Robots on the March
Automation is becoming a cornerstone of Russia’s industrial modernization, as the country launches a large-scale national effort to dramatically expand the use of robotics and digital systems in manufacturing
Automation as a Strategy for Technological Sovereignty
Russia has launched a major national project, “Production Tools and Automation,” aimed at fundamentally modernizing its industrial base through widespread deployment of robotics and digital solutions. The goal is ambitious: by 2030, the country seeks to increase industrial robot density from today’s 29 units per 10,000 employees to 145 — a fivefold jump that would place Russia among the world’s top 25 nations in robotization.
Critical to this effort is extensive government support. The program includes a 20% industrial cashback subsidy for robot purchases, preferential loans, leasing programs, and direct support for domestic robot manufacturers, including discounts of up to 50% on certified Russian-made systems. By 2030, each federal district is expected to host a dedicated robotics development center — hubs designed to accelerate workforce training, innovation, and production localization.
The project places particular emphasis on import substitution: funding is directed exclusively toward Russian-manufactured technologies, accelerating domestic capacity growth and reducing external dependencies.
From Internal Modernization to Global Export Potential
The economic impact of this initiative is significant and multidimensional. Automation reduces reliance on labor — a critical advantage as many economies, including Russia’s, face workforce shortages and demographic pressure. Robotization improves productivity, reduces logistics costs, cuts human error, and speeds production cycles. These benefits strengthen the competitiveness of Russian enterprises both domestically and internationally.
By the end of the decade, Russia may become an exporter of industrial robots, particularly to regions experiencing rapid automation demand: Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
A New Era of Logistics Autonomy
Russian companies are increasingly pursuing technological sovereignty in logistics. Since 2011, the firm Fotomekhanika has been developing a full technology cycle — from concept to production. Its solution for FM Logistic processes up to 200,000 units daily, using Soft Sorter and Put-to-Light systems. Another example is Moscow-based Skamatic, which has built inertial sorting lines for the delivery service CDEK, tripling efficiency and achieving a throughput of 1,900 packages per hour. The company is now testing robotized systems for full automation of goods placement.
These cases show that Russia already possesses the technological capability to build complex, localized, scalable automation systems — positioning its companies as key players in the new era of autonomous logistics.
The Foundation Is Already in Place
There are important nuances to the robotization statistics. Starting in 2025, warehouse “trolleys” will be included in robot density calculations. This methodological shift could artificially inflate metrics by 50–60%, creating the appearance of faster progress.
Nevertheless, the structural foundation for automation is solid. In 2022–2023, the Russian WMS (warehouse management system) market grew by 25%, reaching the equivalent of approximately $33m. Companies accelerated migration to domestic software and unified logistics processes — a prerequisite for large-scale robotization. By 2023–2024, demand for Russian WMS continued to grow, and automation evolved from an optional upgrade to a basic necessity.
This shift transformed WMS from a niche tool into core warehouse infrastructure — making software standardization the logical precursor to deploying robots and automated vehicles. Today, the processes are ready; the “hardware phase” has arrived.
Russian IT as the Engine of Automation
For the Russian IT industry, the national automation project unlocks enormous opportunity. Growing demand for integrated systems — robotics, software, warehouse management, enterprise platforms, and monitoring tools — fuels the expansion of an entire segment: robotics + automation + software + integration.
Companies are increasingly investing in digital twins, predictive analytics, and advanced monitoring — accelerating the development of fully domestic, technologically independent solutions.
The surge in robotization is not artificial; it is the continuation of a long-term trend. The demand is real, and the infrastructure is already in place. Challenges remain — compatibility, scalability, and standardization — but the strong software foundation makes Russia’s current robotization wave more viable and sustainable.
