The strategic importance of artificial intelligence and robotics for Russia (reading time: 72 min / no advertising / no paywall)

How Russia uses AI and robotics for global power positions

Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics have established themselves worldwide as key technologies of the 21st century. They drive profound transformations in business, society and military system and have become a central field of international competition and the strategic positioning of nations. The ability to develop, adapt and use these technologies are increasingly regarded as a benchmark for technological sovereignty and global competitiveness. In this global context, Russia's efforts to expand its capacities in the field of AI and robotics are of considerable international importance and observation.

Russia's ambitions and the national priority

Russia has explicitly declared the development of artificial intelligence and robotics to strategic priorities for its national development and security. These technologies are considered crucial for the modernization of the economy, the strengthening of defense skills and securing the country's technological sovereignty. As early as 2017, President Vladimir Putin emphasized the immense importance of these technologies with the statement that the one who takes the lead in the field of AI would become a “ruler of the world”. This statement underlines the high strategic relevance that the Kremlin of the AI ​​entails.

These ambitions manifest themselves in central strategic documents. The “National Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence by 2030”, which was originally passed in 2019 and was extensively updated in February 2024, as well as the “Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development”, which was also adopted in February 2024, form the political framework. These strategies aim to secure Russia's technological independence and to provide the country a leading role in the global AI market. The strong emphasis on military applications is not only to be understood as a defense strategy, but also as a means of projection power and compensation of possible weaknesses in other areas, such as demographic development or economic diversification. AI development is therefore not just a technological, but a deeply geopolitical project for Russia, which aims to consolidate or regain its position on the world stage.

However, the “technological sovereignty” called out has a significant tension in the reality of the global technology supply chains and the inheritance of technological catch-up since the end of the Soviet Union. The dependence on foreign hardware, in particular on high -performance microchips, is an ongoing challenge. International sanctions have further tightened these dependencies and made access to western technology significantly more difficult. “Sovereignty” is therefore less to be interpreted as a complete self -sufficiency, but rather as a strategic endeavor to reduce critical dependencies and at the same time to enter into new, more potentially controllable dependencies, such as China, or to expand their own niche skills.

This article extensively analyzes the development of artificial intelligence and robotics in the Russian Federation. He examines the political and strategic framework, the most important actors in research and industry as well as central fields of application in the civil and military sector. In addition, the challenges, in particular through international sanctions and structural obstacles, are highlighted. Another focus is on international cooperation that Russia is in this area or tries to strive, as well as the ethical and social implications associated with the progressive implementation of these technologies. The aim of the article is to convey a profound understanding of the current dynamics, state steering mechanisms and the future perspectives of AI and robotics in Russia.

National strategies and government in the field of AI and robotics

The Russian government has established a number of strategic documents and institutional mechanisms to promote and steer the development of AI and robotics. These initiatives reflect the high priority that is attached to these technologies for the national agenda.

The national strategy for the development of artificial intelligence by 2030

The “national strategy for the development of artificial intelligence until 2030” (hereinafter: National AI strategy) was originally passed by presidential decree in October 2019. It forms the foundation for state programs on AI development and pursues the ambitious goal that Russian AI technologies take a significant share in the world market. The strategy defines overarching goals and main tasks, including measures to use AI to protect national interests and to implement strategic national priorities. The focus of the funding includes scientific research, the development of AI software, the improvement of data quality and availability, ensuring the hardware base, training qualified staff and the development of an integrated system to expand the Russian AI technology market.

In February 2024, President Putin signed an issue for the extensive update of this strategy, which includes around 40 pages of changes and additions. This update is to be understood as a direct reaction to the changed geopolitical and economic framework, in particular to the international sanctions imposed since 2022 and the difficult access to Western AI technologies and components. The revised strategy sets new, sometimes very ambitious goals:

• Increasing the annual volume of services for the development and implementation of AI solutions to 60 billion rubles by 2030 (out of 12 billion rubles in 2022).
• Increasing the number of university graduates in the ACI range from 3,000 to 15,500 per year.
• Increase in public trust in AI technologies from 55% (2022) to at least 80% by 2030.
• Increasing the proportion of priority sectors with high willingness to implement AI implementation from 12% to 95%.
• Reaching a cumulative national computing power of 6.2 Exaflops.
• Mobilization of accumulated corporate expenditure for AI in the amount of around 3.6 trillion rubles.
• Outgoing an additional contribution from AI to the gross domestic product (GDP) of 11.2 trillion rubles by 2030.
• Positioning Russia among the top 5 countries worldwide with important AI metrics by 2030.

The national AI strategy is therefore the central political document that specifies the direction and ambitions of Russia in the AI ​​area. The update of 2024 signals an adaptation to the changed realities and an intensification of efforts to technological sovereignty.

The strategy for scientific-technological development (February 2024)

In parallel to the update of the AI ​​strategy, the new “strategy for scientific-technological development” was adopted by Presidential estate No. 145 on February 28, 2024. This document is intended to shape the scientific-technological orientation of Russia well into the 2030s and was formulated against the background of the Ukraine War, extensive sanctions and a stricter global technological race. It reflects Russia's intention to pursue its technological ambitions despite international isolation and economic challenges, with a strong focus on the development of partnerships with selected allies and strengthening national self -care capacities.

The strategy identifies the “transition to progressive production technologies, including intelligent production, robotics, high -performance calculations, new materials, machine learning and artificial intelligence” as one of the priorities. It acknowledges the need to reduce the technological deficit to leading countries, but also "persistently negative trends", such as the low-recording of the economy for technological innovations and the concentration of scientific-technological potential in just a few regions of the country. An explicitly new task is the “integration of artificial intelligence into research and development”. This comprehensive strategy thus embarks on KI and robotics development in a broader framework of national scientific and technological sovereignty and security and underlines the importance of these technologies for overcoming the isolation and modernization of the country. The timely adoption of both updated or new strategies in early 2024 indicates an accelerated and urgent adaptation of Russian technology policy, in response to the recognized need to catch up faster and reduce dependency on the West.

The national project “Digital Business” and the federal project “Artificial Intelligence”

The national AI strategy is closely linked to the long-running national project “Digital Economy of the Russian Federation”. A specific federal project entitled “Artificial Intelligence” was formulated and approved within this comprehensive program. This federal project serves as one of the main implementation mechanisms for the goals defined in the national AI strategy. The financing for specific AI development measures is partly through the budgets of this project. However, it should be noted that originally planned middle allocations have been adapted due to external factors such as the Covid 19 pandemic and later the changed economic situation. The Ministry of Economic Development (MOED) was established as the leading body for the design of AI policy and is largely responsible for coordinating the efforts to build up a robust domestic AI industry. These projects and the associated institutional structures illustrate the concrete state efforts to operationalize strategic visions.

Financing mechanisms and political framework conditions

To implement their ambitious goals in the field of AI and robotics, the Russian government has mobilized significant financial resources and created specific political framework conditions. By 2025, a total of around 5 billion euros are to be made available for the implementation of the AI ​​strategy, as reported by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWIK), which indicates previous plans. A substantial part of the state budget for scientific research is explicitly spent on AI-supported military research and development. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Tschernyschenko announced that 5% of the state research budget should flow directly into AI research, while a further 15% are intended for other research areas using AI tools.

The financing is via various channels: the federal household, contributions from state-owned companies and non-budgetary sources, which also include public-private partnerships (ÖPP). An important goal of the updated strategy for scientific-technological development is that by 2035 private investments in research and development should be at least as high as public. State-owned companies, especially the Sberbank, play a key role not only in the implementation, but also in the financing of AI projects. For example, Sberbank was commissioned to develop important AI policy documents and invest massively in the technology area in order to increase its own efficiency and to develop new business areas. This financing structure underlines the dominant role of the state and state -controlled companies, but also reflects the endeavor to involve private investors more into the financing of technological developments.

Important state actors and their roles

• Ministry of Economic Development (MOED): acts as the central organ for the design of AI policy and the coordination of the development of a national AI industry.
• Ministry of Digital Development, Communication and Mass Media: plays an important role as part of the national project “Digital Business” and the associated federal projects.
• Department of Defense (Mod): is the main driver for the development of military AI applications. It has set up a special department for AI development and monitors numerous F & e-projects in this area.
• ERA Technopolis (Anapa): A specialized military research and development center that deals intensively with the development of AI for military purposes.
• Advanced Research Foundation (FPI): is considered the Russian counterpart to the US Darpa and is involved in the promotion and implementation of advanced research projects that also include the AI ​​area.
• Russian Science Foundation (RSF): Supports basic research and development projects in various science areas, including AI, and pursues strategic goals that are sufficient by 2030.
• Roskosmos: The state space organization is an important player who has been instructed to orientate itself to the development of the regulation of relationships in the field of AI and robotics until 2024 ”in the development of state politics and regulation in the field of AI and robotics. This indicates that space travel is seen as a strategically important sector for the implementation and further development of AI and robotics, possibly with a focus on dual-use technologies and the strengthening of national capacities in a high technology sector, which traditionally has high prestige value for Russia.

The identification of these key players draws the image of an institutional landscape in which the responsibilities for the implementation of the national KI and robotics agenda are clearly distributed, with strong emphasis on state control and strategic sectors. The strong centralization and the dominant role of the state and state -owned companies could enable quick resource mobilization for defined priorities, especially in the military sector. However, this structure carries the risk of inhibiting private sector innovation and agility that is necessary for a dynamic and wide-ranging AI ecosystem, which could restrict global competitiveness in the long term.

Overview of the national KI and robotics strategies of Russia

Overview of the national KI and robotics strategies of Russia- Image: Xpert.digital

Russia pursues several strategic approaches to developing artificial intelligence and robotics. The national strategy for the development of AI until 2030, first in October 2019 and recently updated in February 2024, aims to achieve a significant share in the global AI market, to ensure technological leadership positions, increase the contribution from AI to GDP and reach the top 5 in Ki metrics worldwide. The main actors are the Ministry of Economic Development (MOED), the Ministry of Digital Development, the Ministry of Defense and the Sberbank, which was involved in the elaboration. The financing is carried out by the federal budget, state-owned company, public-private partnerships (ÖPP) and the federal project “KI”.

