The mining and metallurgical group Metinvest is transforming its business processes with artificial intelligence (AI) through automation, the use of drones, and the application of these tools in the financial sector.
“In 2020, we were able to automate about 70% of our processes, with 30% remaining inaccessible due to technological limitations. Today, this figure has risen to 95%. This opens up completely new opportunities, and we are actively moving in this direction,” said Anton Ishchenko, head of the R&D product development team at Metinvest Digital, at the 13th Annual Forum of Financial Directors of Ukraine in Kyiv.
According to him, in five years of working with intelligent process automation, more than 500 solutions based on various technologies have been implemented, which has made it possible to automate about 200,000 hours of work, equivalent to approximately 100 full-time employees.
He noted that modern intelligent automation at Metinvest is based on a combination of RPA (routine operation robotization), low-code platforms (rapid solution development without complex coding), Process and Task Mining (process analysis to identify inefficiencies), and AI (automation of complex tasks and real-time data processing).
One of the main innovations is the active involvement of employees in the automation process. At Metinvest, employees independently record their business processes and work activities using Task Mining, Power Automate, and SAP Scripts. This allows for the formation of high-quality and structured automation requirements from the ground up, reduces the workload on business analysts, and speeds up the transition from idea to finished solution. The collected data and processes are analyzed automatically using AI and then quickly transformed into working automated scenarios. As a result, the time and resources spent on development and implementation are reduced by tens of percent. In the context of limited business budgets, this approach has become extremely important, emphasized Ishchenko.
The result of this practice is the creation of the Application Warehouse corporate platform, a centralized repository of universal applications for automating typical business processes in various departments of the company. This significantly increases the availability of digital tools: new solutions are quickly implemented, distributed among employees, and do not need to be developed from scratch for each task. Currently, about a thousand employees use the platform.
“We continue to invest in research and development to create business value and remain among the leaders in digital transformation,” Ishchenko concluded.
In turn, the group’s CFO, Yulia Dankova, pointed to the comprehensive implementation of computer vision and intelligent document processing technologies in the company’s financial and production processes. According to her, modern solutions based on Computer Vision enable instant reading, analysis, and classification of documents from various sources, from scanners to corporate mail, without the need for prior training.
Since 2023, Metinvest has been using its own intelligent document processing system, myOCR. The platform, which processes up to 40,000 pages of documents per month, including confidential ones, has been implemented at seven large enterprises of the group. It saves about 20,000 hours of working time per year and is integrated with a universal translator from foreign languages into Ukrainian. It contains modules for identifying stamps, signatures, contextual analysis, document classification, data verification, and extraction. At its core are advanced AI models.
“For example, a company is importing goods from an Italian factory. The automated process receives a package of documents in Italian and English, compares them with the accounting system data, generates an authentic translation into Ukrainian, adds it to the package, and transfers it to the electronic document storage system. For financial departments, this has been a real breakthrough in the speed and convenience of document flow,” said the CFO.
The CFO added that the company has implemented a unified solution for SPAIS computer vision systems. This system helps to identify safety violations in production, such as employees being in hazardous areas or without personal protective equipment. When a violation is detected, the program signals it and stores the data in the appropriate systems. This solution is already being used at several Ukrainian enterprises of the group. SPAIS also helps detect damage at Metinvest’s production facilities using drones.
Another solution from the family of computer vision systems at Metinvest enterprises, which has undergone pilot testing and is being implemented for industrial use, is automatic slab quality control.
Dankova emphasized that the group’s assets operate exclusively on proven, uncompromised licensed systems. Microsoft solutions and in-house developments based on the Microsoft technology stack are recognized as priority technologies in this area.
According to SERBIAN ECONOMIST, in April 2025, French company Eviden, part of the Atos group, signed a €50 million contract with the Serbian Ministry of Information Technology and Electronic Governance to establish a National Artificial Intelligence Factory (AI). This project aims to accelerate the development of AI in the country and strengthen technological autonomy using European technologies.
A comprehensive approach to AI development
The National AI Factory will consist of a Center of Excellence and a supercomputing platform designed to support innovation in key sectors such as healthcare, energy, transportation, and public administration. The project will provide access to these resources for government agencies, academic organizations, and businesses.
Technical infrastructure
The project will install a BullSequana XH3000 supercomputer, designed and manufactured at Eviden’s flagship factory in France. The system has a computing power of up to 25 petaflops, includes 300 graphics processors and 2.5 petabytes of data storage. This supercomputer will form the basis of the Center of Excellence, providing the necessary computing power for the development and implementation of innovative AI solutions.
Eviden
In addition, the BullSequana AI software platform will be deployed to accelerate the development of AI applications. The software layer will integrate Mistral AI technology, which provides cutting-edge European generative AI models to support breakthrough solutions.
– International cooperation and training
The project will involve AI experts from Eviden teams in France, the Czech Republic, and Serbia. These experts will ensure the effective application of AI in Serbia’s strategic sectors and will also participate in the recruitment and training of engineers and academic staff across the country, helping to transform the Center of Excellence into a self-sufficient innovation hub.
