The unprecedented pressure on Russia has spurred a major shift towards restructuring the Russian economy and redirecting it towards new markets. A primary task in these circumstances has been to unite society and the state in achieving sovereignty in all spheres of life, including establishing the Russian economy’s personnel independence.
3.1Ensuring technological leadership
The goal defined by the President of Russia to bolster technological sovereignty has evolved into a substantial and clearly defined national task over the year. Both the state and society now share an understanding that the competitiveness of the Russian economy and domestic companies, national security, and the well-being of every citizen hinge on the successful development of national industries and technologies.
On May 20, 2023, the “Concept of Technological Development until 2030” was adopted. This outlines the main challenges, principles, and objectives of the country’s technological advancement. Key goals to be attained by 2030 include securing national control over the reproduction of critical142 and pervasive143 technologies, transitioning to innovation-driven economic growth, amplifying the role of technology as a factor in economic and social development, and ensuring technological support for the sustainable operation and evolution of production systems.144
According to approximate estimates, over 16 thousand restrictive measures have been imposed on the Russian Federation, aimed at delivering a significant blow to the state.
In response, legislative authorities have adopted ~ 200 federal laws and over 300 support measures since the beginning of the special military operation to assist individuals, businesses, and regions.
For the educational sector, this poses a global challenge: the creation of multi-level, seamless training programs for engineering personnel, applicable across all levels of education and vital for all key industries.
The Civic Chamber’s experts point out that to accomplish this, several crucial objectives must be tackled. These include enhancing the prestige of engineering professions, developing engineering and technological literacy among teachers and mentors, forming engineering and technological clubs, and establishing comprehensive mechanisms for career orientation. Additionally, a system to incentivize the attraction of talent into engineering and technology is essential.
The formation of skills and competencies among young people necessary for ensuring technological leadership is facilitated by the implementation of many projects, holding competitions, and Olympiads. A vivid example of such a project is the “Russia – A Country of Opportunities“ platform.
“Russia – A Country of Opportunities” platform
This platform brings together 26 competitions, projects, and Olympiads, each with its unique audience and offering various routes to success.
In its five years of operation, the platform has seen participation of 20 million individuals from all Russian regions and 150 countries globally,
and it has established partnerships with over 1,500 companies, universities, public and government organizations.
Source: Official website of the “Russia – A Country of Opportunities” platform // ANO “Russia – A Country of Opportunities” – About Us3.2Education in the context of new geopolitical and socioeconomic conditions
Russia’s pursuit of technological leadership has driven a societal demand for modernizing its educational system. In 2023, significant attention was devoted to reevaluating and revising curricula, enhancing the quality of the school environment, fostering better collaboration between secondary vocational education systems and employers, and establishing a robust foundation for nurturing a system of engineering thinking in the next generation of technological leaders.
Previously, educational programs in Russian schools were advisory in nature. However, in 2023, a “gold standard” for education was developed, setting a compulsory minimum for key school subjects. Additionally, a new school textbook on Russian history was introduced, along with career orientation sessions for students, and an expanded curriculum for the course “Fundamentals of Homeland Security and Defense.”
In the ongoing transformation of the educational system, the active involvement of the younger generation is a key factor. The creative and professional potential of youth across various regions is being harnessed in the execution of the “School of Dreams” project, which commenced its latest season in October 2023. The project aims to markedly enhance the effectiveness of the Federal program dedicated to the comprehensive renovation of schools, titled “Modernization of School Education Systems.”145
This project invites regions of the Russian Federation to establish collaboration between schools included in the presidential program for major repairs and regional universities training future architects and designers. Students eager to contribute to solving socially significant issues develop the designs for school spaces.
“School of Dreams” project
29 regions, representing all federal districts of the country, are participating in the implementation of the project with 40 educational institutions and 121 schools
Prominent examples of the “School of Dreams” project implementation include the “Point of the Future” school in Irkutsk146 and the Global school in Lipetsk.147
The educational innovations are widely supported by the parent community, as shown by sociological survey data.
89.9% of those surveyed support the implementation of a clause promoting voluntary (volunteer) activities and social engagement among students.