The strategy for scientific-technological development, adopted in February 2024, focuses on technological sovereignty, self-sufficiency and the development of advanced production technologies such as AI and robotics. The aim is to integrate AI into research and development (F&E). Responsibility lies with the Russian government, the Presidential Council for Science and Education as well as other ministries such as the Moed and the Ministry of Defense. Sources of financing include promoting the federal and regional budgets, state companies and non -budgetary means such as ÖPP, with the aim of equal parts by 2035 private and public investments.

Another important element is the national project “Digital Business”, in particular the federal project “KI”, which has been running since 2019, which aims to set up a stable AI industry, the implementation of AI in business and administration as well as the training of specialists. The Moed and the Ministry of Digital Development are responsible. The financing is largely carried out by the national “digital economy” project, with the federal budget being partially reduced.

The conception of the development of regulation in the areas of AI and robotics until 2024, adopted in August 2020, aims at the transformation of the regulatory system. It should enable applications in AI and robotics and identify legal barriers. The main actors are MOED, Roskosmos and other federal executive organs. Indirect financing mechanisms are supported by creating favorable framework conditions for investments and development.

Actors and ecosystem: research, state company and private sector

The development of AI and robotics in Russia is supported by a complex network of state -funded research institutions, powerful state -owned companies and an up -and -coming private sector fighting but challenges.

Leading research centers and universities

Russia builds on a solid tradition in mathematical and scientific training, which is an important basis for the training of AI talents. In order to specifically strengthen the research capacity and to accelerate the transfer into the application, the government has initiated and financially supported several waves from specialized AI research centers.

The first wave of these centers was launched in 2021. Six leading organizations-the Skolkowo Institute for Science and Technology (Skoltech), the Innopolis University, the ITMO University, the Higher School of Economics (HSE), the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) and the Institute for System Programming of the Russian Academy of Sciences-received state funding in total over 8 8 Billions of rubles for a four -year cycle. The focus of these centers is on the development of advanced AI technologies, basic research in the field of strong AI, the research of predictive technologies and active cooperation with industrial partners.

A second wave followed in 2023, in which six other centers were selected. These include specialized medical research institutions such as the NN Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology and regional universities such as Samara University, Novosibirsk State University, the National Research Nuclear University Mephi (Mephi), Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod (NNSU) and St. Petersburg State University. These centers will receive a total of 5 billion rubles (including non-budgetic agents) by 2026 and are intended to focus on applied AI solutions in priority sectors such as healthcare, construction, agricultural industry as well as transport and logistics. An important condition for the funding is the acquisition of significant co-financing shares from out-of-budgetary sources, which should ensure the integration of industry. For 2025, a third wave of funding is already planned, in which at least six further research centers are to be supported with around 4.5 billion rubles, also under the development of a substantial co-financing.

The concrete research areas of these centers are wide and include architectures and algorithms of machine learning, the provision and preparation of data for AI applications, the development of fundamental and generant models (including large language models, whose state support of which has instructed President Putin by 2030), the research of human-AI interaction as well as applied research projects for science, education and the social sector.

Examples of the research activities and results of these centers illustrate the range of efforts:

• The Higher School of Economics (HSE) operates an extensive AI research center with three global research areas, in which 13 HSE departments and over 300 employees are involved. The projects include the automation of the creation of image processing models (Autood), the development of weather forecast models using graphic neuronal networks (WRF FAST) and the establishment of their own MLOPS platform to optimize machine learning processes. Leading Russian technology companies such as Sber, Yandex and MTS AI act as partners.
• In cooperation with the Robot (PAO CHKPZ), South Ural State University (Susu) has been planning a unique industrial robotics center in Russia, which closely interlinks science and production. The goals include the training of specialists for robotics-intensive companies and the implementation of specific industrial orders, for example through the development of the Rusrobot industrial robots or the conception of “Dark Workshops”-fully automated factories that operate without human presence.
• On behalf of Gazprom Neft, Skoltech developed software for the precise prediction of ice conditions, while the Innopolis University for the pharmaceutical company Chemrar developed software to predict the inhibition of molecules, which is intended to increase efficiency in drug development.

The publication activity of Russian researchers in the AI ​​area shows a positive dynamic. The number of Russian publications at high-ranking international AI conferences (A*level) rose by 70%between 2019 and 2023. Leading institutions in relation to the number of publications are Skoltech (30% of the contributions) and the HSE (29%), with Moscow and St. Petersburg being the most important regional centers of this research activities.

Role of state -owned companies

The Russian strategy for the development of artificial intelligence has a special feature: it is promoted to a considerable extent by state -owned companies (soes) and not primarily directly by government agencies or the private sector. The Kremlin pursues the strategy of outsourcing and implementing AI initiatives in trustworthy and controllable state corporations.

• Sberbank: The largest state bank of Russia, Sberbank (formerly Sberbank of Russia), has played an outstanding and central role in the design of national AI politics. It was entrusted with the elaboration of important strategic documents such as the AI ​​roadmap, the national AI strategy and the federal project “Artificial Intelligence”. Although primarily a financial institution, Sberbank has massively invested in technology to increase its own operational efficiency and diversify into new, technology -driven product lines. This has made Sberbank one of the leading technology companies in Russia. The IT subsidiary Sbertech employs over 11,500 people and works on hundreds of projects. Sberbank has also opened Russia's largest data processing center and has increased the number of its “big data initiatives” exponentially since 2016. The company is actively developing its own AI-based customer technologies, including the language assistant family “Salyut”, which is designed as a counterpart to Amazon's Alexa, as well as AI-controlled ATMs with facial and stimmer detection. Recent developments include the generative AI models Gigachat and Kandinsky, which have achieved a considerable number of users. In addition, Sberbank is investing in the broader Russian AI ecosystem through partnerships with international actors such as 500 startups to support Russian AI start-ups and collaborations, for example with cognitive technologies in the field of autonomous driving. The choice of Sberbank as a spearhead of AI development by the Kremlin is on the one hand to its reputation for technological efficiency and, on the other hand, due to its loyalty, which enables state authorities, while the bank can pull commercial advantages out of developments.
• Rostec: The state armaments and technology group Rostec is naturally very interested in AI applications for new weapons systems and benefits from the general AI development efforts of the Ministry of Defense. As part of the national project “Digital Business”, Rostec was commissioned more to create road maps for technologies such as 5G telecommunications, blockchain and the industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) than with direct, lead AI work. In public discussions about high technologies, Rostec often prioritizes these other projects compared to pure AI projects. Nevertheless, Rostec Ki integrates into both civil and military platforms. In the civil sector, facial recognition technology, which is promoted through the participation in Ntechlab (developer of Findface technology), is a prominent example. In the military area, AI is integrated into new and existing systems, such as in the electronic combat system RB-109A Bylina or to improve the target detection and operating management in MIG-35 and SU-35 fighter aircraft. Rostec also uses KI to optimize internal manufacturing processes, for example through AI-based manufacturing systems or for error detection in steel production.

The transfer of key roles to mighty state companies such as Sberbank and Rostec ensures the Kremlin a high degree of control over the strategic orientation of AI development, especially in sensitive areas and in technologies with dual-use potential. This strong state steering can enable rapid mobilization of resources for defined priorities, but the risk that innovation and competition will be inhibited if these companies are not exposed to full market pressure and private sector actors are pushed to the edge.

Development of the private sector and challenges

Despite the dominance of state actors, the private sector, especially some highly innovative companies and a growing, albeit in international comparison, plays an important role in the Russian AI and Robotic landscape.

• Yandex: As Russia's largest and international technology company, Yandex is a leading actor in the field of artificial intelligence. The company continuously develops a wide range of AI-based products and services. This includes the widespread voice assistant “Alice”, which holds a market share of 77% in Russia, autonomous lovers of delivery robots (Yandex.Rover) and advanced technologies for unmanned vehicles. For example, Yandex uses transformer networks for the movement planning of its autonomous vehicles to enable a more natural and flexible reaction to traffic situations. Despite this technological leadership role and expertise, Yandex plays a subordinate role in the government's official AI strategy compared to state companies such as Sberbank. The Kremlin looks at Yandex with a certain distrust due to its private owner structure and earlier international connections. In the past, the Russian government forced Yandex government to make changes in its corporate management structure to enable the state more control. This distrust and the preference for state -controlled entities represent a fundamental dilemma: the striving for technological leadership requires the integration of the best talents and most innovative companies, while the political system is at the same time on control and the favoring of loyal state actors. This could lead to sub -optimal results if political loyalty is placed on technological excellence.
• Start-up ecosystem: The Russian AI start-up ecosystem is significantly smaller compared to global centers such as the USA or China. Reports give figures from 193 to 420 AI companies. Nevertheless, there are state support programs, for example as part of the “Digital Economy National Project” that aim to promote the foundation and development of AI start-ups. Russia has formulated the goal of becoming a leading global location for start-ups by 2030, and sees potential for their development, based on the traditionally strong scientific and mathematical training in the country. However, private companies and start-ups face considerable challenges. This includes a low economic growth over a decade, an unfavorable environment for risk capital financing and a judiciary that is considered politically influenced. These factors dampen private investments and hinder the development of a dynamic, privately driven AI sector, as can be observed in the USA and China. The strong focus on state-directed research centers and the dominance of Soes could lead to the fact that AI development is strongly geared towards national (security) interests and the needs of large state groups, while disruptive innovations and the agility of the start-up ecosystem may be neglected. This could restrict long-term competitiveness in fast-moving global AI markets.
• Robot manufacturers and integrators: In Russia there is a growing number of local manufacturers of industrial robots, including companies such as Grinik Robotics, Android Technika, ARIPIX Robotics and Robot (ChKPZ) in Tscheljabinsk. Promobot has established itself as a well -known manufacturer of service robots who use AI for interaction and specific tasks and are also exported internationally. In addition to the manufacturers, there is a market for system integrators that implement robot solutions in production environments. Many international robot manufacturers such as KUKA, FANUC and ABB had branches or sales partners in Russia before the sanctions. Access to their technologies and know-how has been severely restricted since 2022. The cooperation between universities and industry, as in the case of the industrial robotics center on the Susu, is a positive signal for the practice and the training of specialists. However, the scalability of such models and their expansion beyond individual regions or sectors will be crucial for a broad modernization of Russian industry by AI and robotics.