– Statements from officials
Mihailo Jovanovic, Director of the Information Technology and E-Government Directorate of Serbia, said:
EdTech Innovation Hub
“This partnership with Eviden, a leading European player in supercomputing and AI, is a historic moment for the digital future of our country, demonstrating the spirit of Franco-Serbian cooperation. It is not just a technological leap forward, but also a statement of our commitment to stimulating innovation, developing our economy, and strengthening our position as a regional leader in AI.”
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/959
Serbia has signed a €50 million contract with Eviden, a member of the Atos group, to develop a supercomputer and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The move is aimed at strengthening the country’s position in high-performance computing and AI.
The Serbian Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation has signed an agreement with Eviden, part of the Atos group, worth 50 million euros. The purpose of the contract is to develop a supercomputer and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that should strengthen Serbia’s position in the field of high-performance computing and AI.
According to the ministry, the project will enable Serbia to become a regional leader in digital technologies and provide opportunities for research and innovation. The supercomputer is expected to be used in various fields, including medicine, energy, and environmental protection.
Global investment in supercomputers
The world’s largest countries are actively investing in the development of supercomputers and related technologies.
China: In 2025, China plans to allocate about 398.12 billion yuan (approximately 55 billion US dollars) for research and development, in particular in the field of semiconductors, artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
THE UNITED STATES: In 2024, the US Department of Energy announced a budget of $425 million for the construction of two new supercomputers – Sierra and Summit. These systems are intended for scientific research and simulations, including nuclear testing.
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/774
– The digital twin provides enhanced insight and control over the electrical systems and energy needs of an AI factory.
– The product collaboration integrates ETAP’s advanced digital twin technology with NVIDIA Omniverse™ Cloud APIs.
– Operators can benefit from improved energy efficiency, predictive maintenance, and lower total cost of ownership.
Boston (USA), March 18, 2025 – Schneider Electric, a leader in digital transformation for energy management and automation, and ETAP, an industry and technology leader in the design and operation of energy systems, are introducing an innovative digital twin that can accurately design and model the energy needs of artificial intelligence factories (or AI factories). Using the NVIDIA Omniverse™ Blueprint for AI Factory Digital Twins, Schneider Electric and ETAP are enabling the development of digital twins that combine multiple inputs for mechanical, thermal, network, and electrical systems to simulate how an AI factory operates. This collaboration aims to transform the design and operation of AI factories by providing improved understanding and control over electrical systems and energy needs, opening up opportunities for significant advances in efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.
Previously, basic visualization of electrical systems was possible, but the integration of ETAP and NVIDIA Omniverse technologies enables a comprehensive digital twin of an AI factory where multiple speakers interact seamlessly. ETAP’s sophisticated modeling technology creates a virtual replica of the data center’s electrical infrastructure and combines it with real-time power system data, advanced analytics, and insights. Intelligent algorithms analyze and predict energy consumption and distribution patterns, providing unprecedented insights:
– Advanced design and modeling of electrical systems
– Dynamic analysis of “what if” scenarios
– Real-time monitoring of electrical infrastructure performance
– Optimization of energy efficiency
– Predictive maintenance and system reliability assessment
– Infrastructure needs based on energy usage, which can help reduce total cost of ownership
Regardless of where it is deployed, whether in specialized high-end AI clusters or edge solutions, AI is driving a rapid increase in data center capacity. Unlike traditional computing tasks, AI tasks require a significant increase in electrical power, both for a single server rack (100 kW or more) and for the data center as a whole.
As the adoption of AI accelerates, startups, enterprises, colocation providers, and Internet giants must rethink data center design and management to address the growing need for energy efficiency.
ETAP and NVIDIA’s collaboration introduces an innovative network-to-chip approach that addresses the critical challenges of energy management, performance optimization, and energy efficiency in the AI era. Currently, data center operators have access to rack-level estimates of average energy consumption, but the new digital twin of ETAP aims to increase the accuracy of modeling dynamic load behavior at the chip level to improve power system design and optimize energy efficiency.
This joint effort underscores both ETAP and NVIDIA’s commitment to driving innovation in the data center sector, enabling businesses to optimize their operations and effectively manage the challenges of AI workloads. The collaboration aims to increase data center efficiency, as well as improve network reliability and performance.
“As AI workloads grow in complexity and scale, precise energy management is critical to ensure efficiency, reliability, and sustainability,” said Dion Harris, senior director of HPC and AI Factory solutions at NVIDIA. “Through our collaboration with ETAP and Schneider Electric, we are giving data center operators unprecedented visibility and control over energy dynamics, enabling them to optimize their infrastructure, accelerate AI adoption, and improve operational resiliency.”
“This collaboration represents more than just a technology solution,” said Tanuj Khandelwal, CEO of ETAP. “We are fundamentally rethinking how data centers can be designed, managed, and optimized in the AI era. By combining electrical engineering with advanced virtualization and AI technologies, we are creating a new paradigm for infrastructure management.”
