Agenda: Results of the trip to the North Caucasus Federal District, Strategy for the Development of the Shipbuilding Industry until 2036 and in the longer term until 2050, establishment of the Phystech Valley science and technology innovation centre.
Mikhail Mishustin’s opening remarks
Excerpts from the transcript:
Mikhail Mishustin: Good afternoon, colleagues.
Meeting with deputy prime ministers on current issues
Meeting with deputy prime ministers on current issues
Dmitry Chernyshenko at a meeting on current issues with deputy prime ministers
Meeting with deputy prime ministers on current issues
Last week, we made a working visit to the North Caucasus Federal District. In North Ossetia-Alania, we saw how the President's instructions on the social and economic development of the city of Beslan were being implemented.
Substantial federal funding has been allocated for this. A total of 49 measures are envisaged, of which 45 have already been carried out. These include the construction of a music school and renovation of the House of Children's Creativity. We visited these important facilities, which have created very good conditions for children to develop their creative and musical skills in a comfortable environment.
The main thing is that the city itself is being transformed, and this work will continue. The reconstruction of the outpatient clinic and the repair of bank protection structures on the Terek River will be completed. This is important for improving the quality of people's lives.
Mr Novak, please keep all these issues under personal control.
In Ossetia, we visited an enterprise engaged in apple growing with state support.
Mr Patrushev, we need more positive examples like this. It is essential to collaborate more actively with domestic agricultural producers so that they receive everything they need, and, possibly, we should discuss such results more often. The Government will continue to assist farmers in strengthening Russia’s food security and providing people with high-quality products. We need to achieve this objective, set by the President, and to expand the production volumes of the agro-industrial sector.
I also believe that we should hold several meetings on food security this coming summer. This includes visits to Far Eastern and Siberian regions. We will consult you which regions in particular.
We inspected a new domestic airline terminal in Mineralniye Vody, the Stavropol Territory. The new facility will improve passenger service standards for local residents and visitors, offering more comfortable travel. As you know, more and more tourists are travelling to the North Caucasus.
We held a separate meeting on modernising the airport infrastructure, during which we discussed the implementation of the President’s instruction across the nation in detail. The measures of the Effective Transport System national project aim to achieve this goal. I would like to remind you that we will modernise at least 75 airfields over the next six years. For this purpose, it is necessary to attract federal funding and private investment.
Today, well-equipped modern airports are essential for dynamic economic development of the regions and for expanding the connectivity of our vast territory. They also make flying more comfortable for Russian and foreign citizens throughout Russia.
Mr Savelyev, airport construction and modernisation plans should be fulfilled on time. I know that you are monitoring this process, and I ask you to keep a close eye on this issue.
Another matter concerns our plans to modernise and expand the national fleet as soon as possible. Against the backdrop of foreign sanctions and restrictions, this objective is of key significance for establishing logistics routes between Russia and friendly countries, for freight traffic via the Northern Sea Route, for inland navigation and for expanding river tourism.
Since 2025, we have considerably expanded support for those manufacturing and purchasing ships and related components. In the next six years, we will spend over 500 billion roubles in federal funding for these purposes which is a record figure for the industry. A considerable share of this funding is stipulated under the new technological leadership national project Industrial Support for Transport Mobility.
In light of various challenges, the Government has updated its strategy for the development of the shipbuilding industry. The document has been drafted and approved and should be implemented until 2050.
We have charted specific priorities for expanding production capacities, building new shipyards and increasing the workload of enterprises. It is necessary to expand research and development programmes, make this sector more attractive for investors and eliminate excessive administrative barriers.
It is important to accomplish the objective set by the President to achieve technological sovereignty, including in critical ship equipment categories and the most significant production processes.
Mr Manturov, please tell us in more detail about the updated goals and priorities in this sphere.
Denis Manturov: Mr Mishustin, colleagues.
When updating the shipbuilding development strategy, we first identified the long-term demand for fleet capacity through 2050. This was based on forecasts for increased cargo and passenger transportation, as well as the growing extraction of aquatic biological resources.
In addition, we took into account the gradual decommissioning of existing vessels, most of which were built in the 1970s and 1980s. The systematic replacement of these with modern, technologically advanced ships is one of the main challenges facing our domestic shipbuilding industry.
Under the baseline scenario of the strategy, over 1,600 civilian vessels and marine hardware are expected to be built at Russian shipyards by 2036. Priority will be given to vessels for the Northern Sea Route and the North-South transport corridor. Particular focus is being placed on developing capabilities for large-capacity projects, including crude oil tankers, gas carriers, shuttle tankers and bulk carriers.
We are paying special attention to the construction of icebreakers, support vessels and maintenance ships, as well as to the accelerated renewal of the passenger and fishing fleets.
In most key areas, we have established a solid foundation that will allow us to ramp up production. However, to achieve this, it is critically important to overcome structural barriers within the industry, which is precisely the aim of this strategy. In particular, it includes large-scale modernisation and efforts to eliminate the shortage of shipbuilding capacity, including through the establishment of new shipyards. At the same time, we must significantly increase the share of serial production of civilian vessels to make them more cost-competitive.
