Runet Economy Grows 40%, Bets on Tech Sovereignty
Russia’s internet sector is expanding at breakneck speed, with digital sovereignty and global export ambitions shaping its future.
The 29th Russian Internet Forum (RIF-2025), the country’s key IT industry event, wrapped up in Moscow on September 26. Organized by the Russian Association for Electronic Communications (RAEC) with support from the Ministry of Digital Development, the three-day gathering brought together policymakers, businesses, and developers to debate the future of the digital economy.
RAEC director Dmitry Gulyaev delivered striking figures: Runet’s economy in 2024 hit 24 trillion rubles (around $287 billion), up 40% from the previous year. E-commerce led the charge, and projections suggest the sector could swell to 30 trillion rubles ($359 billion) in 2025.
Alexander Aivazov, senior vice president at VK, underscored that user trust remains the cornerstone of the entire digital economy.
Forum experts identified several strategic vectors: building technological sovereignty and exporting Russian IT solutions to markets in BRICS, the CIS, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. In gaming, more than a quarter of Russian studios are already deploying in-house technologies instead of relying on foreign engines.
Cybersecurity was another hot topic. Panelists warned that by 2030, cyberattacks may evolve into tools of strategic influence. To counter this, Russia must ramp up state-led coordination of defense measures and fuse artificial intelligence systems with human awareness.