Leading Russian AI research centers and their focus

Leading Russian AI research centers and their focus-picture: xpert.digital

Leading Russian AI research centers and their focus show a wide range of engagement in AI research. The Skolkowo Institute for Science and Technology (Skoltech), founded in the first wave 2021, focuses on strong AI, predictive technologies, machine learning and applied AI solutions with partners such as Gazprom Neft. It is part of the overall overall financing for the first wave. The Innopolis University also focuses on similar areas and cooperates with Chemrar, while ITMO University was also founded in the first wave, but does not call any specific industrial partners. The Higher School of Economics (HSE) works on image processing, weather forecast, MLOPS platforms, machine learning and human-ACI interaction, supported by partners such as Sber, Yandex and MTS AI, and develops predictive marketing analyzes for the hotel industry.

The Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) and the Institute for System Programming of the RAS (ISP RAS) also focus on strong AI and predictive technologies, belong to the first wave and benefit from the same financing. For specific applications in the healthcare system, the NN Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, which was founded in the second wave in 2023 and will receive a financing of 5 billion rubles by 2026 with additional co -financing. Finally, the South Ural State University (Susu) industrial robotics center stands out, which specializes in industrial robotics, training and "Dark workshops", is promoted in cooperation with Robot Plant (PAO CHKPZ) and by state support and industrial orders.

Key players in the Russian AI and Robotics Industry (state vs. private)

Key players in the Russian AI and Robotics Industry (state vs. private)- Image: Xpert.digital

The key players in the Russian AI and Robotics Industry are both state and private companies. The Sberbank, a state-owned company (SIE), focuses on financial services, AI platforms, voice assistants and generative AI with well-known products such as Salyut, Gigachat and AI money machines. Sberbank plays a leading role in the development of AI policies and offers AI services for a large user base. Another state actor, Rostec, is active in the areas of armor, high technology and facial recognition, with projects such as RB-109A Bylina and Ntechlab (Findface), and a central figure in dual-use technologies. On the private side, Yandex is a leader in search engines, voice assistants, autonomous driving and cloud services, with products such as Alice, which holds 77 % market share. Although Yandex is less taken into account in official strategies, it convinces with high AI expertise. Robot plans, in connection with the Susu Center, specializes in industrial robotics and “Dark workshops” and wants to bring Russia to the top 25 in the robot density by 2030. Promobot has made a name for itself through service robotics and AI for museum leaders and appears internationally. Gazprom Neft, another time, uses Ki to increase the efficiency in the raw material industry, while Rosatom, the nuclear energy giant, is aiming for 50 % of the Russian market with industrial robots. These actors shape the development of the Russian AI and robotics industry together.

Integration of an independent and cross-data source-wide AI platform for all company matters-Image: Xpert.digital

Ki-Gamechanger: The most flexible AI platform-tailor-made solutions that reduce costs, improve their decisions and increase efficiency

Independent AI platform: Integrates all relevant company data sources

• This AI platform interacts with all specific data sources
  • From SAP, Microsoft, Jira, Confluence, Salesforce, Zoom, Dropbox and many other data management systems
• Fast AI integration: tailor-made AI solutions for companies in hours or days instead of months
• Flexible infrastructure: cloud-based or hosting in your own data center (Germany, Europe, free choice of location)

• Highest data security: Use in law firms is the safe evidence
• Use across a wide variety of company data sources
• Choice of your own or various AI models (DE, EU, USA, CN)

Challenges that our AI platform solves

• A lack of accuracy of conventional AI solutions
• Data protection and secure management of sensitive data
• High costs and complexity of individual AI development
• Lack of qualified AI
• Integration of AI into existing IT systems

More about it here:

• AI integration of an independent and cross-data source-wide AI platform for all company matters

Technological visions: Overview of Russia and robotics development- Image: Xpert.digital

Market landscape and fields of application from AI and robotics

The development of AI and robotics in Russia manifests itself in a growing market landscape and an increasingly wider range of fields of application, which include both civilian industries and the military sector and space travel.

Market size, growth driver and segmentation of the Russian robotics market

The Russian robotics market, although still relatively small in global comparison, shows a significant growth potential. In 2024, the market value was estimated at $ 389.37 million. Forecasts of the Imarc Group assume that the market will increase to USD 1,132.95 million by 2033, which corresponds to an average annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.35% between 2025 to 2033.

The main drive forces for this growth are complex. A central factor is the progressive industrial automation and the increased integration of AI technologies. Russian companies are increasingly relying on machine learning, computer vision and the Internet of Things (IoT) to develop intelligent robots that can make decisions in real time. State support and technological advances also play a crucial role. National initiatives aim to promote industrial automation, AI integration and the development of local technologies. Russia pursues the ambitious goal of increasing the number of robots used in the country from around 10,000 in 2024 to 95,000 in order to establish itself as an important global player in this area. In addition, there is an increasing demand for robotic solutions in key industries such as production, healthcare, defense and logistics. These sectors are increasingly recognizing the potential of robotics to increase productivity, to reduce operating costs, to improve security at the workplace and to compensate for a shortage of workers.

The Russian robotics market can be segmented according to product types and regions:

• According to product type:
  • Industrial robotics: This area includes joint arm robots (used in the automotive industry and complex manufacturing processes), cartesian robots (for precision tasks in electronics and packaging), Scara robot (in the pica and food industry for pick-and-placial tasks) and cylinder robot (in material handling and Metal processing).
  • Service robotics: A distinction is made between personal and domestic robots (e.g. for cleaning and entertainment) and professional service robots. The latter are used in healthcare (surgical robotics, rehabilitation), in logistics (automated warehousing, delivery drones), in the defense sector (autonomous drones, surveillance robots), in the infrastructure (automated construction and inspection robots) and in agriculture.
• According to regional analysis:
  • The central district, especially Moscow, is a prominent hub for the robotic market, driven by government initiatives, company investments and advanced research institutions. The region benefits from a strong industrial basis.
  • The Volga district is important due to its advanced industrial and manufacturing systems, whereby large automotive, aerospace and mechanical engineering companies integrate robotics.
  • The Ural district supports the market with its mining, metallurgy and heavy machine industries, in which robotics are used to optimize operating processes.
  • The northwestern district, especially St. Petersburg, is another important center for robotics development and benefits from university research and international collaborations.
  • The Siberian district is developing into an emerging market, driven by raw material -rich industries and an expanding technology sector, with investments in robotics for mining, energy and industrial automation.

These market characteristics indicate a dynamic development that is characterized by technological possibilities as well as economic necessities and state funding. The regional concentration of the robotics hub reflects the existing industrial and scientific infrastructure in Russia and shows where the focus of development and application is.

Civil applications

The implementation of AI and robotics in civilian sectors in Russia is progressing, whereby industry, healthcare and logistics benefit from these technologies in particular.

• Industry and production: In Russian industry, a clear trend for automation and the use of AI-supported robotic solutions can be observed in order to increase efficiency, precision and productivity. Implementation of concepts such as “smart factories” is becoming more important. Numerous large-scale companies from the heavy industry have already implemented concrete AI and robotics projects and reports of quantifizations. For example, Severstal, one of the largest steel manufacturers, has used AI to optimize continuous pickling systems, which led to an increase in productivity of 5% and a multi -production of 80,000 tons per year. Another AI system for quality control of weld seams was able to reduce the number of undiscovered defects by 30% and increase the productivity of control by 40%. The Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Combined (MMK) uses a AI system to control its blast furnaces, which reduces coconut consumption by 5 kg per ton of pig iron and productivity increased by 2.5%. MMK also optimizes the routes of its internal transport using AI, which led to a reduction in the routes by 7% and 5% fuel savings. The Novolipezker Metallurgical Combined (NLMK) also relies on predictive diagnostic systems based on machine learning in order to reduce unplanned system stops by 20% and reduce repair costs by 15%. A AI-based control of the ore loading in wagons enabled an increase in the transported ore volume by 2%. In the energy sector, Gazprom NEFT uses predictive analysis systems for pump equipment that predict failures up to three months in advance and thus reduced unplanned standards by 20% and reduced annual repair costs by 100 million rubles. AI systems for automated quality control of oil products achieve an accuracy of up to 97% and accelerate the control process by six times. The chemical company Sibur uses machine learning to forecast personnel fluctuation with an accuracy of 85%. The State Group Rosatom uses AI to assess employee efficiency, which has increased the objectivity of the evaluation of 30%, and plans to conquer 50% of the Russian market for industrial robotics, for which series production has already been recorded. Rostec also uses KI, for example with his subsidiary “RT-Techpriemka”, for the automatic quality control of steel for the aviation industry, which has changed the control speed. An outstanding example of the integration of science and production is the industrial robotics center at South Ural State University (Susu), which is planned in cooperation with Robot (PAO CHKPZ). Not only specialists are trained here, but also turnkey robot complexes for industry are developed and implemented, such as the rusrobot manipulators. An ambitious goal is the development of so -called “Dark Workshops” - fully automated factories that operate without human presence. These initiatives are part of the national goal of reaching 25th place worldwide in the robot density by 2030. These detailed application examples show that AI and robotics in the Russian heavy industry are not only regarded as future visions, but are already used specifically to increase efficiency, cost reduction and quality improvement. This pragmatic, result -oriented approach in the implementation indicates that the acceptance and integration of these technologies depends heavily on the demonstration of practical advantages.
• Healthcare: Russian healthcare is another important field of application for AI and robotics, especially in the area of ​​diagnostics and increasingly also in surgery and rehabilitation. AI systems are used intensively for analysis of medical images (CT, MRI, mammography) to recognize diseases such as cancer, covid-19 pneumonia, osteoporosis and ischemic heart diseases at an early stage. The city of Moscow plays a pioneering role here by opening medical data records for AI developers and implementing AI systems across the board in polyclinics. The processing speed of CT scans by AI in Moscow polyclinics increased by 70% and the accuracy in the detection of COVID-19 pneumonia increased to 94%. By May 2024, AI systems supported Moscow therapists with 14 million diagnosis. The well-known actors and projects in Russian AI health are Sbermedii, a subsidiary of the Sberbank, the mobile diagnostic complexes (“digital fap”), algorithms to analyze CT-lung recordings (MDDC platform) and a medical diagnosis assistant (Gigadoc). Botkin.ai was another well-known company, whose medical AI system was temporarily pulled out of circulation by the Roszdravnadzor health supervisory authority due to security concerns. Numerous other start-ups such as “webiomed” (decision-making systems), “цельс” (Celsus, image analysis) and “третье мнение” (Third Opinion, analysis of X-ray images) shape the landscape. National standards (GOST) for AI are also developed in medicine to ensure quality and security. In the area of ​​surgical robotics and rehabilitation, professional service robots are used to increase precision and enable new treatment methods. The competence center for robot surgery from Medsi is an example of such specialized institutions, even if detailed information on specific Russian robot systems in this area are limited.
• Other sectors: In addition to industry and healthcare, AI and robotics are also used in other civilian areas. In logistics, automated storage systems and delivery drones are tested and used. Banks offer increasingly AI-based solutions in finance, for example for credit assessments or customer interaction. Although the information in the snippets primarily relates to German AI campus initiatives, the training of AI specialists is also a declared goal in Russia to promote the use of AI in education and other sectors. Agriculture is another sector in which the use of robots increases to increase efficiency and to counteract the shortage of labor. A more controversial field of application is the widespread use of AI-based facial recognition and surveillance systems, which are often implemented with state financing and raise questions of data protection and bourgeois freedom.