Another cross-cutting industrial task – one that our enterprises are already addressing – is the replacement of foreign shipboard equipment with domestic alternatives. In terms of fleet operation, the strategy also calls for the development of ship repair centres with well-organised supply logistics for spare parts and components.
In other areas, I would mention the plans to strengthen the industry's human resources potential. To meet future demands, we will need to increase the workforce by at least 15 percent by 2036, to around 190,000 people. In addition to staffing the shipyards, it is equally important to attract talent to design and development centres. We must also make greater use of applied scientific research, push forward with automation and digitalisation at the shipyards to boost labour productivity and gradually transition to large-block shipbuilding.
Naturally, fulfilling the state defence order remains a top priority for Russian shipbuilders. The main document here is the strategy for the development of the Navy, which is currently being finalised for the period until 2050. It is essential that the civilian and military tasks of our shipyards are well coordinated.
In the same vein, the shipbuilding strategy has been aligned with other programme documents and with the objectives of the national project on transport mobility.
As regards financial support for the industry, the state will continue to play the dominant role in the development of the industry over the next two decades. At the same time, as competencies grow and product competitiveness improves, state involvement should gradually decline. Ultimately, the strategy should lead to a market-driven development model for segments of the industry not directly related to the state defence order. The shipbuilding sector is ready to take on this long-term challenge, and is already putting many of these approaches into practice.
Mikhail Mishustin: Thank you, Mr Manturov.
It is important to localise the production of ships, vessels and marine equipment as much as possible and achieve high rates in creating competitive products.
To this end, it is necessary to compile a detailed list of all measures required to ensure an efficient organisation of production, both technologically and in terms of operational processes. Particular attention must be paid to staffing and human resource planning.
Another topic is the implementation of measures aimed at achieving Russia’s technological leadership in key industries and creating critically important innovations.
For this purpose, we continue to strengthen our scientific infrastructure and concentrate the educational system’s efforts, while implementing such flagship projects as the Professionalitet, Advanced Engineering Schools, Priority 2030, and World-Class Research Centres. We are also establishing a network of megascience installations to ensure a modern infrastructure and develop a more skilled workforce capable of carrying out complicated and large-scale assignments set by the President.
In this regard, the Government has made the decision to establish the Phystekh Valley science and technology innovation centre. It has also approved its operational rules and main areas of activity. These platforms are an important tool for supporting technological companies, as they help to commercialise and implement research results and R&D.
Mr Chernyshenko, please tell us more about this project and generally about the key focal points in training engineers for the economy.
Dmitry Chernyshenko at a meeting on current issues with deputy prime ministers
Dmitry Chernyshenko: Mr Mishustin,
As you have rightly noted, innovative scientific and technological centres (ISTCs) serve as a vital mechanism for fostering collaboration between science, education, and businesses.
Currently, there are 12 such centres across Russia – from the Kaliningrad Region to the Primorye Territory. The most recent, the Nevskaya Delta ISTC in St Petersburg, was officially established in 2024.
As you mentioned, the 13th centre, Phystech Valley, will be developed at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Its focus will be on cutting-edge fields such as quantum technologies, photonics, microelectronics, artificial intelligence, biomedical technologies, and robotics – areas that are highly relevant not only for Russia, but also for the global scientific and technological landscape.
This year, the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology secured first place among universities participating in the Priority-2030 programme and was awarded a grant of 1 billion roubles. Since 2022, it has hosted an advanced engineering school specialising in radar and radio navigation. MIPT is also recognised as a leader in the commercialisation of research and development, with R&D revenues exceeding 6.5 billion roubles just since last year.
The establishment of the new scientific and technological centre will undoubtedly further strengthen MIPT’s research capabilities. Its resident companies will benefit from a range of incentives, including tax and customs advantages such as zero VAT, and exemptions from property and land taxes.
Mr Mishustin,
As you emphasise, we take a systematic approach to the training of highly qualified engineering personnel.
First, under the national project Youth and Children, we are continuing to expand the network of advanced engineering schools. To date, 50 such schools have been established, and, as the President instructed, this number is set to double to 100 by 2030.
This year alone, approximately 2,000 graduates from these programmes will begin careers in Russian high-tech companies.
Second, we are in the process of creating an integrated, continuous education system that links schools, colleges, and universities. This model will help ensure a steady influx of young professionals with secondary vocational education into the workforce.
Third, we will continue with the planned increase in quotas for the training of in-demand engineering specialists.
Fourth, at least half of all state-funded university places will now be allocated through targeted government contracts aimed at training professionals for priority sectors.
Fifth, we will establish a legal framework for the regulation of tuition-based university admissions.
Sixth, starting from the next academic year, preferential student loans at a 3 percent interest rate will be offered exclusively for programmes aligned with economic priorities, including engineering disciplines.
In conclusion, I would like to note that preparations for the upcoming admissions campaign are well underway.
The process is proceeding smoothly, and we are closely following all of your instructions.
Mikhail Mishustin: Thank you, Mr Chernyshenko. We anticipate that Phystech Valley will play a vital role in advancing Russia’s scientific and technological development priorities. MIPT has long been at the forefront of the nation’s most important initiatives, from space exploration to nuclear programmes and beyond. It possesses a strong foundation for undertaking such ambitious tasks, along with extensive experience and a distinguished legacy.
