Russian govt to prioritize AI software when selecting most important IT projects

MOSCOW. Aug 27 (Interfax) - The Russian government will prioritize software which uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology when selecting "particularly important projects" to be implemented within industrial competence centers (ICCs), the Cabinet of Ministers said in a statement.

There are currently 26 IT solutions being developed at ICCs using AI technologies.

"The industrial competence centers are creating quality IT solutions which meet the needs of the modern-day Russian market. Artificial intelligence is among the promising technologies that are becoming part of software packages. We are taking this into account and working proactively - we are prioritizing new-generation software, not just 'copies' of foreign products. Companies who are involved with the industrial competence centers have the opportunity to put forward consolidated requests for developers, for example, regarding the integration of artificial intelligence," Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko, who oversees the development of the Russian IT solutions market and the work of ICCs, is quoted as saying in the statement.

Russia is currently implementing around 200 particularly important projects within ICCs. Most "first-wave" projects will be implemented by the end of 2026. As part of the "second wave", launched in May 2025, 49 projects were selected and supported, 17 of which received grant funding of 3.2 billion rubles. The majority of second-wave projects are scheduled to be implemented by the end of 2027.