Military applications

The military sector is one of the main drivers and a primary field of application for AI and robotics in Russia. The Russian military leadership sees AI as a key technology for modern warfare, which promises decisive tactical and strategic advantages. Experience from the conflict in Ukraine has again underlined the importance of AI in the military context and accelerated Russia's efforts in this area. Significant state funds flow into military AI research and development. The Russian Ministry of Defense (Mod) announced in August 2023 to work on over 500 AI-related projects, of which 222 should be completed by the end of the year. The key areas of the military AI application include:

• Unmanned systems/drones: One focus is on the integration of AI in drones, such as the Zala Lancet. These should be able to autonomously search, identify and combat goals, even in the swarm network. One goal is to develop drones that are immune to measures for electronic warfare (EW).
• Autonomous weapons systems (LAWS): Russia is driving the development of autonomous tanks and other weapons systems and has so far not condemned the potential use of LAWs.
• Command, control, communication, computers, news, monitoring and clarification (C4ISR): AI is used for the collection, processing and systematization of large amounts of data to enable faster and more sound decisions on the battlefield.
• Electronic warfare (EW): The integration of AI into EW systems, such as the RB-109A Bylina system, aims to accelerate your own decision-making and to disturb the opponent's skills.
• Air and rocket defense (PVO-Pro): AI-supported fire guidelines in systems such as Pantsir S-1, S-300 and S-400 are intended to improve the location and destruction of enemy flight objects.
• Information warfare/cyber warfare: AI is used for operations in the information room, for example for infiltration of social networks, for the automated creation and spread of disinformation (including deeppake) and for the disturbance of opposing communication systems.

Special organizations such as the Military Technopolis “Era” in Anapa, the state company JSC Ruselectronics and the aircraft manufacturer The PJSC United Aircraft Corporation are responsible for the development of AI for military purposes. The Ukraine conflict serves as a test field and catalyst: it not only provides real operational data, but also creates an immediate need that can promote development in certain niches (drones, EW, air defense). However, this focus on direct military necessities could deduct resources from long-term basic research or wider civilian AI applications.

Space travel (Roskosmos)

The Russian space agency Roskosmos is also an important player and area of ​​application for AI and robotics. Roskosmos explicitly instructs the “conception of the development of the regulation of relationships in the field of AI and robotics by 2024” to take them into account when developing state politics and regulation. The digitization and the use of AI are central elements of Roskosmos' modernization strategy. Areas of application for AI and robotics in Russian space travel include:

• The thematic processing of satellite images and on-board data processing on space vehicles.
• Control, diagnosis and management of the technical state of space vehicles.
• The autonomous control of individual space vehicles and entire multi-satellite constellations.
• Intelligent systems to support design decisions and the creation of digital twins from rocket and space technology.
• The use of the Glonass navigation system, of systems for technical vision and AI, to achieve a leading role in unmanned technologies in space.
• The comprehensive digitization of all processes, from rocket development and the simulation of processes to the financial administration of the companies involved.

Concrete projects and developments illustrate these efforts. For example, NPO Energyh, a leading rocket engine manufacturer, implemented a project called “Technologies for Digital Construction and Production”, which includes Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) modules for the management of engineering, construction and technology data. The Humanoid Robot F-850, also known as “Fjodor”, was sent to the International Space Station as part of experiments. The new Russian research module “Nauka” for the ISS is equipped with the European robot arm ERA, which provides the Russian part of the station with advanced robot support for outboard operations. In addition, Roskosmos also develops robots for specific tasks such as fire fighting in space as well as for the search and rescue of crashes in space missions. Space travel is a traditionally strong high technology sector for Russia, and the use of AI and robotics aims to increase efficiency, reduce costs and enable new mission profiles. These developments often also have dual-use potential and can serve both civil and military purposes, which is in accordance with Russia's striving for technological sovereignty and national security.

Application examples and effects of AI/robotics in the Russian industry

Application examples and effects of AI/robotics in the Russian industry - Image: Xpert.digital

The use of AI and robotics has already achieved considerable progress and measurable effects in Russian industry. In the area of ​​metallurgy, Severstal optimizes the pickling system and checks weld seams using AI and neural networks, which led to an increase in productivity by 5 % and a reduction of unobserved defects by 30 %. MMK improves the efficiency of the internal transport with AI-controlled blast furnace control and route optimization, which reduces the coke consumption by 5 kg/t, the productivity increased by 2.5 % and the route could be reduced by 7 %. NLMK uses machine learning in the predictive diagnosis of systems and when checking the ore loading, which reduced unplanned standards by 20 % and repair costs by 15 %, while the transport volume of ore increases by 2 %.

In the oil and gas industry, Gazprom NEFT uses predictive analyzes to maintain pumps and AI-based image analyzes for quality control of oil products. This led to a cost reduction of 100 million rubs per year due to lower repair costs and an accuracy of up to 97 %, with six times faster control. In the chemical sector, Sibur achieves an 85-percent hit accuracy in predicting personnel fluctuation for a period of three months through machine learning. The nuclear energy industry and mechanical engineering, represented by Rosatom, also use AI and neural networks to better evaluate employee efficiency. At the same time, they are working on a series production of industrial robots, with the aim of achieving a market share of 50 % and ratings to make 30 % more objective.

In mechanical engineering and pipe production, CHKPZ, in cooperation with Robot plans, is increasingly relating to robot complexes and so -called "Dark Workshops" with automation solutions in order to achieve a worldwide top position in the area of ​​robotics. The armor and high technology division, especially represented by Rostec, increases the accuracy of the quality control of steel parts for aviation to up to 97 %, whereby the controls can be carried out six times faster.

In summary, this shows how wide and successful AI and robotics are used in various industries' industries to increase productivity, reduce costs and improve efficiency sustainably.

Challenges and obstacles for development

Despite the ambitious goals and state funding, the development and implementation of AI and robotics in Russia are faced with considerable challenges and obstacles. These range from the effects of international sanctions to structural problems in Germany to financing restrictions.

Effects of international sanctions

The international sanctions, which have been imposed on Russia in particular after 2014 and massively since 2022, have profound effects on the high technology sector, including AI and robotics.

• Access to western high technology: Russia was and is to a considerable extent on foreign hardware, in particular on high-performance microchips (GPUS) and other specialized electronics from the USA, Taiwan and South Korea, for training and operating AI algorithms. The sanctions have drastically difficult or prevented direct access to these critical components. This applies not only to hardware, but also specialized software. Programs such as Matlab/Simulink, which were considered a de-facto industrial standard in the Russian aviation and high technology industry, are hardly accessible. The same applies to software solutions from international corporations such as Siemens, Kuka, ABB and Bosch, which were important technology partners in front of the sanctions. The sanctions explicitly aim to deny Russia access to foreign technologies and thus drive up the costs, especially for military applications. This leads to bottlenecks in electronic components, software and optical lenses that are required for high-tech weapon systems, but also for civilian AI applications. Companies that like sanction lists can only obtain US technologies with special licenses, but for which a fundamental presumption of rejection applies; These regulations also extend to subsidiaries of sanctioned companies. In response, Russia is trying to avoid sanctions by parallel imports, for example through third countries such as Turkey, the United Arab Emirates or China, and to intensify the cooperation with countries classified as “friends”. Analyzes indicate that the effectiveness of the sanctions is limited by the fact that Russia continues to find ways to get western high technology, some of them through subsidiaries of EU companies in third countries.
• Lief chains for components and import substitution: Before 2022, the Russian market for industrial robots was dependent on 95-100% on imports. After the withdrawal of western brands such as Kuka, Fanuc and ABB, Chinese manufacturers such as Efort, CRP and ESTUT tried to fill this gap. However, the localization of the production of robots and critical components is an immense challenge. Even leading local manufacturers achieved 2024 in key components such as servomotors, reductors and controls, often only an average level of 35-40%. The high costs for the in -house development and the procurement of individual parts on the world market often do not make Russian robotics products competitive to the often cheaper analog products from China. In addition, the integration costs for robots in Russia are comparatively high with up to 50% of the robot costs (internationally approx. 10%). There are state programs to promote import substitution and localization, such as the recording of the series production of Promobot M13 manipulators in Perm or the development of software for visual quality control of radioelectronics by “radar MMS”. Despite the pessimistic forecasts of some analysts, which went out of a strong market slump in 2022, import data indicate that the consumption of robotics could be kept at the level of 2021 thanks to the reorientation to new suppliers.

The sanctions thus act as a double-edged sword: on the one hand, they massively hinder access to critical technologies and international know-how, which reduces the pace of development in the short to medium term and potentially enlarges the technological gap to the leading nations. On the other hand, they force stronger focus on own developments and the search for alternative partners, especially China. This could lead to a more resilient, although possibly technologically different and partially dependent, domestic industry.

