

On February 20, 2018, the GS Group holding announced the start of mass production of the first SSDs. This is the company's own development and one of the first mass production of SSD drives in Russia. In 2016, Imotek presented two models of solid-state drives. Also, the production of LPT in Russia is carried out by the research and production company Atri. By the end of 2018, GS_Group Holding will launch a line of solid-state drives with a capacity of up to 1 TB for various applications.

3D NAND will be the main growth driver for the SSD market (Photo - Technopolice GS)

Production with a capacity of more than 1 million devices per year will be carried out on the basis of the innovation cluster "Technopolice GS" in the Kaliningrad region, the company said. The production cycle includes the design and design of devices, installation of components on the board, housing of memory modules, final assembly and packaging of products. Complete localization of the project, which began development in 2016, ensures maximum data security, according to a press release from GS Group.

GS Group will manufacture solid state drives for the client and enterprise segments. The first production sample 256GB SSD in the 2.5 "form factor was released in 2017. The devices use a SATA 3.0 interface with a maximum data transfer rate of up to 6 Gb/s, the drive provides a maximum sequential read speed of up to 550 Mb/s and sequential write speed of up to 450 Mb/s, follows from the company's message.

The company also provides for the ability to customize the equipment to specific customer requirements.

Devices manufactured in the Kaliningrad region can be used for workstations, servers, storage systems and other tiered systems. For the production of SSD-drives, memory modules will be used, which include the latest generation of memory crystals - 3D NAND, the company said.

According to GS Group specialists, it is the transition to 3D NAND technology that will become the main growth driver for the solid-state drive market. Referring to IDC data, GS Group expects annual growth in the segment by 14.8% in monetary terms (by 15.1% in unit terms). According to IDC forecasts, by 2021 its volumes will amount to $33.6 billion.

In addition, GS Nanotech specialists will launch the technology of ultra-dense crystal packaging, thanks to which the previously unattainable specific memory capacity of microcircuits will be provided, the company said.

According to Evgeny Maslennikov, CEO of GS Nanotech, the main trends in the Russian market are the transfer of corporate data to Russian data centers and the creation of their own data warehouses. This is in order to ensure the security of data storage, he is sure.

The demand for domestic solid-state drives is growing, so the first Russian project to create an SSD has great potential for further development, the company's press service quoted Maslennikov as saying.

2017

GS Group, together with other market players, creates an association of developers and manufacturers of electronics (ARPE).

Association of IoT Market Participants

On April 5, 2017, the investment and industrial holding GS Group joined the Association of Internet of Things Market Participants, established by the Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF) - a strategic partner of the holding - and the Moscow State Technical University named after N.E. Bauman. GS Group will take part in the creation of innovative solutions in the field of the Internet of Things (IoT), the development of secure protocols for the interaction of IoT devices and regulatory documents in this area. The holding will also provide the Association members with a platform for creating and testing IoT solutions. The goal of the Association is the development of the Russian IoT market, support for dialogue between its participants, strengthening industry and intersectoral cooperation.

Sale of stake in Beximco Communication JV (RealVU)

On February 15, 2017, investment and industrial holding GS Group announced the sale of its stake in Beximco Communication, a joint venture operating in Bangladesh under the RealVU brand. Thus, the holding successfully completed the investment cycle of the project to create the country's first paid satellite TV operator. Beximco Communication Ltd will continue to operate broadcasting equipment and infrastructure created and integrated by the GS Group.

"For GS Group, the creation of the RealVU project, the first paid satellite TV operator in Bangladesh, was a truly unique experience. For the first time, we offered access to digital television to residents of a country with a population of more than 165 million people, where previously only low-quality terrestrial and digital cable TV was available. The holding acted as an investor, supplier and integrator of its own technological solutions. RealVU has become the second international broadcasting project of the national level, which uses our developments, "said Sergey Dolgopolsky, Director of External Relations of the Department of Foreign Broadcasting Projects of GS Group

RealVU is the second overseas broadcast project launched with the direct participation of GS Group. From 2012 to 2016, the holding successfully implemented a project to create the first national digital terrestrial television platform One TV in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

2016

GS Group introduces the first Russia ultra-high definition TV set-top box (,) Ultra HD- 4K GS A230. GS Gamekit, a game console with HD functionality developed by GS Group, is entering the market. The holding launches broadcasting of the first satellite TV operator in Bangladesh - RealVU. GS Group continues to actively develop the University Campus Engineering and Technical Sciences project in the innovation cluster "Technopolice GS."

