Russia has enacted a series of legislative acts aimed at accelerating domestic innovation. On July 31, 2020, the Federal Law titled “On experimental legal regimes in the field of digital innovation in the Russian Federation” went into effect. This law creates a systemic mechanism for collaboration among industry, academia, and the state to test advanced technologies in real-world legal settings. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, big data, neurotechnologies, quantum technologies, and virtual reality are now able to be explored under controlled experimental conditions that were previously unavailable due to regulatory or practical barriers. At the same time, amendments were introduced to the federal law “On Science and State Scientific and Technical Policy” to address innovative products more explicitly.
Another approach involves establishing dedicated platforms where government officials can obtain direct feedback from the business sector and incorporate it into policy measures that stimulate high‑tech entrepreneurship. A notable example is the Strategic Council for Investment in New Technologies, created by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in March 2014. The council is chaired by the minister, who leads its activities and represents the governing body in official capacities.
The council serves as a collaborative space where the private sector, researchers, and public institutions propose initiatives to support the growth of the innovative industry. Suggested measures include tax incentives and regulatory reforms that can reduce barriers for high‑tech startups. The council operates in an advisory capacity and does not directly draft laws, but its recommendations carry influence over policy directions and program design.
Delegates from Russian and foreign firms, venture funds, and development institutions regularly attend council meetings. Depending on the agenda, experts from various economic sectors join discussions. They may participate as guests or observers rather than as official members, with attendance driven by the topics at hand and the value of their expertise.
Over the years, several prominent figures have participated in council activities. Evgeny Kaspersky, founder and CEO of Kaspersky Lab, has been recognized for contributions to information security solutions used by hundreds of millions of users and tens of thousands of enterprises worldwide. Hans-Joachim Frei, a respected German-Russian music manager and former head of the Sirius cultural center, has lent his perspective to cultural and technological initiatives. Alexey Repik, founder of a leading pharmaceutical group, has aligned industry needs with research and development partnerships aimed at advancing new drug discovery. These participants illustrate the council’s broad reach across technology, culture, and life sciences, highlighting how high‑tech innovation touches multiple sectors of the economy.
Engaging with diverse stakeholders at this level helps identify practical solutions to real business challenges through innovation. This collaborative approach supports not only the high‑tech industry but also related sectors that benefit from upgraded technologies, improved processes, and smarter policy frameworks. The council’s inception in July 2014, during the Innoprom international exhibition in Yekaterinburg, underscored Russia’s commitment to elevating high‑tech investments. At that gathering, the Ministry of Industry and Trade highlighted that current investments in high‑tech clusters represented only a small share of total investments, signaling a need to accelerate growth. Since then, annual council meetings have continued within the Innoprom platform to maintain momentum and ensure ongoing dialogue between government and industry. The council consistently explores new approaches for interacting with the high‑tech sector and advocates for state assistance programs designed to nurture innovative companies. It also advocates for regulatory improvements that unlock the potential of advanced technologies and streamline the path from research to market across the economy. [Citation: government briefing on Innoprom and strategic council initiatives]”