6 Sep 2022 10:52

Russian Post, Skolkovo Ventures form venture to develop drone deliveries

MOSCOW. Sept 6 (Interfax) - Russian Post and Skolkovo Ventures have set up a company to develop unmanned delivery called BAS Consortium LLC, Unified State Register of Legal Entities showed.

The new company, incorporated on September 2 with charter capital of 10 million rubles, is 40% owned by Russian Post and 60% by Skolkovo Ventures.

Russian Post said its strategy for 2020-2030 calls for transitioning to a holding management model, with the spin-off of various functions into subsidiaries. For example, information technology development is concentrated at Pochtatech.

"BAS Consortium is a similar step for the development of technology for deliveries by unmanned vehicles. It takes into account our experience of collaboration with Skolkovo in the implementation of hyperlocal delivery by unmanned robots," a Russian Post spokesman said.

There will be a total of more than ten companies that will be responsible for various functions and products, he said. "Such an approach makes it possible to give more responsibility to management to independently raise financing, quickly generate and test hypotheses and put them on the market," the spokesman said.

The Russian government issued a resolution on March 24, 2022 approving a program for an experimental legal environment for digital innovation in the operation of unmanned aircraft system in Chukotka, Kamchatka Territory, Khanty Mansi Autonomous District - Yugra, and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. Drones in these regions will be used foremost to deliver mail and cargo. The project was proposed by Russian Post and several other companies, the Economic Development Ministry said in March. The experiment is supposed to run for three years.