Skills of skilled workers and emigration of specialists

Another serious obstacle to KI- and robotics development in Russia is the lack of qualified specialists and the emigration of talents abroad. There is a deficit of people who study AI, explore new methods or use AI algorithms in practice. Despite the historical heritage of the Soviet Education system in the MINT subjects, Russia ranks in indicators for high technology research and the number of technology-based university degrees internationally often significantly behind other developed nations. Many Russian university graduates with AI-relevant qualifications are looking for opportunities abroad, especially in the west due to the much more attractive salaries and better career prospects. According to reports, Russian developers only earn an average of about a quarter of their American colleagues. Every year over 100,000 Russians leave the country, a high percentage of which has university degrees. The sudden withdrawal of large international IT and high technology companies from Russia after February 2022, combined with an accelerated emigration from IT specialists, could significantly weaken the domestic AI research and developmental landscape for years. This “Brain Drain” is not only a loss of individuals, but also a loss of innovation potential, entrepreneurial initiatives and international networks, which makes it difficult to develop a lively AI community and knowledge transfer. Even massive government investments in new education and research centers can hardly compensate for this qualitative loss of experienced top forces and internationally networked researchers. In the field of industrial robotics there is also a serious lack of qualified specialists, including programming engineers, units and system integrators; Up to 30% of the open areas in industrial automation remain vacant.

Dependence on foreign hardware and software

The strong dependence on imported hardware, in particular on high-performance microchips and GPUs, as well as specialized foreign software remains an Achilles' heel of the Russian AI and Robotic ambitions. The domestic electronics industry is comparatively small and primarily geared towards specific military applications, less for mass production of generalized components that would be necessary for broad AI development. The localization of software, for example from SCADA systems, computer vision modules or digital twins, is a declared goal and a new field of development, but is still at the beginning. The impossibility of accessing established international software packages such as Matlab/Simulink is a significant challenge for entire branches of industry, such as aviation, since these programs were integrated deep into the development and production processes. The dependence on Chinese technology as a replacement for western imports could help close to closing sanction gaps at short notice, but the risk of new, long -term dependencies. This could restrict Russia's ability to build up a really sovereign and diversified technologic, and potentially subordinate it to strategic interests and the technology roadmap of Chinas.

Financing restrictions and investment climate

Although the Russian state provides significant funds for strategic AI projects, there are also financing restrictions and structural problems in the investment climate. The state expenditure for technology development, especially in the defense sector for AI research, is estimated in international comparison (allegedly only $ 12-36 million annually for AI research in the Ministry of Defense, compared to billions in the USA and China). The private sector, which is an important engine for AI innovations in many countries, suffers in Russia from a decade of low economic growth, an unfavorable environment for risk capital and a judiciary perceived as politically influenced. These factors dampen private investments and make it difficult to develop a dynamic start-up ecosystem. In addition to a reduction in the originally planned state funds for AI projects, the Covid 19 pandemic. In the area of ​​industrial robotics, the high initial project costs limit the demand for small and medium -sized companies (SMEs). Access to loans and state subsidies is often limited for companies that have no high digital maturity. The discrepancy between the ambitious goals of the national strategies (e.g. a top 5 position worldwide in AI metrics) and the real challenges (sanctions, shortage of skilled workers, financing gaps) indicates a significant implementation gap. The success of the Russian KI and Robotic agenda will significantly depend on how effectively the state measures can address these profound structural problems and whether it is possible to create a more innovation-friendly environment for private actors.

Main challenges for AI and robotics development in Russia and their effects

Main challenges for AI and robotics development in Russia and their effects- Image: Xpert.digital

The development of AI and robotics in Russia faces a wide range of challenges that are noticeable in several areas. Sanctions, in particular the restricted access to hardware such as GPUs, microchips and special electronics, lead to an increase in costs and make progress more difficult in AI research, military AI, industrial robotics and high-tech production. To counteract this, Russia relies on measures such as parallel imports, import substitution and cooperation with China and other “friendly” countries. Sanctions also hinder access to standard systems such as Matlab and Siemens products at software level, which particularly affects aviation, the high technology industry, research and development as well as industrial robotics. Russia has reacted with the development of its own software alternatives, the use of open source solutions and cooperation with China, but programs such as Simintech have so far been little established as a replacement for Simulink.

Another problem is the shortage of skilled workers, which is exacerbated by the emigration of highly qualified IT specialists and researchers. This affects the entire KI and robotics ecosystem, from basic research to practical implementation. Countermeasures such as state educational programs, promoting AI courses and return incentives have so far only had a limited effect. In addition, the dependence on import components makes production localization and leads to high costs in the event of in -house developments. Russian manufacturers of industrial robots and system integrators suffer from competitive disadvantages compared to countries such as China. The state encounters this with funding programs for localization and the establishment of its own production capacities, for example by companies such as Robot plans and promobot.

The national financing conditions also represent an obstacle: private risk capital investments remain low, while high costs in particular pollute small and medium -sized companies (SMEs) and reduced state funds due to economic crises. This mainly affects AI start-ups, SMEs in the area of ​​robotics and civilian AI research. Russia tries to overcome these hurdles through state subsidies, subsidies and cooperation with state banks such as Sberbank and is increasingly relating to public-private partnerships (ÖPP). Last but not least, there is a lack of a quick innovation in the economy. Conservative corporate cultures and a slow adoption of new technologies on a broad basis, especially within SMEs, brake progress. In order to counter this problem, state programs for digital transformation and the promotion of competence centers are launched.

International collaborations and competition

The development of AI and robotics in Russia is inextricably linked to the international landscape, which is characterized by intensive competition and strategic cooperation. The geopolitical situation has led to a significant realignment of the Russian partnerships.

Russia's position in the global AI and robotics competition

Russia is perceived in global discourse as a key player in the competition for leadership role in AI and robotics, especially in addition to the dominant powers USA and China. This perception is active by Moscow's active rhetoric and explained prioritization of both civil and military AI development. The national AI strategy formulates the clear goal that Russian AI technologies should conquer a significant proportion of the global market and that Russia should rise to the top 5 countries worldwide in important AI metrics by 2030. Despite these ambitious goals and some progress, for example in an endeavor to significantly increase the number of industrial robots used in the country, Russian experts also recognize that the country is currently behind the USA and China with regard to the broad technological skills and the innovative strength of the ecosystem. Challenges such as the dependence on foreign high-performance hardware, a comparatively small and under-financed startup ecosystem and the continued “Brain Drain” of specialists affect the global competitive position of Russia. The actual position of Russia in the global AI competition is therefore more of a “niche player” with specific strengths in state-prioritized, often militarily relevant areas than that of a comprehensive global competitor who can keep up in the width of AI technologies and applications with the USA or China.

Strategic partnerships and their realignment

In view of the geopolitical confrontation with the West and the resulting sanctions, Russia has made a significant realignment of its international scientific and technical cooperation. This development is less a purely strategic choice than a reaction to external pressure, with the aim of alleviating the negative consequences of isolation and developing alternative sources for technology and know-how.

• China: Cooperation with the People's Republic of China in the field of AI, robotics and other high technologies has gained an outstanding, even existential meaning for Russia, especially after 2014 and has increased a “roadmap for Russian-Chinese cooperation in science, technology and innovation for the period 2020–2025” identified digital technologies, big data, KI and Telecommunications Prioritarian fields of cooperation. The common Russian-Chinese working group for high technologies and innovations has determined KI as a focus on joint research projects (as of June 2023). CONTRECTION Forms include joint research projects, the establishment of common scientific centers and laboratories (e.g. the Russian -Chinese research center for digital economy), an intensified academic exchange and the establishment of joint university programs and institutions. Examples of cooperation projects are the development of the “Atom” electric car, including Chinese partners and laboratory capacities, the planned cooperation as part of the international arctic station “Snowflake” in areas such as robotics and AI as well as the ambitious project of a common manned lunar station, which should be equipped with a core reactor. Common funds were also initiated to finance such projects, such as the “Russian-Chinese science and technology innovation fund”. However, this partnership is rated by observers as increasingly asymmetrically in favor of China. Russia is more dependent on China in many technology areas than vice versa. In addition, Chinese companies have to weigh up the risk of secondary states in cooperation with Russian partners, which can make cooperation projects in the digital economy and sensitive technologies more difficult. The long -term strategic autonomy of Russia could potentially endanger this new, strong dependence on China.
• India and BRICS countries: In addition to China, Russia is actively looking for technological cooperation with India and the other BRICS countries (Brazil, South Africa and the newer members). An agreement with India on scientific-technical cooperation came into force in January 2024. The Russian organization “Innopractika” plans to open a hub for Russian IT companies in India in order to promote cooperation and to facilitate access to the Indian market. The potential for increased cooperation between Moscow and New Delhi in promising areas such as AI and quantum computing is emphasized by both sides. There are already joint projects with India in the field of marine research, for example in the development of a module for microceismic probes. Overall, the BRICS group strives for stronger economic and technological cooperation, also with the aim of reducing the dependency on the US dollar in international trade (“DEDollarization”), with AI and digital technologies play an important role.
• Belarus and other GUS countries: The updated scientific-technological strategy of Russia explicitly gives the accelerated cooperation with Belarus, the states of the community of independent states (GUS) and other foreign countries classified as “friends” as the goal. With Belarus there is a roadmap for the development of add-on technologies (3D printing), and there are plans for a joint competence center. The Russian state company Rosatom cooperates with Belarus in the area of ​​robotics and 3D printing and supports the training of Belarusian students in Russia. Common projects in the field of digital solutions, such as the development of mathematical simulators for power plants, are also underway.
• Other “friends”: Russia is actively trying to expand technological cooperation with a number of other countries, including authoritarian-ruled states such as Iran, Egypt and Cuba, as well as with countries of the Eurasian business union (e.g. Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) and some Asean countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia. Special “digital attachés” were used in the Russian messages in these countries to promote these cooperation.
• International organizations: Before the massive tightening of the sanctions in 2022, Russia was aiming for active participation in the development of international standards and standards in the field of AI and robotics in organizations such as the OECD, the Council of Europe and the United Nations. These options are now severely restricted.

The emphasis on cooperation within blocks such as Brics and the Eurasian economic union in the field of AI and robotics must also be seen as an attempt to establish alternative technological standards and ecosystems, which are less dependent on norms and platforms. This is part of a wider Russian strategy for creating a “multipolar” world order that is also supposed to manifest itself in the technological area.

Effects of the geopolitical situation on scientific cooperation

The drastically changed geopolitical situation since February 2022 has had a profound effects on Russia's international scientific and technological cooperation.