The Afterschool Club Movement of the National Technological Initiative, which also organizes the large-scale National Technological Olympiad, is engaged in involving schoolchildren and students in the study of science and new technologies.148
8th season of the National Technological Olympiad 2022/23 academic year
Over 135 ths. schoolchildren and students from Russia and other countries participated.
Winners and prize-winners included 374 school students and 101 university students. Schoolchildren who reached the finals in each of the 28 profiles received the opportunity to enroll in universities without entrance exams or with 100 points in the Unified State Exam for their specialized subject.149
The new 2023/24 cycle, currently underway, encompasses 52 profiles for students and schoolchildren.
One of the key career guidance projects for schoolchildren this year is the federal project “Ticket to the Future,” aimed at early professional orientation for students in grades 6–11. It is part of the federal project “Every Child’s Success” under the national project “Education.”
The Civic Chamber experts highlight that securing technological sovereignty and the human resource potential of the country and its regions should primarily be based on a system of widespread, accessible technological education in schools. This approach is aimed at building foundational competencies and skills necessary for the advancement of sovereign, high-tech manufacturing, tailored to regional needs.
Career orientation program “Ticket to the Future”150
more than 1.5 million participants 89 regions involved 6 million platform views on the Internet
A notable project fulfilling these objectives is the “Space for Technological Development of Schoolchildren.” It enables regions to introduce the “Technology” subject in schools, aligning with contemporary challenges and the real sector’s economic needs. This project allows students to explore competencies like additive technologies, robotics, data transmission systems, and unmanned systems, based on actual regional productions, encouraging future work in local enterprises.
The “Space for Technological Development of Schoolchildren” project was featured among the top-100 at the annual “Strong Ideas for New Times - 2023” Forum. It received backing from the Agency for Strategic Initiatives and the Civic Chamber, recognizing its importance in developing the country’s engineering talent.151
Additionally, the “Big Challenges” initiative stands out among systematic career orientation projects. This nationwide competition in scientific and technological projects is designed for high school and university students involved in scientific or research work.152
“Big Challenges” competition for scientific and technological projects
83 regions participating in the competition
More than 110,000 participants have been engaged in the challenge
The increasing role of public unions and associations is notable, as they help spread successful practices and programs for specialized technological education of children within general and additional education frameworks. An example is the Consortium for the Development of School Engineering and Technological Education.153
The Consortium comprises 100 leading educational organizations from 25 Russian regions and the Republics of Belarus and Kyrgyzstan. These organizations focus on in-depth subject studies and establishing engineering classes to lay the groundwork for students’ engineering competencies.
Presently, Russia’s secondary vocational training system is undergoing a dramatic change in content. This movement is led by the federal project “Professionalism,” a novel collaboration format between colleges and employers within educational-production clusters. These clusters execute intensive training programs for skilled workers and mid-level specialists, tailored to specific employer needs and involving their direct participation.
Federal project “Professionalism”154
220 educational-production clusters 925 colleges 68 Russian regions 868.6 ths. students
Professional skills championships also play a vital role in addressing personnel sovereignty. The All-Russian Championship Movement in Professional Skills, which succeeded the WorldSkills championship that exited Russia, conducts two main events: The All-Russian “Professionals” championship in professional skills and the “High Technology Championship,” aiming to support workforce development in various economic sectors.
From September 18 to 21, the High Technology Championship finals were held in Veliky Novgorod.
The event attracted over 4,000 attendees and was followed by more than 100,000 people online.
170 competitors from 32 Russian regions and five foreign countries – Azerbaijan, Syria, India, Ghana, and Belarus – competed in the finals.
114 experts155 verified the accuracy of the competition tasks.
The “Abilympics” professional skills championship focuses on the inclusion of people with disabilities in economic sector development. This year’s championship business program discussed professional rehabilitation for veterans of the special military operation.
The “Abilympics-2023” championship finals took place from October 23 to 25 in Moscow.156
more than 2,500 individuals visited the championship final.
769 finalists from 77 Russian regions, including 4 new regions, competed for victory in the finals.
