Russian President Vladimir Putin met with First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov on Nov. 20, to review progress on “a package of eight national projects aimed at ensuring Russia’s technological leadership.” The plan is both ambitious and focused in the right direction, although some in Russia have raised concerns that the 21% interest rate set by the Bank of Russia central bank makes lending for such projects, and economic activity in general, very expensive.
According to a report on the President’s website, Manturov reviewed the eight areas, one by one:
1) Metalworking and additive technology equipment (sometimes referred to as “3D printing").
2) Robotics.
3) “Another critical initiative is the New Materials and Chemistry national project, which encompasses rare-earth metals, composites, and microbiological products. It is imperative that we re-establish 55 critical technological chains.”
4) “Transport mobility” including “aviation, shipbuilding, and transport machinery, as well as the production of electric and hybrid vehicles. A crucial component of this initiative is the development of high-speed transportation. By 2028, we plan to produce the first two high-speed trains, and by 2030, deliver 43 units of rolling stock for high-speed rail.”
5) Space, including the “assembly-line production for satellites” and development of reusable launch vehicles.
6) Healthcare, including “next-generation medical devices and pharmaceuticals” and work on genetics.
7) “In the context of the Innovative Nuclear and Energy Technologies national project, our focus within the nuclear sector is on the development of small power reactor technologies … (as well as) the development of controlled thermonuclear technologies.”
8) A national project on drones.