Over 100kg of chemically pure gold and silver recovered from recycled General Satellite TV consoles

The GS Group holding summed up the work of the electronics recycling plant in Tula in 2016: the company recycled more than 1.7 million TV consoles under the General Satellite brand, commissioned by users under the equipment exchange program. In 2016, the company transferred to partners 688 tons of scrap of printed circuit boards and wires containing precious and non-ferrous metals, as well as 1200 tons of scrap of ferrous metals. 111 kg of chemically pure gold and silver and 98 tons of pure copper were extracted from the obtained raw materials.

The Tula GS Group electronics recycling plant is engaged in the processing of retired General Satellite set-top boxes handed over by participants in the equipment exchange program ("trade-in"), which is jointly implemented by the GS Group holding and the Tricolor TV digital television operator. As part of this program, subscribers have the opportunity to exchange outdated General Satellite SD consoles for new devices that support HD format with a minimum surcharge. The activities of the electronics recycling plant are the final stage of the closed-loop production of General Satellite digital set-top boxes.

According to the results of work in 2016, over 1.7 million set-top boxes were disposed of at GS Group, of which 447 tons of scrap of printed circuit boards containing precious metals were received, as well as 222 tons of scrap of printed circuit boards and 19 tons of scrap of wires containing copper. As a result of further processing of raw materials, GS Group partners extracted 19.5 kg of gold, 91.5 kg of silver and 98 tons of copper intended for secondary use. In addition, more than 1200 tons of ferrous scrap were obtained, and 167 tons of plastic, cardboard and metalware were transferred to partners for further processing and reuse.

From the launch of the plant in March 2015 to December 2016, more than 2.6 million devices were redesigned at the enterprise. 1007 tons of scrap of boards and wires containing gold, silver and copper, as well as 1750 tons of scrap of ferrous metals, were obtained from recycled TV consoles. During further processing, 31.8 kg of gold, 139.5 kg of silver and 143 tons of copper for secondary use were extracted from the raw materials. In addition, 183 tons of plastic, cardboard and metalware were transferred to partners for further processing.

The activities of the GS Group plant for the disposal of electronics in Tula are the final stage of the closed-loop production of General Satellite digital set-top boxes. Equipment commissioned under the trade-in program, implemented by the largest Russian digital television operator Tricolor TV together with the GS Group holding, is undergoing processing: subscribers have the opportunity to exchange outdated General Satellite SD consoles for new devices that support HD format, with a minimum surcharge.

Export of microelectronic products to China

In 2016, the holding delivered a batch of microprocessors with a built-in conditional access system to Chinese electronics manufacturers Huanuoyi Technology Co. Ltd и Shenzhen GIEC Digital Co. Ltd (Shenzhen). In 2017, sales of DTS 53 and DTS 54 satellite TV sets, manufactured in China based on GS Group technologies, began in Russia. The technical characteristics of the devices allow you to receive the signal of the largest Russian digital television operator Tricolor TV.

In 2016, the GS Group holding delivered a batch of multi-chip microprocessors of its own design to Chinese companies Huanuoyi Technology Co. Ltd и Shenzhen GIEC Digital Co. Ltd. Microcircuits developed using System-in-Package (SiP) technology are designed to convert a satellite signal, process it and prepare for display on a TV screen. "System-in-case" - a method of construction, characterized by high complexity and labor intensity of implementation. This is a technology that allows you to create miniature high-performance electronic modules, the use of which practically eliminates the possibility of unauthorized access to content.

Preparation for serial production of SSD for the implementation of the "Spring Law"

In mid-August 2016, it became known about the plans of the GS Group to launch mass production of solid-state drives (SSDs). The holding was one of the first in Russia to begin to master the manufacture of equipment for the execution of the "anti-terrorist package" of Irina Yarovaya and Viktor Ozerov, which obliges telecom operators to store the contents of negotiations and correspondence of subscribers for up to six months.

According to Kommersant, citing a representative of the GS Group, the company has begun to develop and prepare for the mass production of SSD devices for data storage systems, servers and workstations.

GS Group begins production of solid state drives

The first buyer of the new drives will be the computer manufacturer Aquarius, which intends to install GS Group products in its servers. According to the publication, both companies have already signed an agreement of intent.

GS Group is going to produce more than 1 million solid-state drives per year at the facilities of its Technopolice GS cluster in the Kaliningrad region. A prototype SSD with a capacity of 256 GB is planned to be presented in early 2017, and serial production of products will begin in the second half of the same year.