International participants from 7 foreign countries competed in the open international contests within the National “Abilympics” championship.157
Members of the Civic Chamber have consistently highlighted the importance of fostering an environment conducive to the self-expression and valuable experience acquisition of schoolchildren, students, and young professionals. A notable project in this realm is the “Sirius” Educational Center, dedicated to the identification, development, and support of children with exceptional talents across various domains.158
Concurrently, for establishing and sustaining an advanced educational system, elements such as interdepartmental integration and communication are key. These aspects are addressed by initiatives like the “Mashuk” Knowledge Center and the “Senesh” Management Workshop, which focus on training educators and management professionals.159
In light of the widespread economic transformation and the heightened demand for Russia’s technological sovereignty, the significance of additional education and lifelong learning is increasingly recognized. This trend is supported by findings from the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VCIOM).
Lifelong learning: insights from a VCIOM sociological survey
The absolute majority of Russians 92% believe that regular professional development is necessary for career growth.
Since 2019, the proportion of individuals upholding this view has remained consistent (93% in 2019).
Continuous knowledge acquisition is seen not only as a recipe for career growth but also for life success: 86% of Russians believe that hard work and continuous learning are more important than innate talent, which is deemed important by only 8% of respondents.
In the past 15 years, there has been an increased demand for additional professional education among Russians, with the share of those undergoing professional retraining post-primary education rising from 41 to 49%
More than a quarter of respondents 28%, have undergone professional development courses once or twice, every fifth respondent has done so more than three times: 21% (in 2008, this figure was 15%).
A significant factor in this growth is attributed to individuals with repeated professional retraining experiences. Half (50%) of the respondents have not updated their professional knowledge post their initial education, a decrease from 55% in 2008.
Source: VCIOM // Lifelong learningThe state’s initiatives to develop school and secondary education are a response to essential changes in the internal environment, particularly the evolving trajectory of the Russian economy towards independence and self-sufficiency. This evolution necessitates a fresh perspective on educational processes, emphasizing the cultivation of a new generation imbued with engineering thinking, and identifying talented youth who are keen on learning and pursuing career advancement.
Technological leadership, innovation in competitive developments, and the formation of a cutting-edge educational system are ambitious goals, and significant strides towards these have been initiated in 2023.
3.3Enhancement of the Russian higher education system
The decision to withdraw from the Bologna education system was a critical step in establishing a new framework for higher education, designed to equip the Russian economy with skilled personnel for the emerging era.
On May 12, 2023, the President of Russia authorized an executive order for a pilot project aimed at refining the higher education system and preparing competent personnel to satisfy the long-term demands of both the economic and social sectors.160 This pilot project introduces two tiers of higher education – basic and specialized, along with a level of professional education – doctoral studies. Specialized higher education will encompass master’s, residency, and assistantship-internship programs.
Universities partaking in the pilot project are tasked with developing and approving educational standards for these levels. They have the autonomy to set program durations, considering various factors like fields of study, specialties, qualifications, and the specif ic economic or social sectors targeted for workforce development.
From 2024 onwards, participants in the pilot project are expected to provide biannual reports to the Russian Government, detailing the project’s progress and offering recommendations for its refinement.
Pilot project for implementing the national higher education system
Scheduled to run until 2026, the project is being conducted at six universities:161
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Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University;
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Moscow Aviation Institute (National Research University);
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National University of Science and Technology MISiS;
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Moscow State University of Education;
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Saint Petersburg Mining University of Empress Catherine II; and
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National Research Tomsk State University.
In total, 179 basic higher education and 103 specialized higher education programs are planned for creation.162
From September 1, 2025, the new national higher education system will be implemented across all Russian universities. By then, a prototype of the new system and new educational standards are expected to be established.163
Alongside this pilot project, there is an ongoing transformation towards a new “flexible” educational model, exemplified by the development of the “network education” model.164 This approach, which has been successfully tested and expanded following the Executive Order from the President of Russia165 enables students to receive education from multiple institutions, notably from two universities in higher education, and facilitates their interaction with regional employers.
This training mechanism is increasingly sought after by applicants and supported by regional authorities, facilitating regional industrial enterprises to acquire necessary personnel without students leaving their region for specialized education.