• Break with the West: The invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent extensive sanctions have led to the extensive demolition of scientific and technological cooperation with western countries. This concerns access to western technologies, advanced software, critical components and established research collaborations. This break is a significant turning point, since Western countries were previously important partners for technology transfer and joint research.
• Boykotte and isolation: Russian scientists and institutions are increasingly facing boycotts and growing isolation in international science. Russian teams, for example, were excluded from participation in some international competitions, as documented in the case of the robotics competition by Lithuanian student teams. Cooperation with large international projects such as the International Space Station (ISS) has also become more complex and politically charged, although it continues in parts and under changed conditions.
• Focus on self-sufficiency and new partners: As a direct consequence of the isolation and sanctions, the new Russian strategy for scientific-technological development emphasizes the need for self-sufficiency (“technological sovereignty”) and the establishment of partnerships with a selected group of states, which are considered to be “fueled”. This strategic realignment is an attempt to compensate for the negative effects of western sanctions and to find new ways for technology and knowledge acquisition.
• Loss of “Soft Power” and attractiveness: The increasing isolation in the scientific-technical area leads to a noticeable loss of “Soft Power” for Russia. The attractiveness of the country as an international cooperation partner in research and development has decreased for many nations, which could make it difficult to have innovation and connection to global technology trends in the long term.

Russia's international cooperation in the field of AI and robotics: partners and priorities

Russia's international cooperation in the field of AI and robotics: partners and priorities - Image: Xpert.digital

Russia's international cooperations in the field of artificial intelligence and robotics extend over various partner countries and organizations with different focuses and strategic objectives. China is the most important partner, especially to compensate for western sanctions, and offers Russia access to technologies and markets. The collaboration includes joint research and development projects, technology transfer, training, standard setting and investments in digital technologies, big data, AI, telecommunications and space ACI. Projects such as the Roadmap 2020-2025, the "Atom" electric car, the international arctic station "Snowflake" or the Russian-Chinese research center for digital economy illustrate the strategic importance of this partnership, while Russia also takes into account the risks of dependency.

India and the BRICS countries are also important players, with the focus on cooperations in the areas of AI, quantum computing and marine research. Multilateral initiatives such as the "DEDollarization" and the structure of alternative technology ecosystems are intended to promote both political and economic independence. Projects such as the Agreement of Russia India and the Innopractika Hub in India show the diversification of Russia towards new markets.

Within the GUS countries, especially Belarus, the focus is on regions of close cooperation such as 3D printing, robotics and digital solutions for the energy sector. Roadmaps developed together and the training of Belarusian students through Rosatom strengthen regional alliances and serve as a test field for common standards.

After all, Russia is looking for cooperation with other “friendly countries”, including Iran, Egypt, Cuba, Eawu and Asean countries to develop markets, to avoid sanctions and to secure political support. The projects, often in specific niche areas, are less known, but contribute to the strategic expansion of technological cooperation.

AI & XR 3D Rendering Machine: Fivefold expertise from Xpert.Digital in a comprehensive service package, R&D XR, PR & SEM - Image: Xpert.Digital

Xpert.Digital has in-depth knowledge of various industries. This allows us to develop tailor-made strategies that are tailored precisely to the requirements and challenges of your specific market segment. By continually analyzing market trends and following industry developments, we can act with foresight and offer innovative solutions. Through the combination of experience and knowledge, we generate added value and give our customers a decisive competitive advantage.

More about it here:

• Use the 5x expertise of Xpert.Digital in one package - starting at just €500/month

Russia's departure into AI future: opportunities, risks and international perspectives-Image: Xpert.digital

Ethical and social dimensions

The rapid development and implementation of artificial intelligence and robotics in Russia raises a number of complex ethical and social issues. The Russian state and various actors have started to deal with these challenges by creating legal framework conditions and developing ethical guidelines.

Legal and regulatory framework conditions

Russia has passed a number of laws and concepts in recent years to regulate and promote the development and application of AI and robotics. A central document is the “conception of the development of the regulation of relationships in the field of technologies of artificial intelligence and robotics until 2024”, which was passed by government regulation regulation No. 2129-R on August 19, 2020. This conception aims to transform the regulatory system in such a way that the creation and use of AI and robotics technologies is made possible. It is intended to create the basis for the legal regulation of new social relationships and identify legal barriers that stand in the way of development.

The core principles of conception include the stimulation of technological development as the main vector, a risk-oriented and interdisciplinary approach in regulation, the expansion of instruments of co-regulation and self-regulation, a strong human-oriented approach (human-centric AI), the striving for technological sovereignty and the support of the competition. The conception explicitly recognizes the need to find a balance between the requirements of data protection and the need to use data for the training of AI systems. An important mechanism for promoting innovations with simultaneous risk control is the creation of experimental legal regimes (ELRS), often referred to as “regulatory sand boxes”. Appropriate laws were passed in 2020 to enable the testing of new technologies in test mode under relieved regulatory conditions. The Ministry of Economic Development (MOED) was established as the leading organ for the design of AI policy and the implementation of these regulatory approaches. The state space organization Roskosmos as well as other federal executive organs are also encouraged to orientate themselves on this concept in their political design and regulation activity.

In addition to this conception, the national AI strategy formed by 2030 and the strategy for the development of the information society 2017-2030 overarching framework works. These are flanked by federal projects such as “artificial intelligence” and “regulatory framework for the digital environment”, which are part of the “digital economy” national program. Particularly regulatory attention applies to the protection of personal data, intellectual property, moral rights (such as the law in your own picture and your own voice), specific regulations for AI generated advertising and the ban on the distribution of certain information using AI. The Russian Data Protection Act was expanded in 2022 by an extraterritorial provision that subjugates foreign entities in the processing of data from Russian citizens of Russian legislation if this is based on a contract or consent. An important principle is the ban to make decisions with considerable legal consequences for one person based solely on the basis of automated data processing without their explicit written consent. The general principle of tort liability applies to damage caused by the use of AI systems: The responsibility lies with the person (or entity) that caused the damage if the action is a civil law violation. Efforts are also made in the area of ​​standardization. For example, gost standards for specific AI applications were developed, such as GOST R 70255-2022 for the detection of traffic signs by unmanned vehicle systems and GOST R 70256-2022 for tracking systems.

Russian ethics code for AI and its implementation

In parallel to legal regulation, Russia has developed a national ethics code for the area of ​​artificial intelligence and advanced its implementation.

• Acceptance and signatories: The national code for ethics in the area of ​​AI was solemnly accepted on October 26, 2021 as part of an international forum. The first signers included leading Russian technology companies and state groups such as Sber, Yandex, MTS, Mail.ru Group (now VK) and Rostelecom. In the following years, numerous other organizations, including federal authorities, joined the code, which should underline its broad acceptance and liability.
• Core principles of the code: The code is based on a number of core principles that should ensure responsible use of AI:
  • Human orientation and humanism: the protection of interests, rights and freedoms of man as well as his well -being have a top priority in the development and application of AI.
  • Respect for autonomy and freedom of will: AI systems should not undermine the autonomy and freedom of choice of man.
  • Conformity of the law: Development and use of AI must be in accordance with applicable law.
  • Non-discrimination: AI systems must not lead to discrimination based on origin, gender, age or other characteristics.
  • Risk assessment and the assessment of the consequences: Potential risks and humanitarian effects of AI systems must be assessed carefully.
  • Responsibility: A high degree of responsibility is required when creating and using AI. This includes a risk -oriented approach, caution and the principle of avoidance of damage.
  • Transparency and identifiability: When people interact with AI systems, this should be made transparent (identification of the AI).
  • Data security and information security: The protection of data and the guarantee of information security are essential.
  • Voluntary certification: Compliance with the Codex regulations can be checked by voluntary certification procedures.
  • Control of self-improvement: Mechanisms to control the recursive self-improvement of AI systems (in particular strong AI) must be provided.
  • Human responsibility: A central principle is that the responsibility for the consequences of AI use ultimately always lies with humans (developers, operators, users).
  • Percentage and use of use: AI technologies should be used in accordance with their intended purpose and where they bring a clear benefit to people and society.
  • Priority of development interests before competition: The interests of the further development of AI technologies should be through pure competitive interests, which should promote cooperation and exchange of knowledge.
• Implementation and supervision: To monitor compliance and further development of the ethics code, a special commission for ethics in the field of AI has been set up. This commission was created in May 2022 from a general meeting of ethics officers and signatories of the code. It consists of representatives of leading technology companies (such as Yandex, MTS), universities (Innopolis) and other organizations. The Commission works in various working groups that are responsible for the ethical regulation of AI in specific sectors. It also approves new signatories of the code and monitors compliance with the ethical principles. There is also a Russian committee for questions of AI ethics, which serves as a specialized advisory committee for coordinating Russian approaches to international cooperation in the field of AI on the UNESCO platform.
• International forums and discussions: Russia regularly organizes international forums on the subject of AI ethics, such as the forum “Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: Start of Trust” (2021) or “Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: GPT generation. Red lines” (2023). These events serve to exchange best practices, the discussion of current ethical dilemmata and the further development of the regulatory framework. As part of these forums, initiatives to improve ethical and regulatory AI framework conditions are also developed and suggestions for the update of the national AI development strategy are also developed. Another forum is planned for October 2024, which is intended to serve as a platform for the presentation of the Russian expert opinion on ethical dilemmata to the international community.

The development and implementation of a comprehensive code of ethics and the establishment of a dedicated commission indicate a serious effort to create a framework for responsible AI development. However, the strong emphasis on the “human -oriented” approach in the code may be in tension on state interests, especially in the area of ​​monitoring and military applications. The actual effectiveness of these ethical guardrails will have to prove in the practical implementation and in dealing with concrete ethical conflict cases.

Public discourse and social acceptance

The social perception and acceptance of AI and robotics is an important factor for their successful integration. Surveys and studies provide insights into the hopes and fears of the Russian population.

