BRICS Industrial Intelligence

Executive Summary

The National Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence for the Period up to 2030 was approved by Presidential Decree No. 490 of October 10, 2019, and substantially updated by Presidential Decree No. 124 of February 15, 2024. The document defines the goals, objectives, and key directions for the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in Russia, as well as measures to ensure national interests and strategic priorities in this domain.

The Strategy serves as the foundational policy document for Russia's AI development, setting the direction for federal and regional projects, state programs, and strategies of state corporations and companies with government participation. The 2024 update was driven by the need to account for fundamental shifts in the global AI market, including breakthroughs in large generative models, intensifying international competition, and restrictive measures imposed by unfriendly states.

The document reflects Russia's ambition to become one of the global leaders in AI development, ensuring technological sovereignty and economic competitiveness through the mass deployment of artificial intelligence technologies across industries and public administration.

Key Provisions

Terminological framework. The Strategy introduces key definitions: artificial intelligence, AI technologies, large generative models, large foundation models, trusted AI technologies, and strong (general) AI. AI is defined as a set of technological solutions that simulate human cognitive functions.
Technological sovereignty. A core principle of the Strategy is ensuring Russia's independence in the AI domain through preferential use of domestic solutions and development of proprietary hardware-software systems.
Principles of AI development. The Strategy establishes principles of human rights protection, safety, transparency, innovation cycle integrity, competition support, openness and accessibility, and security.
AI ethics. The Code of Ethics in the Field of Artificial Intelligence has been adopted, with over 330 Russian and 23 foreign organizations, as well as 43 federal executive bodies, having joined.
Trusted AI technologies. The concept of trusted technologies meeting safety and ethical standards has been introduced, with mandatory deployment in areas where state security could be compromised.
Six AI research centers. Established at leading universities (HSE, MIPT, ITMO, Skoltech, Innopolis, ISP RAS), producing over 50% of Russian publications at A*-level conferences.

Goals and Timelines

The Strategy sets specific quantitative targets to be achieved by 2030:

Indicator	2022 (baseline)	2030 (target)
Supercomputer capacity for AI	0.073 exaFLOPS	at least 1 exaFLOPS
Cumulative GDP growth from AI	0.2 trillion RUB	at least 11.2 trillion RUB
Annual AI solutions services volume	12 billion RUB	at least 60 billion RUB
Publications at A*-level conferences	113 per year	at least 450 per year
AI higher education graduates	3,048 per year	at least 15,500 per year
Share of workers with AI skills	5%	at least 80%
Public trust in AI	55%	at least 80%
Share of priority sectors with high AI readiness	12%	at least 95%
Organizational spending on AI	123 billion RUB/year	at least 850 billion RUB/year

An intermediate deadline of July 1, 2024, was set for incorporating the "Artificial Intelligence" federal project into the national data economy project.

Implementation Mechanisms

Federal project "Artificial Intelligence" within the "Digital Economy" national program (from 2024, within the national data economy project).
Budget financing. The Government is required to allocate budget funds for Strategy implementation when forming federal budgets for 2020-2030.
Grant support. State grants for AI solution development (over 800 projects by 2023), acceleration programs, and Presidential scholarships for researchers.
Regulatory mechanisms. Mandatory requirements for AI adoption as a condition for receiving federal subsidies; inclusion of AI indicators in national projects and state programs.
Infrastructure support. Subsidized access to computing resources, cloud service development, incentives for computing providers including preferential electricity tariffs and accelerated equipment depreciation.
GosTech platform for hosting the registry of vetted trusted AI technologies and providing infrastructure for public authorities.
Annual Presidential reporting on Strategy implementation progress.
Responsible bodies. The Government of the Russian Federation coordinates implementation; the Ministry of Economic Development receives updated strategies from state corporations; federal and regional executive bodies are required to follow the Strategy's provisions.

Industry Impact

The Strategy has a transformative impact on Russia's IT sector. According to the document, by 2023, over 30% of organizations across various economic sectors were already using AI technologies, with more than 1,000 AI solution developers operating in the country.

The target cumulative GDP increase of 11.2 trillion rubles by 2030 signals expectations of a large-scale economic transformation. The requirement to raise the share of workers with AI skills to 80% implies a fundamental restructuring of the labor market and education system.

For the investment climate, the planned nearly sevenfold increase in organizational AI spending (from 123 to 850 billion rubles) creates significant market potential for IT companies. However, the introduction of mandatory AI certification for critical information infrastructure entities and requirements for trusted technology use create regulatory barriers to market entry while establishing preferences for domestic developers.

The Strategy also identifies key challenges: insufficient computing capacity, workforce shortages, inadequate funding, and international restrictions on the import of advanced microelectronics -- all of which necessitate the development of a domestic component base for AI.

Amendment History

October 10, 2019 -- Strategy approved by Presidential Decree No. 490.
February 15, 2024 -- Major update through Presidential Decree No. 124: updated conceptual apparatus (added definitions for large generative models, foundation models, trusted AI technologies, strong AI), quantitative indicators through 2030 established, new sections on infrastructure, developer support, scientific research, public sector deployment, and regulatory framework added.

National AI Development Strategy until 2030