Network Education Programs
Since September 1, 2021, such programs have been in place in 9 universities and 1 college166
2022 saw the implementation of 16 educational programs.167
Specifically, in 2023, based on the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), 6 network programs in collaboration with partner enterprises are implemented168
The successful implementation of programs aimed at enhancing educational institutions is ongoing. The appeal of universities has been notably increased, partly thanks to the implementation of the most extensive state program in modern Russian history to support universities, “Priority 2030.”
“Priority 2030” state university support program
Within the “Priority 2030” program in 2022, the participating higher education institutions (132 universities from 54 regions) achieved significant outcomes, including:
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Successfully completing over 6000 scientific, technical, creative, and social projects;
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Creating and updating more than 1000 educational programs;
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Establishing and modernizing over 500 laboratories;
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Forming more than 450 consortia with scientific organizations;
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Conducting R&D projects worth over 100 billion rubles; and
Creating over 8,700 intellectual property results, protected by patents and certificates of the Russian Federation.
The program covers over 60% of regional universities.
The program’s reach extends to regions where over 80% of the country’s population resides.169
The “Priority 2030” program aims to establish more than 100 progressive modern universities in Russia by 2030, serving as centers of scientific-technological and socioeconomic development.
In the context of the “Priority 2030” program and the federal “Advanced Engineering Schools” project, educational spaces are being developed for comprehensive training, retraining, and upskilling of personnel utilizing personalized and practice-oriented approaches.
Universities today are evolving beyond just educational institutions; they are becoming centers for scientific expertise and platforms for engaging with the business sector.
The development of university campuses is progressing under the “Science and Universities” program. This initiative has led to the establishment of world-class Scientific- Educational Centers (SECs)170 and World-Class Scientific Centers (WSCs).171 These centers are instrumental in driving development programs that aim to secure the country’s technological sovereignty and leadership by fostering effective collaborations between scientific, educational, and economic sectors.
In August 2023, the “Community” forum in Samara featured a round table titled “World-Class SECs - Integrating Science, Education, Manufacturing, and Society.” It highlighted the successful collaboration between regional authorities and educational-scientific-production associations. This collaboration has enabled world-class SECs to significantly contribute to the development of high-tech industries and their human resources, thereby boosting regional internal product growth and fostering productive interregional cooperation.172 A potential future direction for these centers involves creating comprehensive scientific and technical programs and projects that encompass the entire innovation cycle. These could include projects focused on technological sovereignty, with the consortia formed within the SECs and WSCs taking on leading roles as coordinators of these programs.
Discussions on various platforms (forums, project sessions, conferences) focusing on world-class SECs and related topics highlight the key directions of efforts to advance higher education and science in Russia.
These directions are:
- Developing an effectively operating innovative ecosystem for the formation and functioning of project teams, rooted in scientific, production, and social cooperation;
- Creating mechanisms for supporting and implementing practical applications of developments, ensuring their integration, scientific support, staffing, and legal- economic backing;
- Attracting youth to participate in project committees and teams, fostering engineering creativity, scientific research, project work, and mastery of engineering-technical specialties, contributing to the development of the intellectual capacity needed for the country’s technological advancement.
With Commission of the Civic Chamber on Higher Education and Science actively participating, efforts are ongoing to formulate comprehensive scientific and technical challenges. These challenges will be addressed through the development and implementation of targeted programs.
National project “Science and Universities”
Currently, 15 world-class Scientific-Educational Centers (SECs) are active, encompassing ~ 600 various participants across 36 regions of the country
The participants include 145 universities, 140 scientific organizations, and 319 entities from the real sector of the economy.
From January to December 2022, these centers have achieved notable results: 1,963 patents for inventions;
Published over 18,000 scientific articles;
Developed and implemented more than 550 technologies in real-sector organizations.
Created 4,578 new high-tech jobs;
6,500 individuals completed specialized training in competency development centers for leaders of scientific, technical projects, and laboratories, aimed at regional development.
In the near term, the goal is to align these measures of state scientific and technical policy with the action plan of the “Scientific and Technological Development Concept”. This task is being pursued with the active involvement of the Civic Chamber. Meetings of the Coordinating Council for National Projects and Population Preservation and expert discussions have led to specific proposals and recommendations to improve the efficiency of the state’s scientific and technical policy. For example, a comprehensive proposal has been prepared for the development and implementation of a set of pilot scientific and technical programs in microelectronics, aimed at supplying the high-tech industrial sectors with domestic components.
