Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The government has launched a new round of selection for particularly significant projects within industrial competence centers. These are key initiatives for the refinement and implementation of domestic IT solutions aimed at import substitution of foreign software. Companies can receive grant co-financing for these projects, amounting to up to 50% of the total project cost. Grant amounts range from 100 million to 2 billion rubles (the grant operator is the Russian Foundation for Information Technology Development (RFRIT)). Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko oversees IT market development and import substitution.
The competition is being held under updated rules. For example, this year the application process has been simplified and the list of required documents has been shortened. The deadline for preparing detailed technical specifications, project schedules, and cost estimates has also been extended to three months from the date of the grant agreement. Furthermore, for participants in particularly significant projects, the reporting process has been simplified by introducing a "single-window" system (via the RFRIT). This will allow companies to focus on product development rather than bureaucratic procedures.
Priority in the competition continues to be given to projects with high replication potential—that is, IT solutions that are not only in demand by a single customer, but are in demand by multiple companies and can be scaled across the entire industry. Thus, the government is focusing on supporting products for a wide range of companies. When evaluating projects, additional points are awarded for demonstrating the potential for replication of the IT solution by four or more customers.
Revenue and tax refund estimates are also key selection criteria and are considered indicators of real demand: the higher the sales potential of an IT solution, the greater the likelihood that it is truly needed in the market. This approach allows for increased returns on grants and the allocation of resources to developments that will be actively implemented and replicated.
The use of artificial intelligence technologies remains an additional prioritization factor. Projects with an AI component are prioritized as the most promising in terms of technological development and competitiveness.
"We are consistently fine-tuning the support mechanism for particularly significant projects, building on the experience of previous selections. In the new wave, the emphasis is not only on the potential for replication but also on the ease of interaction between customer companies and the government. For example, we have simplified the application process and streamlined reporting. The goal is to encourage companies to focus their efforts on developing domestic digital solutions that are in demand across the industry, while reducing unnecessary administrative burdens," noted Dmitry Grigorenko.
Applications will be accepted until April 27, and a decision on support will be made by the end of May. Applications are only open to organizations implementing the software. Participation in the competition is open to both a single project sponsor and a consortium of sponsors (a group of companies co-financing the joint development of a solution for general use).
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