• Polls for the perception of KI:
  • According to surveys of the all-Russian opinion research center (WZIOM), awareness of AI technologies in the Russian population is high: 94% of the Russians state that they are informed about AI to different degrees. The proportion of those with a focused knowledge rose from 36% in 2022 to 50%.
  • Every second respondent (52%) declares confidence in AI technologies. More than half of the Russians (55%) expresses the wish to complete further training in the field of AI in the next two to three years.
  • With regard to the use of AI in schools, 30% of parents see the application for individual subjects as permissible, while 10% already determine use by their children in the learning process. The main risks called a reduction in mental exertion (36%), the lack of “lively” communication (31%) and a decline in learning motivation (27%).
  • The national AI strategy (updated version 2024) sets the aim of increasing the trust of citizens in AI technologies to at least 80% by 2030 (from 55% in 2022).
• Discussions about social and economic effects:
  • Labor market: Russian research work on the dual effect of AI on the labor market: On the one hand, automation leads to potential layoffs, especially in routine activities, and on the other hand, new jobs and the requirements for the qualifications of specialists are increasing. According to estimates, over 20 million employees in Russia are threatened by automation, which corresponds to 45.5% of the average number of employees and requires retraining, further education or a change in the labor market. Sectors such as the hotel and restaurant industry (73%of employees), the processing industry (60%) and agriculture (58%) are particularly affected. Education (27%), ICT and scientific research (35%) as well as healthcare (36%) appear less automatable.
  • Inequality: It is feared that AI could exacerbate economic inequality, since highly qualified specialists benefit from the new technologies, while low qualified workers are exposed to a higher automation risk.
  • Necessity of adaptation: The rapid development of AI requires adaptation through further training and retraining from employees in order to remain competitive. This includes the acquisition of AI-related skills and competencies in areas where AI cannot (yet) replace people, such as creativity, social intelligence and complex thinking.
• Specific ethical problem areas:
  • Autonomous vehicles: The development of autonomous vehicles also raises complex ethical questions in Russia, especially with regard to inevitable inevitable accident scenarios (“trolley problem”). Discussions include criteria such as saving more life, the protection of children or the question of whether the behavior of road users (e.g. crossing the street in red light) should be taken into account when decisions by the AI. Universal solutions for this moral dilemma are difficult to find.
  • Data protection and privacy: The use of AI, in particular for systems for facial recognition and monitoring, as well as the need for large amounts of data for the training of AI models accomplish considerable data protection concerns. Russian legislation tries to counteract this by adjusting the Data Protection Act and the emphasis on informational self -determination.
  • Responsibility and liability: The question of responsibility in the event of wrong decisions or damage caused by AI systems is a central topic. Russian law states from the principle that responsibility is ultimately in humans. In experimental legal regimes, mechanisms are intended for examining damage cases and to adapt the regime.

Ethical and regulatory core aspects of AI in Russia

Ethical and regulatory core aspects of AI in Russia - Image: Xpert.digital

Ethical and regulatory core aspects of AI in Russia show different challenges and approaches. The legal regulation includes the "concept for the development of regulation by 2024", the national AI strategy as well as laws on experimental legal regimes (ELRS) and data protection laws. The aim is to create a balance between promoting innovation and risk management, the adaptation to the quick technological development and the implementation of extraterritorial data protection claims. The ethics code for AI, signed by leading companies and authorities in 2021, emphasizes human orientation, non -discrimination, responsibility and transparency. However, challenges result from the liability and enforceability of the code as well as potential conflicts between ethical principles and state or economic interests, such as surveillance. When it comes to data protection and privacy, it can be seen that the need for data for AI training is in conflict with the protection of privacy, especially when dealing with biometric data such as face recognition. The legal basis is the expansion of the Data Protection Act 2022, which prohibits automated decisions without consent. With regard to responsibility and liability, the principle of human responsibility applies to AI damage, whereby regulations play a central role in the context of ELRS for damage. The clarification of the liability chain in complex autonomous systems and the development of insurance solutions for AI risks remain critical. In the labor market, AI has potential for automation of over 20 million jobs, but also creates new professions and qualification requirements. The national AI strategy focuses on retraining and further education programs in order to cushion the structural change socially and to avoid a digital gap and an "economy of ignorance", while the education system has to adapt accordingly. Finally, public acceptance shows a mixture of high attention for AI (94%) and skepticism (trust in 52%), the goal was to increase trust in 80%by 2030. Information campaigns and surveys should overcome fears such as loss of workplace and surveillance as well as promote more transparency and explanability of AI systems.

Research and development trends

The thrust of Russian research and development activities (F&E) in the field of AI and robotics is largely shaped by the national strategies, available resources and the identified application needs. An analysis of the priorities and the scientific publication landscape provides information about the current trends.

Identified key areas of AI research

The Russian government and associated institutions have identified specific areas within AI research as priority in order to strengthen national competitiveness and achieve technological breakthroughs.

• Priorities defined by the Ministry of Economic Development (May 2024):
  • Architectures and algorithms of machine learning.
  • Calculations and data management for AI applications.
  • Fundamental and generative models (e.g. large language models).
  • Human ACI interaction and collaborative systems.
  • Applied research for science, education and the social sphere.
• Focus of the state-funded AI research centers:
  • Development of “elements of strong AI” (Artificial General Intelligence - AGI).
  • Systems for management, decision-making and (multi-) agent-based systems.
  • Further development of fundamental and generative models.
  • President Putin has explicitly instructed to support AI centers by 2030 with a focus on algorithms of machine learning and the development of large language models (LLMS).
• Applied AI solutions in priority sectors (especially in the focus of the second wave of the AI ​​centers):
  • Healthcare
  • Building and urban environment
  • Agricultural industrial complex
  • Transport and logistics
  • Digital industry
  • telecommunications
  • Ecology and environmental management
  • tourism
  • Electricity economy
  • Cabbage

This focus is on a pragmatic approach that strives for both basic research in strategically important AI parts and the quick transfer of research results into concrete applications in economic-relevant sectors. The strong emphasis on machine learning and generative models reflects global technology trends, while focusing on applied solutions in specific industries addresses national modernization requirements.

Leading scientific schools and institutions

Although a detailed list of all leading scientific schools in the field of AI and robotics would go beyond the scope of this report, some core institutions and networks can be identified that play a central role in the Russian F & E-landscape.

• Universities and research institutes with AI excellence centers: As detailed in section III.A, institutions such as Skoltech, HSE, MIPT, ITMO University, Innopolis University and ISP RAS are the spearhead of academic AI research, often with specialized centers that were established in the context of state funding programs. These centers are not only research sites, but also important training locations for the urgently needed AI youngsters. The Institute for Artificial Intelligence of the Lomonossow University Moscow (MSU) mentions optimal control, discrete and continuous optimization, statistics, machine learning and applications as well as mathematical modeling. The RTU Mirea (Moscow Technological University) also houses an institute for artificial intelligence with numerous laboratories, e.g. for digital and additive technologies in mechanical engineering or laser technologies.
• Industry-specific research institutions: In addition to the university centers, there are specialized research institutions that operate AI research for certain sectors, e.g. in the healthcare system (NN Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Almazov National Medical Research Center) or in military-industrial complex (ERA Technopolis).
• Industrial-based research and company laboratories: Large technology companies such as Sberbank and Yandex operate their own extensive research and development departments, which contribute significantly to the development-oriented AI solutions. The “Allianz in the field of artificial intelligence”, which combines leading companies such as Sber, Gazprom Neft, Yandex, VK and others, plays a role in promoting AI development and cooperation with scientific centers.
• National Center for the Development of Artificial Intelligence (NCRI / нцрии): Silited by the government of the Russian Federation and often in connection with the HSE, this center plays a role in coordination, analysis and popularization of AI. For example, it creates reports on the publication activity and the general level of development of AI in Russia.

The Russian F & E-Landscape in the field of AI and robotics is characterized by a mixture of traditionally strong mathematical and scientific schools, newly founded specialized AI centers and the F&E activities of large (state) companies. There is a recognizable tendency to focus more on applied problems and national priorities, which is partly due to state financing logic and pressure on quick commercialization and implementation. In the long term, however, international isolation could affect the quality and width of basic research if the exchange with the global scientific community is restricted.

Analysis of the publication activity and patent applications

The scientific publication activity and the number of patent applications are important indicators for the research intensity and innovative strength of a country in the field of AI and robotics.

• Publication activity:
  • A report by the National Center for the Development of Artificial Intelligence (NCRI) from July 2024 shows that the number of publications of Russian authors at international AI conferences of the highest category (A*) rose by 70% between 2019 to 2023. In 2023, 276 Russian authors wrote such publications. It is also noteworthy that the number of foreign authors affiliated with Russian organizations rose six times to 18 people in 2023 compared to 2019.
  • Geographically speaking, Moscow and St. Petersburg are traditionally the leading centers for AI publications in Russia. Among the organizations that operate AI research centers, Skoltech (30% of the A*publications) and the Higher School of Economics (HSE) (29%) have the highest publication activity.
  • The scientific electronic library Elibrary.ru, which was founded in 1998 with the support of the Russian Fund for Basic Research (RFFI), serves as an important platform for Russian scientific publications, also in the field of AI and robotics.
  • A report by the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of the Knowledge of the HSE (“Artificial Intelligence in Russia: Technologies and Markets”, published in 2025 for the period 2022-2024) also analyzes research and invention activities as well as typical applications and implementation barriers.
• Patent applications:
  • Although specific aggregated data on Russian patent applications in the field of AI and robotics are limited in the materials provided, the patent activity is mentioned as an important indicator of innovation.
  • In the military area, the importance of patents for new AI-based weapons systems is implied.
  • International comparisons show that China and the United States are leaders worldwide for AI patent applications. Russia strives to improve its position here.
  • There are indications of a concentration of “digital” patents with a few major players in Russia. For example, around 76% of the active Russian patents for inventions in the digital area and almost 95% of patents for industrial designs in this sector are no longer available to the three leading companies Yandex, Kaspersky Lab and Sber.

The increasing number of publications at high-ranking conferences indicates growing research activity and improved quality of Russian AI research. However, the concentration of the publications on a few leading institutions and urban centers reflects the regional concentration of the scientific-technological potential mentioned. The relatively small number of foreign co-authors, even if it has increased, could be an indicator of the still limited international networking or the effects of geopolitical isolation. Comprehensive data on the patent activity, especially in the field of AI and robotics, would be necessary to get a more complete image of the innovation performance. The focus on applied research and development, driven by national strategies and the needs of state companies, could lead to a stronger focus on incremental innovations and specific problem solutions, while disruptive basic research may be less in the foreground.