3.4Public projects and initiatives to support sovereignty strengthening in key areas of social and governmental life
Over the past decades, marked by globalization, there has been a threat to the culture, self-consciousness, and identity of countries with predominant traditional values, including Russia. A significant method of aggression against Russia has been the propagation of fake news through social networks, aimed at destabilizing the internal situation.
The ongoing adverse effect on the informational sovereignty of the Russian Federation has created a societal demand for trustworthy sources of information. In response, Russian civil society, with state support, has developed tools to cleanse the information space and formulate its own agenda.
To counteract the mass spread of fake news, the NPO “Dialog” has launched the “Lapsha Media” project.173 This initiative involves collecting unverified information, rechecking it with official documents, scientific research, primary sources, and input from experts across various fields. The project’s website offers open-access fact-checking services.
According to “Dialog,” between January and October 2023, over 3.3 ths. unique fake news themes were identified.
Experts forecast a systematic increase to 4 thousand fake news items by year-end, with around 12.5 million copies of fake information.
The top five fake news stories in 2023 accumulated over 600 million views, encompassing more than 393 thousand posts and over 15 million reactions.174
The Civic Chamber experts have frequently discussed the flooding of social networks with destructive content, underlining the need for Russia to create an “informational shield” to protect its digital sovereignty.
To achieve this objective, the Civic Chamber initiated the “Good News” project in 2023. The project aims to disseminate positive and verified information about Russia’s achievements in diverse sectors, including science, education, economy, industry, healthcare, sports, culture, arts, digital technologies, and volunteering.
The project idea was conceived at a “Community” forum in 2023, and its development involved wide public participation.
The “Good News” project has led to the creation of a growing community of like-minded individuals. Users can choose topics for receiving verified news, create positive content, attend featured events, and share interesting content with friends and peers.
During the “Community” forum in Moscow in November 2023, a comprehensive public discussion generated ideas and suggestions for further improving the application.175
In the near future, based on user feedback, plans include launching a web version of the “Good News” mobile app, opening an online store for point exchanges, starting an information contest about regional labor heroes, and organizing offline events in the most active regions to promote a positive narrative about Russia’s achievements.
“Good News” project
Mobile app launched in September 2023.
The “Good News” app targets Russian citizens who are interested in receiving verified information about events in various sectors across the country.
Sociological studies conducted prior to the project’s launch indicated a strong demand across different age groups for positive and engaging content about the development of industry, science, and other areas of national achievement. 44% of all Russian citizens in contrast to 32.4%, predominantly encounter negative news online. 48.6% of surveyed in contrast to 27.5% believe there is a shortage of positive content on Russia in the online space.
The app’s performance in its first month showcased: over 17 thousands of users registered with the app over 450 Good News published over 50,000 actions with positive content.
3.5Creative industries and the sovereignization of intellectual products
The sovereignization of intellectual production, along with information space and technology, is increasingly significant today. This domain encompasses economic activities that intertwine creativity, culture, and technology.
Recently, creative industries have garnered heightened attention from experts, scientists, and public and political figures. There is a consensus that these industries are a rapidly growing economic segment, contributing significantly to the GDP and creating jobs in unique, creativity- and intellect-related professions for Russia’s most active citizens.
Numerous projects in the creative industries are being spearheaded by ambitious and innovative members of the younger generation. The sector’s growing popularity among youth is partly due to state support. In 2022, the Government endorsed and commenced an action plan for developing creative industries, aligning with the previously adopted development concept.
2020 study by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives’ Center for Urban Competencies highlighted that the creative industries,176 particularly from regional centers, contributed at least 4.19% to Russia’s economy.
