Russia outlines a path for domestic scientific instruments by 2030
Valery Falkov, the minister responsible for science and higher education in Russia, initiated a sequence of strategic sessions focused on domestically produced scientific instruments. The Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation shared this development with the public network socialbites.ca.
In the ministerial briefing, it was explained that Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, acting on the president’s mandate, approved a roadmap aimed at advancing Russian capabilities in scientific instrumentation through 2030. This plan marks a deliberate shift toward local production and national self reliance in critical research tools.
Within Russia, the ministry has revitalized the expert council dedicated to domestic scientific instrumentation. Four leading universities have joined the effort: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, South Ural State University, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, and National Research University MEPhI. They have already begun work on a portfolio of 15 instruments, including mass spectrometers, lithography systems, and other essential laboratory equipment. The minister noted that the initial stages of development are projected to be completed and assessed by year end.
Speaking about the timeline, the minister emphasized the importance of making good use of the remaining period in the current year to assess the industry landscape. The focus is on identifying key challenges, threats, and gaps across short, medium, and long term horizons, along with a candid evaluation of the country’s capacity to create and manufacture optional devices. The outcomes of these sessions are expected to form the backbone for rebuilding an industry that was once a source of national pride.
The minister highlighted that the strategic sessions on scientific instrumentation will yield a defined set of critical scientific equipment, components, and consumables necessitating full localization, enhanced manufacturing capabilities, and developed competencies. The plan includes consolidating measures to stimulate domestic demand for scientific instruments and supporting the producers of such equipment. Recommendations for improvement will be presented to guide policy and investment decisions, ensuring stronger national resilience in research infrastructure.