The representative of GS Group Andrei Bezrukov told the publication that one of the advantages of the solid-state drives created by the holding is "a full production cycle in Russia, which ensures maximum data security."

The head of the contract equipment manufacturer EMS-Expert Semyon Lukachev says that the "Yarovaya package" spurs  foreign manufacturers into action.

We are now communicating with two foreign companies about the possible localization of the production of their equipment in Russia, "he said.

Ivan Pokrovsky, general director of the information and analytical Center for Modern Electronics, says that GS Group can be called the first Russian manufacturer of SSDs for mass civilian markets. According to him, organizing the production of such drives from scratch can cost $10-50 million.^[3]

Bachelor's program

Investment and industrial holding GS Group, Petrozavodsk State University (PetrSU) and Gusevsky Polytechnic College signed an agreement in March 2016 on the implementation of a joint network bachelor's program on the basis of the university campus in Technopolice GS (Gusev, Kaliningrad Region). The training will be conducted under the programs of secondary vocational and higher education in the areas of "Applied Informatics," "Instrument Engineering," "Informatics and Computer Engineering."

2015

• GS Group continues to diversify its business and is exploring new markets. The first plant in Russia for the production of wood-polymer composite (DPC) using solid plastic - GS Composite has been opened in Ulyanovsk.
• In the Pskov region, the Sudoma sawmill was put into operation, the main products of which are heat-treated and impregnated boards and construction materials.
• The first game console with HDTV console functionality has been developed - GS Gamekit.
• GS Group creates an industry branch of Business Russia for the development of the electronic industry in Russia.

• Holding GS Group implemented the first network bachelor's program on the basis of the university campus in "Technopolice GS" together with the Baltic Federal University named after I. Kant, Gusevsky Polytechnic College and the Administration of Gusev. The first group of students has already begun training under the secondary vocational education program in the field of training "Information Technologies and Communication Systems." Among the partner universities of the campus are ITMO University, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Brno Technical University (Brno, Czech Republic).
• The Sudoma sawmill was opened in the Pskov region.
• GS Labs Digital TV R&D Center Established

2014

The holding's enterprises have launched a mass production of the first Russian SiP microcircuit - SiP Amber S2. The innovation cluster "Technopolice GS" becomes the largest in the Eastern To Europe platform for contract production. electronic engineers The holding is heading for business diversification based on its own high technologies. In the Pskov region, the development of a complex of industries for deep processing of Dedovichi wood continues.

2013: Establishment of GS Group Holding

On May 13, 2013, the creation of the GS Group holding was announced in Moscow. All highlighted areas are merged under the new international brand GS Group. The holding's structure includes the production of consumer electronics and digital set-top boxes under the General Satellite brand and a group of high-tech industries in the field of microelectronics and nanotechnology in the Technopolice GS innovation cluster.

According to information for 2013, the parent company of the General Satellite group is OJSC Concern Innovative Technologies (office in St. Petersburg), which owns the GS Group brand. A headquarters in Zug (Switzerland) has been opened for work in foreign markets. The company's branches are located in Russia, Great Britain, China, Cambodia, Estonia, Pakistan and other countries. More than 3.5 thousand people work in divisions around the world.

2011

In collaboration with the STC "Module," the first Russian chip for digital television was developed and produced. The solemn laying of the first stone in the foundation of the fifth production on the territory of the Technopolice Gusev project - the Center for the Study and Production of Microelectronics "JiES Nanotech" took place. On June 18, 2011, General Satellite Corporation celebrated its 20th anniversary.

2010

General Satellite Corporation is the first in Eastern Europe to launch 3D broadcasting. Technopolice GS is becoming an international discussion platform in the field of microelectronics (Si-Forum) and digital television broadcasting worldwide (GS Summit). The President of the Russian Federation D.A. Medvedev met with the developments of the corporation in the field of 3D broadcasting at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. New production facilities have been opened at Technopolice (Gusev, Kaliningrad Region), Bely Klyuch House-Building Plant LLC (production of houses using modular technology) and First Cardboard Factory LLC (corrugated packaging production).

2009

In Gusev (Kaliningrad region), a complex of modern highly automated industries has been created that can meet the needs of digital consumer consoles both in the Russian Federation and in other European countries.

