Russia is now turning to the hi-tech sector as a growth engine amidst the global economic slowdown and slumping oil prices. The Open Innovations hi-tech forum in Moscow gives visitors a glimpse of how Russia is advancing in technology. Our correspondent Daria Bondachuk has more.

A fusion of neuroscience and computer games - this brain training gadget on display at Moscow's Open Innovations hi-tech forum is a combination of Chinese-made hardware and Russia-designed software. It's producer, a hi-tech startup called Wikium is just one of dozens of companies seeking to attract foreign investors and new clients for their innovative products at this international expo.

Wikium said, "I think there is a big market in Asia, in particular it's where part of our neuro-interfaces originate from, and in Russia the market is still developing, so I think that devices like this one will have a future."

Following the recent spiral of the global economic downturn Russia once again faced the same old challenge - exports of natural resources do not provide for a stable future. The budget's oil gas revenues fell by 70% in the past two years. So Moscow seeks ways to build up on its scientific potential to boost the share of hi-tech products in the bulk of its exports.

CEO and founder of Promobot, Alexey Yuzhakov, said, "We have met with the governors of several Chinese provinces and they are very interested in us. They are straightforward: "We have robots assembling cars, we have plenty of industrial robots, but we have no plants manufacturing service robots". They're interested in having us located in China as a robot-producing company."

The producers say they hope the updated version of Promobot will help them expand their outreach in China and in the Asian market.

"Amid the instability brought on by the sharp fall of oil prices and the global economic crisis, Russia hopes that technology will help diversify its economy and drive it out of an economic slump," said Daria Bondachuk.