Russian ministry to launch programs in 2025 to stimulate demand for robotization
CHELYABINSK. Nov 7 (Interfax) - Russia's Industry and Trade Ministry plans to launch a number of programs for manufacturers in 2025 to stimulate demand for robotization, the deputy head of the machine tool and heavy machinery manufacturing department at the ministry, Alexander Lvov said.
"An important thing is stimulating demand. We need to actively introduce robotic equipment and a large number of programs aimed at stimulating demand are being launched next year," Lvov said at a panel discussion at the second Russian Economic Forum.
The programs are aimed at reducing the cost of robotic solutions and providing both buyers and manufacturers with "cheap money," he said.
"Therefore, we are launching a program, first, of subsidized leasing, subsidized credit for buyers of robotic solutions. We understand that the effective interest rate should be no more than 5% on the credit or for leasing," Lvov said.
"Next, the subsidized discount program continues to be in effect, we have Resolution 1206, which has already proven itself, and next year we will continue this work on technical solutions and a discount will be provided in the amount of 50% of the cost of a robot," he said.
The ministry will provide the subsidy to manufacturers, who will provide a discount to buyers, he said.
There are also plans to launch a program to provide subsidized loans to bolster working capital.
"This is an important matter, because with current interest rates and the challenges we face on robotization, companies that make robots need working capital. So that the cost does not fall on the end customer with current interest rates, we plan to provide subsidies to manufacturers to bolster working capital," Lvov said.
Another important issue is popularizing robotic equipment, so there are plans to open three centers to develop robotic equipment with various specializations in every federal district of Russia by 2030, he said.
There are also plans to launch a program to audit manufacturing facilities, where "a team will be able come to a factory, audit production, look at the flows and recommend where it would be best to put a robot instead of people, how to optimize the process," Lvov said.
He recalled that the authorities aim to make Russia one of the top 25 countries by level of robotization by 2030. "This means that by 2030 the fleet of robotic solutions in industry must be about 100,000 robots while the current fleet is 12,800 robots. Accordingly, we need to roll out more than 85,000 robots by 2030," Lvov said.