2008

The corporation is developing an investment project in the Kaliningrad region (Russia) - the private innovation cluster Technopolice GS. The cluster has created a powerful production base in the field of microelectronics and nanotechnology, including the leading center for the development and production of microelectronics in Russia GS Nanotech and the largest production of satellite digital set-top boxes in Eastern Europe - NPO Digital Television Systems. The cluster also builds a developed infrastructure and forms a creative environment for the lives of modern people.

2005

As a result of the continuous work of the company's specialists in the field of quality improvement, there are numerous international awards. The corporation receives the first of them at the CSTB exhibition in Moscow in 2005.

The corporation becomes the main technical contractor and technical integrator of the largest Russian digital television operator − Tricolor TV.

In 2005, General Satellite Corporation was admitted to the international industry association AEPOC (European Association for the Protection of Coded Audiovisual Products and Services).

2003: Development of own set-top boxes with production in China

The engineering division of the company develops the first set-top boxes with its own software for viewing satellite, terrestrial and cable television programs. Production is located at factories in Shenzhen (China). A permanent representative office of the corporation in China is opening. Its tasks include the organization of production and quality control of products.

2002

To promote ongoing development and support the company's entry into the global market, foreign divisions are opening. General Satellite becomes an international company. A network of foreign trading branches is being created in 6 European countries: Germany, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, the Czech Republic and Turkey. The corporation is transferred to the status of the largest global distributor and integrator of satellite equipment in the territory of its presence.

1999

Consistently implementing the adopted strategy for the development of knowledge-intensive areas, the corporation distinguishes engineering into a separate structural unit. His first significant success was the opening of his own assembly line of set-top boxes under the Humax brand. The confidence of world leaders in the satellite television market in the Russian corporation General Satellite is growing.

1996

Strategic decisions are made about the future of the corporation. Science-intensive areas are becoming priorities. The company was selected as the sole supplier of subscriber equipment for the first major Russian satellite broadcasting project NTV-Plus. General Satellite is moving into the status of a federal player in the telecommunications market. Branches of the corporation as a leading Russian integrator of broadcasting projects are opening in the largest cities of Russia.

1995

The company becomes one of the suppliers of a full range of equipment for television companies in Eastern Europe and a major integrator known under the General Satellite Corporation brand.

1991: Establishment of a company to sell and maintain satellite broadcasting systems

Russia St. Petersburg In the, a company was organized to sell and service satellite broadcasting systems for the emerging To Europe satellite television market in the Eastern market.

Areas of activity

Key competencies: creation and management of television broadcasting projects around the world, development and production of microelectronics, development and production of full-cycle electronics, development and integration of software products, R&D and production of nanomaterials, investment in venture projects, development of the Technopolice GS innovation cluster, deep wood processing, production and management of media content, full-cycle advertising activities, activities in the field of television measurements.

Television broadcasting projects

Among the priority areas of activity of GS Group are international broadcasting projects. The company is their initiator, technology and business integrator, as well as an investor. Thus, in 2012, One TV, an on-air digital television operator, was created in Cambodia (together with the national holding Royal Group), and the Russian side owns 51% of the company's shares. Next in line is the creation of a national satellite operator in Pakistan, it is planned to launch digital television broadcasting in Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America.

plan to connect more than ten million subscribers in different countries over the next five years," said Sergey Dolgopolsky, director of foreign projects at GS Group.

Answering the question about filling the air for foreign television projects, Sergei Dolgopolsky in May 2013 explained that GS Group, having the appropriate resources, can produce part of the programs on its own, but some of the content is certainly purchased, for which the holding cooperates with the largest international television channels. At the same time, GS Group is trying to include one or two Russian foreign broadcasting channels in each project. The holding intends to promote Russian science and culture abroad and has plans for interaction in this area with the federal agency for CIS affairs, compatriots living abroad, and international humanitarian cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo).

During 2013, the holding actively developed the One TV project, increased its subscriber base (monthly increase was 20-25%), and expanded its content offer. In December, the operator launched a new packaging - budget packages worth only $1 were created based on the interest of different groups of viewers in a certain type of content. By the end of 2013, the number of One TV channels was increased from 50 to 80. One TV Cambodia not only broadcasts local and world channels, but also produces its own Khmer language television content, which is very popular with viewers.

In 2014, One TV was brought to a new qualitative level, a deep study of the television audience in other countries of the Asian region is carried out. One TV is becoming a convenient advertising platform in Cambodia. Its coverage area has been increased: the digital TV platform covers an audience of nine provinces and the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, which makes up 80% of the country. In the spring of 2014, the Ministry of Communications of the Kingdom of Cambodia expressed official gratitude to the Russian holding GS Group for its significant contribution to relations between the two states. Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanari, at a ceremony dedicated to the technical launch of the platform in Kandal province, noted that One TV has become a kind of national treasure of the Kingdom.