Publication activity of Russian AI specialists (A-conferences, 2019-2023)

The publication activities of Russian AI specialists at A conferences have recorded an increase of 70 % between 2019 and 2023. In 2023, the number of Russian authors was 276, while the number of affiliated foreign authors had reached a six -time increase since 2019. The leading institutions include Skoltech with a share of 30 % and the HSE with 29 %. The publications concentrated in 2023, especially in the Moscow and St. Petersburg regions.

AI and robotics in Russia: between technological departure and international restrictions

The future development of artificial intelligence and robotics in Russia will be shaped by a complex mixture of ambitious national goals, the effects of international sanctions, efforts to technological sovereignty and the realignment of international partnerships.

Official government goals and forecasts

The updated national AI strategy by 2030 and the strategy for scientific-technological development until the 2030s are ambitious goals for the AI ​​and robotics sector. As already in section II.A, this includes detailed:

• A massive increase in the market volume for AI solutions (to 60 billion rubles by 2030).
• A quotation of the number of annual AI university graduates (to 15,500).
• An almost nationwide AI implementation in priority sectors (from 12% to 95%).
• A significant contribution from AI to national GDP (11.2 trillion rubles by 2030).
• The positioning of Russia among the top 5 countries worldwide with important AI metrics.

In the area of ​​robotics, Russia strives to increase the number of industrial robots used from 10,000 (2024) to 95,000 and to reach 25th place worldwide in robot density by 2030. By the end of 2025, an increase to 16,000-17,000 industrial robots and a robot density of 25-30 units per 10,000 workers will be forecast. These official goals signal a strong political will, AI and robotics as central modernization and growth drivers. However, the implementation of these goals depends largely on overcoming the challenges discussed in Section V.

Expert analyzes and assessments of Think Tanks

Independent experts and think tanks draw a more differentiated picture of the future prospects.

• Market growth of robotics: Analysts from Market sandmarkets predict annual growth of 11.7% by 2029 for the global market for industrial robots, with industrial, warehouse and medical robots being most popular. Specific for Russia, it is expected that the demand for industrial robots will continue to increase despite sanctions, driven by state support, localization efforts and the need to compensate for a shortage of labor and to increase productivity. The center for macroeconomic analysis and short -term forecast (ZMAKP) proposes an activation of industrial robotization to accelerate economic growth and refers to the considerable deficit of Russia (11 robots per 10,000 workers in 2023) to countries such as South Korea (1012), China (295).
• Ki-Markt Russia: According to analyzes of the “Artificial Intelligence” competence center, the Russian AI market showed a growth of 37% to a volume of 900 billion rubles, whereby state financing was 9.2 billion rubles. However, venture capital investments remained low at $ 10 million. Other estimates, as from Statista, see the Russian AI market at 5 billion USD, which is more realistic by some experts, since the MOPT analysis may not directly include AI-related sales. In 2024, an increase in investments in AI start-ups to USD 33 million was recorded. The overall market for Big Data and Ki in Russia reached a volume of around 320 billion rubles in 2024, according to the Association for Big Data (ABD). Experts expect further growth through state orders and large corporate implementations for 2025, but emphasize the dependence on macroeconomic stability and the need for more private capital participation.
• Effects of the sanctions: The sanctions and the “Brain Drain” have a significant impact on the Russian high-tech economy, the effects of which could last for years. Access to semiconductors and microprocessors is severely restricted, which affects military high-tech and Ki-F & e. Although the Russian government is trying to support the industry with subsidies and legislative support, the effects of isolation and the deduction of skilled workers could be serious for the growing AI ecosystem. The decoupling of international cooperation with western universities and research institutions is perceived as particularly painful, since this was previously considered an important driver for domestic f & e. Nevertheless, it is expected that Russian companies are increasingly using AI and robotics to increase productivity despite sanctions and workers.
• Technological skills: Experts of the Higher School of Economics (HSE) see a rapidly growing need for skills in the area of ​​energy -intensive, autonomous power sources and wireless charging technologies (+40 percentage points) as well as in the understanding of the use of nanotechnologies in robotics (+35 percentage points).

The expert analyzes indicate a future that is characterized by a tension between ambitious goals and considerable structural and external challenges. The ability of Russia to build up a really sovereign and globally competitive AI and robotics industry will depend heavily on the effectiveness of import substitutional policy, the development of own hardware capacities, the attachment and training of specialists and the depth of technological partnerships with non-western countries, especially China.

Potential effects of current trends

Several overarching trends will significantly influence the development of AI and robotics in Russia in the coming years:

• Continued sanctions and technological isolation from the West: This trend will force Russia to continue to pursue the course of technological independence and cooperation with alternative partners. This could lead to an “island development” in which Russian technologies and standards disconnect from global trends or specific niche solutions that are tailored to the domestic needs and that of the cooperating countries. There is a risk that the technological gap to the world's leading nations will be greater than smaller, especially in areas that benefit greatly from global cooperation and access to top hardware.
• Deeping the partnership with China: Technological and economic cooperation with China will probably become even more important for Russia in the field of AI and robotics. This offers access to technologies, components and markets, but also carries the risk of increasing dependency and a potential orientation of Russian developments in Chinese standards and strategic interests. The dynamics of this partnership will be a key factor for the future of Russian high technology.
• Focus on military and dual-use applications: In view of the geopolitical situation and the government priorities, it can be assumed that military applications and technologies with double use will continue to be a focus of the AI ​​and ROBOTIC-F & E. This could lead to progress in specific military niches, but possibly withdraw resources from broader civil applications and basic research. The experiences from real conflict scenarios will continue to serve as an important driver for innovations in this sector.
• State steering versus private sector dynamics: The tension between strong state steering and the need for private initiative and innovation will continue. While the state can mobilize resources and specify strategic directions, the development of a really dynamic and competitive AI ecosystem depends on the creation of favorable framework conditions for private companies and start-ups. The overcoming of structural economic problems and the improvement of the investment climate remain critical factors here.
• Social effects and ethical debates: With the increasing spread of AI and robotics, the debates about their social consequences, such as job changes, data protection and ethical implications, will also gain in importance in Russia. The ability of the state and society to make these transformation processes socially acceptable and to strengthen the trust of the population into the new technologies will be crucial for their sustainable success.

Global isolation, local solutions: Russia's path in AI development from space travel to the military

The development of artificial intelligence and robotics in Russia is an undertaking of high strategic priority that is vigorously promoted by the political leadership of the country. Driven by the aim of achieving technological sovereignty, strengthening national security and improving economic competitiveness, Russia has resolved extensive national strategies and mobilized significant state funds. The national AI strategy by 2030, in particular in its updated version of 2024, and the new strategy for scientific-technological development testify to the will to strive for a leading role in these key technologies despite international isolation and economic challenges.

The analysis of the actor landscape reveals a strong dominance of state and state-owned companies such as Sberbank and Rostec, which play central roles in the wording and implementation of the AI ​​agenda. At the same time, there is a private sector with innovative companies such as Yandex and an emerging start-up ecosystem, although in the international comparison of smaller, private sector, whose full potential may be restricted by structural obstacles and the political environment. The state-funded AI research centers at leading universities and institutes form the backbone of scientific efforts and aim to do basic research and to develop application-oriented solutions for priority sectors.

There are already concrete progress in the area of ​​applications. In particular, the Russian heavy industry increasingly uses AI and robotics to increase efficiency, cost reduction and quality improvement, often with measurable results. AI solutions also gain the ground in healthcare, especially in image-based diagnostics, and in the service sector. The military sector, which acts as one of the main drivers for AI and robotics innovations in Russia, plays an outstanding role, accelerating through the experience from current conflicts and the pursuit of technological lead. The space travel, traditionally a strength of Russia, is also modernized by the use of AI and robotics.

Despite these progress and ambitions, Russian AI and robotics development faces significant challenges. International sanctions have drastically restricted access to western high technology, especially critical hardware such as microchips and specialized software. This hinders the development and production and forces a costly and often lengthy import substitution as well as a realignment of the supply chains. The lack of qualified specialists, intensified by a continued “Brain Drain”, represents another serious obstacle. Restrictions on financing, especially for the private sector, and a difficult investment climate also slow down the innovation dynamics.

In response to the isolation from the West, Russia has reorganized its international cooperation and intensifies the cooperation with China, India, the Brics countries as well as Belarus and other countries, which are considered to be “friends”. The partnership with China is of central importance, but carries the risk of new dependencies. This realignment is also part of a more comprehensive endeavor to establish alternative technological standards and ecosystems.

The ethical and social implications of AI and robotics are increasingly being discussed in Russia. Legal framework was created and a national ethics code for AI was adopted. The practical implementation of these guidelines and dealing with social challenges such as job changes and data protection concerns will be decisive for the long -term acceptance and success of these technologies.

In summary, it can be seen that Russia makes considerable efforts in order not to lose the connection in the global race for AI and robotics and to maintain its national interests. The highly state -controlled development, the focus on safety -related applications and the forced technological realignment shape the current course. Whether Russia will succeed in achieving the ambitious goals of its strategies and building a sustainably competitive AI and robotics industry depends largely on its ability to overcome the existing structural challenges, manage technological dependencies and create an innovation-friendly environment that takes into account both state priorities and private sector dynamics. The path chosen indicates a future in which Russia could achieve in specific niche progress, but a comprehensive technological leadership role on a global scale seems difficult to reach in view of the current framework conditions.

☑️ SME support in strategy, consulting, planning and implementation

☑️ Creation or realignment of the AI ​​strategy

☑️ Pioneer Business Development

Konrad Wolfenstein

I would be happy to serve as your personal advisor.

You can contact me by filling out the contact form below or simply call me on +49 89 89 674 804 (Munich) .

I'm looking forward to our joint project.

Xpert.Digital is a hub for industry with a focus on digitalization, mechanical engineering, logistics/intralogistics and photovoltaics.

With our 360° business development solution, we support well-known companies from new business to after sales.

Market intelligence, smarketing, marketing automation, content development, PR, mail campaigns, personalized social media and lead nurturing are part of our digital tools.

You can find out more at: www.xpert.digital - www.xpert.solar - www.xpert.plus