In 2022, as estimated by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, the creative industries’ contribution to Russia’s GDP was 4.87% with a total revenue of 12.6 trillion rubles177
As per the “Creative Industries Development Concept” approved by the Russian Government in 2021, the aim is to increase the share of creative sectors in the national economy to 6% by 2030178
Moscow leads in the country’s creative economy: over 100 ths. creative entrepreneurs, which is approximately a quarter of the total number of entrepreneurs in the industry nationwide, operate in the Russian capital.179
Creative engagement is promoted through a variety of contests, festivals, championships, and numerous thematic events. For example, the National Media Group conducted the first online case championship for creative ideas, “Creators,” from August 13 to September 8. This event attracted 1,200 students from a wide range of specialties, from humanities to engineering, from 75 universities across 81 Russian regions. The champions were awarded monetary certificates and expert support to realize their projects.
There are many instances of creative industry development at the regional level in Russia. The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) was recognized as the most creative region in the country in December 2022, following the Russian National Award in the Creative Industries (Russian Creative Award). This recognition was for its unique approach to developing creative industries within the region.
At the “Community” forum held in Yakutsk in August 2023, a roundtable titled “Creative Industries: A Vector for Economic Development” took place. During this session, experts and attendees analyzed the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)’s experiences and highlighted key factors that have aided the region’s successful development in creative industries.
Factors enhancing creative industries in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
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The Association of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) “Made in Yakutia” was established to support and promote folk arts and crafts industries.
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Yakutia contributes nearly 90% of the IT exports in the Far Eastern Federal District.
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A Film Commission for the Far Eastern Federal District was created, initiated by the Republic and based on the state national film company “Sakhafilm”, to boost the development of the film industry in the macro-region.
The Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives provides significant grant support to the creative sector. Established by a presidential executive order and functioning as a separate entity under the Presidential Grants Foundation, it specializes in supporting culture, arts, and creative industry projects.
Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives – performance in 2023
During the first180 and second181 contests of 2023, the Foundation supported 1,952 projects in the amount of over 7.9 billion rubles
A special contest in 2023 for projects in culture, arts, and creative industries awarded grants to 303 initiatives across 73 Russian regions.
In the latest contest, 180 projects, making up 59.41%, were presented by NPOs. The total allocated grant funding exceeded 1.6 billion rubles.182
Development of Training Inf rastructure for Creative Industries: Schools and colleges specializing in creative industries are being established, along with prototyping centers in creative universities, to bolster workforce training in this sector.183
The National Open Championship of Creative Competencies “ArtMasters” is instrumental in building a stable system for nurturing and supporting young talent. This initiative aligns with the national goal of “Opportunities for Self-Realization and Talent Development” and aims to enhance the quality of creative products.
“ArtMasters” championship of creative competencies184
70 leading experts and leaders compose the expert council.
The championship features 30 competencies across two age groups: “main” and “juniors.” Each competency has its own expert group of recognized professionals in the creative industries.
Over 64,000 young specialists in creative industries, aged 14 to 35, from regions of Russia and abroad, participated in the four seasons of the championship.
The championship received more than 21 ths. applications from participants in 40 countries worldwide,
including 5,488 applications in the “juniors” group and 15,630 in the “main” group185
The championship’s prize fund amounts to 23.750 million rubles
Following the visit to the “Development of the Creative Economy in Russia” exhibition in August 2023, the President of Russia ordered amendments to Russian legislation to def ine the concepts of “creative economy” and “creative industries.” He also instructed the Government of the Russian Federation, in conjunction with the autonomous nonprof it organization “Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects,” to update the “Concept for the Development of Creative Industries” and mechanisms for their state support in major urban agglomerations until 2030 and the action plan for its implementation.186
On November 2, 2023, at the final “Community” forum in Moscow, Public Hearings were held on the draft federal law “On the Development of Creative (Creative) Industries in the Russian Federation,” previously submitted to the State Duma.187 The long-awaited bill met the expectations of representatives of the creative industries and received support from experts of the Civic Chamber and representatives of relevant federal executive bodies.188
During the meeting of the President of Russia with members of the Civic Chamber at the final “Community” forum on November 3, 2023, Vladimir Putin supported the request of Natalia Kravchenko, Chair of the Commission of the Civic Chamber on Enlightenment and Upbringing, for priority consideration of the bill. He emphasized the importance of creative industries for the country’s development and noted that the authorities will continue to do everything necessary for their development.189