In 2015, GS Group fully fulfilled its investment objectives in the project and decided to sell a controlling stake to a partner.

In 2016, GS Group announced the sale of a controlling stake in One TV. The buyer was a partner of the holding - conglomerate The Royal Group of Companies (Kingdom of Cambodia). The funds received by GS Group during the transaction are aimed at implementing projects priority for the holding in other markets.

In 2016, GS Group holding launched broadcasting of the first satellite TV operator in Bangladesh - RealVU. The project was implemented in partnership with Bengali diversified conglomerate BEXIMCO. GS Group has been a supplier and integrator of its own software and hardware solutions for operating the operator in accordance with modern digital television standards. RealVU provided high-quality digital broadcasting throughout the country with a population of 165 million people, where previously there was access only to Bengali analog over-the-air and cable TV, as well as illegal access to Indian DTH operators.

In 2017, GS Group announced the sale of its stake in the joint venture Beximco Communication Ltd (operating in Bangladesh under the RealVU brand), thus completing the investment cycle of the project to create the country's first paid satellite TV operator. Beximco Communication Ltd continued to operate broadcasting equipment and infrastructure created and integrated by the GS Group.

Woodworking and reforestation

The GS Group holding is the initiator and investor of the project to create a complex of logging, forest processing and reforestation industries in the village of Dedovichi (Pskov region).

The Dedovichi high-tech complex for deep wood processing is an environmentally friendly integrated closed-cycle production with its own resource and raw material base, which includes:

• Logging unit, which ensures 100% development of the dedicated forest fund;
• reforestation division - a forest nursery, annually growing 2 million seedlings of valuable conifers using the technology of a closed root system to improve the breed composition of the forest fund of the Pskov region;
• Sudoma forestry plant - high-tech production for deep processing of wood;

The Dedovichi production complex ensures environmentally friendly waste-free disposal of the allocated forest fund with its rapid restoration at the expense of its own reproductive base. Within the framework of the project, a model of intensive forest use is being introduced with the replacement of deciduous tree species with more valuable ones - conifers, which is designed to improve the quality of the forest fund of the Pskov region.

The production of a full cycle with a reproducible raw material base is rare for Russia. The total investment in the project is more than 3 billion rubles.

Sudoma Timber Plant is an export-oriented enterprise for the production of building materials from wood. This is a key enterprise of the Dedovichi complex. The timber factory produces environmentally friendly building materials from wood with a service life of up to 100 years: heat-treated and impregnated board, planed lumber.

In August 2013, the construction of an enterprise for the production of import-substituting wood products by LLC Lesozavod Sudoma in the Pskov Region (Dedovichi village) began. The plant will produce finishing materials for construction, which will reduce the import of such products from abroad. In addition, the company will export building materials from wood to the countries of Western Europe and Scandinavia. The creation of this enterprise is the second stage of a large-scale investment project for deep processing of wood, which began in 2012 and was calculated before 2016. The total investment in the project is 3.177 billion rubles. The project includes logging and reforestation, the creation of a nursery for 2 million seedlings per year, the construction of a wood processing plant.

In February 2014, GS Group announced its intention to build a pellet plant. The production volume is 90,000 tons of pellets per year, the sales market is mainly Europe. The total investment is about 12 million euros.

Technopolice GS

Technopolice GS is the only private innovation cluster in Russia. Located in the city of Gusev, Kaliningrad Region. The area of ​ ​ the developed territory is 230 hectares. The investor is the GS Group holding. The cluster implements a full cycle of production of microelectronics and consumer electronics. The capacities of enterprises allow the production of up to 20 million microchips and up to 5 million household electronic products per year. R&D and educational centers operate, a modern residential area and art center, a "smart infrastructure" and a unique creative environment are being formed. A comprehensive educational program is being implemented on the basis of the cluster: a career guidance program is in effect and international competitions in mathematics and physics are held annually for schoolchildren; a University Campus in Engineering and Technical Sciences is being established.

