In the IT sector, crises are often viewed as catalysts that strengthen the industry and open doors to fresh opportunities. This perspective was echoed by Sergey Plugotarenko, the head of ANO Tsifrovaya Ekonomia, in a conversation with socialbites.ca. He referenced a study from the Higher School of Economics that showed IT professionals in Russia remained hopeful about the sector’s development path, noting that experts believed the industry could weather the challenges by adapting and pushing forward. The sentiment among practitioners was clear: resilience is built through innovation, not retreat.
Plugotarenko observed that after foreign players pulled back from the Russian market, certain niches became vacant. Yet, this vacuum is gradually filled by capable Russian firms that demand skilled talent and are prepared to offer competitive conditions. This shift signals a reconfiguration of the competitive landscape where domestic players gain room to grow and mature. The speaker highlighted how the market is shifting toward strong local developers who can deliver high value while navigating an evolving regulatory and economic environment.
Another point emphasized was Russia’s active push to build and scale its own services, products, and digital infrastructure across commercial, trade, and government sectors. The GosTech platform emerged as a notable example, with the expert expressing confidence that it will become a key hub for a large number of developers in the near term. This development is not just about a single platform; it reflects a broader effort to consolidate digital talent and resources within the national tech ecosystem, fostering collaboration and accelerating productization of local knowhow.
Support measures from the state were highlighted as a significant factor in retaining IT professionals. The measures include preferential lending programs, deferrals for military service, and tax incentives designed to ease the cost and risk of scaling technology ventures. Plugotarenko stressed that such policies are meaningful only when they respond to the actual needs of businesses and workers and are shaped through ongoing dialogue between government bodies and the private sector. The emphasis remained on practical, implementable supports that reduce friction and enable talent to stay within the country’s digital economy base rather than seeking opportunities abroad.
The discussion underscored a fundamental truth about the digital economy: human capital remains the essential engine. In a sector where the majority of digital capabilities are built and operated by people, it is crucial to keep professionals engaged and motivated. The outlook presented by the industry leader was optimistic, with a clear call to action for both policymakers and business leaders to maintain open channels of communication. By continuing to foster a favorable environment for high tech companies to attract, develop, and retain skilled personnel, the country can expect a brighter digital future that benefits the wider economy and society as a whole.
On February 6, the National Research University Higher School of Economics published a summary on its website. The research drew on an online survey of IT professionals conducted between October and December 2022, involving more than five thousand respondents. Despite sanctions pressures and the exit of several foreign companies from the market, Russian IT specialists remained generally upbeat about the sector’s future prospects. The findings highlighted a shared confidence among professionals that the local IT ecosystem can sustain momentum and continue to grow by leaning into domestic capabilities, accelerating innovation, and strengthening collaboration across industry and government. These insights align with the broader narrative of a resilient industry adapting to new realities while seeking to capture opportunities created by the rebalancing of the market.