Pankaj Sharma, Executive Vice President, Data Center, Networking and Services, Schneider Electric, added: “Collaboration, speed, and innovation are the driving forces behind the transformation of digital infrastructure required to handle AI workloads. Together, ETAP, Schneider Electric, and NVIDIA are not only advancing data center technology, we are enabling businesses to optimize their operations and seamlessly manage AI energy needs.”
About ETAP
ETAP provides market-leading software solutions for electrical systems, from design and engineering to operations and maintenance.
Through its integrated digital twin electric system platform, ETAP delivers best-in-class, continuous customer experience and cloud-enabled technologies, providing universal access for designers, engineers, and operators, accelerating their digital transformation of the power industry even in the most regulated environments.
More than 20,000 enterprises worldwide rely on ETAP to achieve full efficiency and sustainability across all life cycle stages for utilities, infrastructure, industry, and buildings. For more than 38 years, driving excellence, innovation and customer satisfaction, ETAP’s deep expertise is supported by the dedication of more than 1,000 employees and a strong community of active users.
ETAP is headquartered in Irvine, California, with regional operations around the world to support local customers.
About Schneider Electric
Schneider’s purpose is to create impact by empowering everyone to make the most of our energy and resources, ensuring progress and sustainability for all. We call it Life Is On.
Our mission is to be a trusted partner in sustainability and efficiency.
We are a global technology leader, bringing world-class expertise in electrification, automation and digitalization to smart industries, reliable infrastructure, future-proof data centers, smart buildings and intuitive homes. Drawing on our deep industry expertise, we provide integrated end-to-end AI-enabled industrial IoT solutions with connected products, automation, software and services, creating digital twins to drive profitable growth for our customers.
Ourmain resource is our 150,000 employees and more than a million partners operating in more than 100 countries to ensure proximity to our customers and stakeholders. We support diversity and inclusion in everything we do, guided by our meaningful purpose of a sustainable future for all.
The Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine will continue to develop technologies for using artificial intelligence (AI) to diagnose eye diseases, said Andriy Korol, head of the department for studying the biological action and application of lasers in ophthalmology at the clinic.
“We have now worked out diabetic retinopathy, and at the next stage we will develop in several directions. These may include specific eye diseases, retinal diseases, glaucoma, age-related degeneration, and other diseases that are manifestations of diabetes,” he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
Korol noted that another area of AI technology development that the institute plans to implement will be a system that will allow “to see the symptoms and signs of various diseases, such as hypertension, vascular changes, hereditary diseases, and a number of rare diseases.”
Korol specified that the institute will be able to “launch research on new nosologies every year and a half.”
IT and artificial intelligence (AI) can make metallurgy more environmentally friendly and efficient, says Yuriy Ryzhenkov, CEO of Metinvest Mining and Metallurgical Group.
He expressed this opinion at the first B7 Italy 2024 meeting held on 13 March in Verona (Italy), organized by Confindustria, an association of Italian companies designed to facilitate dialogue between the business world and the governments of the G7 countries. The conference was attended by more than 250 guests, including CEOs and business leaders from G7 countries and international companies, as well as the Italian Minister of Entrepreneurship and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso.
The participants discussed the key factors affecting industrial productivity and competitiveness in a rapidly developing global economy. Metinvest’s CEO was one of the speakers on the main discussion panel. He spoke about the peculiarities of steel production in Ukraine during the war, the company’s vision of a “green” course and the transformation of business processes in the steel industry through new technologies.
In particular, he noted that in recent years, many companies have been working on results and ignored technology. For example, in 2021, Azovstal outperformed all its competitors in terms of process efficiency thanks to AI and analytics.
“Our specialists, using augmented reality, could perform maintenance twice as fast as most of our competitors in neighboring countries. The implemented “space” computer vision system has set new standards for the quality of our products. Finally, the internal data management and communications system allowed us to run the company smoothly in the midst of the fiercest war in Europe since World War II,” Ryzhenkov stated.
He added that Metinvest, despite the war, is a very good example of how to use digital technologies to breakthrough in traditional industries.
Speaking about the “green” course in the industry, the CEO emphasized that almost every politician is interested in these issues, not only in Europe but also in the US, China, and around the world. At the same time, the steel industry is at the top of the agenda of this course as a major player in the implementation of green technologies. But at the same time, metallurgy is a very traditional industry, with technologies developed long ago, and it is impossible to make a major breakthrough now. It is only possible to gradually improve the system, he noted.
“The transition to the green course will not be easy. We do not have enough IT specialists to work on the transformation. Only five to seven years ago, we were looking for metallurgical engineers to teach IT. Now it’s the other way around. We train IT specialists who are taught metallurgy. And these are the people who will be in charge of our company’s green and digital transformation. This is happening right now. We will all be part of this transition, and we had better be ready for this challenge,” the top manager summarized.
“Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of steel and mining companies. The group’s enterprises are located mainly in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro regions.
The main shareholders of the holding are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%), which jointly manage it.
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
AI, IT, METALLURGY, METINVEST