The "Technopolice GS" consists of:

• The industrial zone is the largest cluster of the electronic industry in Europe, uniting the enterprises of GS Nanotech, NPO Digital Television Systems OJSC, Prancor LLC, First Cardboard Factory LLC, Nanocarbon Materials LLC.
• Research and educational center - a platform for generating new ideas, developing projects, training qualified personnel of Technopolice GS.
• Venture Fund GS Venture, which funds promising research and development developments of young creative teams and carries out the search and development of small businesses with promising ideas.
• A business incubator designed to "grow" efficient small enterprises in the field of telecommunications and microelectronics, to introduce advanced scientific developments in production.
• Living area for specialists "Technopolice GS" - a cottage village of the European level and cultural and entertainment facilities.
• Creative space - household, cultural, entertainment infrastructure focused on the lifestyle of modern people, the "creative class" and workers employed in production, residents and guests of "Technopolice GS."

Digital TV Solutions

The GS Group includes the research and development center for software products and consumer electronicsGS Labs. The key area of ​ ​ activity is the development and integration of hardware and software complexes for digital television in all environments and on any device. The GS Labs development product pool includes the General Satellite set-top box line, the state-of-the-art interactive-service software platform Stingray TV, a conditional access system, mobile applications and smart TV services, including intelligent electronic television guide (EPG) and streaming applications "Play.Tricolor."

Nanotechnologies

In 2012, the production of nanostructured carbon materials was opened at Technopolice GS. The company "Nanocarbon Materials" is engaged in the development of technologies and the production of various materials using multi-wall carbon nanotubes. The company has launched the production of NCM Chrome nano-additives containing activated nano-carbon, and developed a unique technology of the same name for solid, wear and corrosion resistant decorative chrome plating with their use.

Media industry

The GS Group holding's media business includes:

• ZAO First TVCH is one of the largest television companies in Russia specializing in the production and distribution of thematic channels for satellite and cable broadcasting. It produces 13 of its own TV channels.
• TV MIR is a project of the First TVCH television company, which provides the satellite television market with high-quality content in HD and SD formats. This is one of the largest thematic licensed video portals in Russia, aimed at a wide audience and having over 450 sites in the partner network.
• FortLine LLC is a company providing a wide range of services in the field of information services, sociological and media research. Since 2012, the company - the first and only in Russia - has been conducting television measurements of the audience of satellite television and research on the popularity of satellite broadcasting channels.

By order of the GS Group, the Stolet television company produces the Eda TV channel in HD quality.

Advertising business

GS Group includes Agency 2, the largest advertising agency in St. Petersburg (by total revenue). The advertising agency provides a wide range of services: from the development of a creative strategy to the manufacture and placement of advertising in all information channels in Russia. In addition, Agency 2 has exclusive rights to place advertising on the air of strategic partner GS Group - digital television operator Tricolor TV.

Composite materials

GS Group includes a plant for the production of wood-polymer composite GS Composite, the first enterprise in Russia to use an innovative technology for the manufacture of DPC pellets with the addition of solid plastic. Located in Ulyanovsk. GS Composite produces a granular wood-polymer composite and finished products from it. The production volume of the plant is 500 kg/h of DPC pellets, the capacity of the enterprise is 2150 tons of finished products per year.

Investment

In 2013, the GS Group allocated a corporate venture fund GS Venture, whose task is to provide comprehensive support for startups and promising business ideas. GS Venture offers investments in the amount of up to 300 million rubles in a separate project, the implementation of projects based on Technopolice GS enterprises, assistance in bringing finished products to the market, advertising and promotion. One of the successful investment projects of GS Venture is the startup Tellyo (Finland), the Share the Moment service. The investment focus of the fund includes projects in the field of television, the creation of video content, the production of microelectronics, consumer electronics, game development and related areas.

Social Corporate Responsibility

GS Group implements a corporate social responsibility program in all regions of its presence. Among the priorities of the holding in this area are the popularization of technical education in Russia, the restoration and preservation of cultural values, assistance to children, projects in the field of ecology aimed at careful treatment of nature.

Electronic Products Recycling Plant

On March 16, 2015, the investment and industrial holding GS Group announced the creation in Tula of production facilities for the disposal of General Satellite electronic devices and equipment that has fallen into disuse.

The holding plans to launch a closed cycle of production and disposal of consumer electronics with a high level of recycling. The decision to open its own enterprise for the disposal of consumer electronics was made by the holding based on the results of the implementation of the All-Russian trade-in program for owners of General Satellite consoles.

The recycling procedure in place at the new GS Group plant should minimize the amount of waste intended for further disposal. Production processes will provide the possibility of using some components, after processing, in the production of new equipment under the General Satellite brand. This will help the holding reduce the burden on the environment and optimize the cost of producing new devices.

GS Group - Proven Processes

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