Ministry of Economic Development: Russian tech companies to receive additional support measures for demand for their products

Russian technology companies are set to receive additional support to boost demand for their products. In accordance with a directive from the President of Russia—issued following his meeting with members of the business association "Delovaya Rossiya" (Business Russia)—the Ministry of Economic Development has drafted legislation to make tax incentives for R&D expenditures more accessible. This was announced by Maxim Reshetnikov, Russia’s Minister of Economic Development, during a meeting with residents of the "Technopolis Moscow" Special Economic Zone (SEZ), held at the SEZ’s facilities.

According to the Minister, the proposed legislation would allow companies to account for R&D costs as they are incurred, refine the criteria for "novelty" to better reflect industry-specific nuances, and streamline reporting to the Federal Tax Service—all while ensuring the confidentiality of research findings. In 2025, 68 companies took advantage of the existing tax incentive, out of more than a thousand that reported such expenditures.

By 2027, the Ministry plans to enhance public procurement mechanisms, enabling procurers to evaluate not only whether a solution meets formal requirements but also its functionality, implementation track record, and the availability of service support. There are also plans to expand the use of "offset contracts," which guarantee the purchase of products over a period of 5–7 years, provided that production is localized within Russia.

For buyers of high-tech products, the government is considering subsidies for interest rates and leasing payments. Another instrument involves "technological partnerships," where large corporations purchase new innovations from smaller Russian firms, with the state providing grants to support the development of these solutions.

"Despite all existing constraints, the Russian government will continue to support special economic zones. In return, the state expects a reciprocal commitment from the business community: meeting obligations regarding project timelines, investment, tax payments, job creation, wage levels, and the expansion of industrial cooperation," noted Maxim Reshetnikov. The Minister emphasized that the development of special economic zones (SEZs) requires ongoing interaction between the state and the business sector. According to him, efforts are currently underway to expand production sites, implement new projects, and refine the mechanisms for regulating and supporting SEZ residents.

The head of the agency concluded that the development of SEZs remains part of broader economic policy objectives: restarting the investment cycle, creating high-productivity jobs, advancing technologies, and meeting domestic demand.