Support The Moscow Times!

Sanctions Force Russia to Scale Back Ambitious 2030 Tech Strategy

Production of drones at the Aeromax plant in Moscow. Anton Novodere;rby / TASS

Russia has lowered its ambitious technological advancement goals after losing access to sophisticated imports due to its invasion of Ukraine, the Kommersant business daily reported Monday. 

The Russian government late last year revised its list of 18 technological areas that will receive state backing into 2030, Kommersant reported.

While the Russian government previously associated its technological future with world-class breakthroughs, half of the initiatives now merely aim to replace existing foreign technologies.

Russia’s 2030 technology list includes drug manufacturing, nuclear and oil and gas engineering, aviation and energy services. It also focuses on “technological sovereignty” in the aircraft industry including drones as well as robotics, the automotive industry, microelectronics and medicine.

These areas were chosen because “the Russian economy already has a certain groundwork for their successful development and the formation of a major market there,” the Science and Higher Education Ministry told Kommersant.

But work on their development will now involve catching up after companies like Boeing, Nokia, Oracle and BASF exited the Russian market following the invasion of Ukraine, the publication said.

Work on previously included sectors like neurotechnology has been abandoned because “they have ceased to be a business priority in many countries including Russia,” Kommersant quoted a source in the Economic Development Ministry as saying.

The 2030 technological development concept is expected to be submitted to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin's office for approval this month.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more