Russia Builds a Digital Ecosystem for Science and Education
At the Kazan Digital Week forum, Russian officials unveiled large-scale projects aimed at transforming science and higher education into a single digital ecosystem, designed to accelerate research, streamline learning, and strengthen global competitiveness.
At the international forum Kazan Digital Week, participants discussed Russia’s sweeping digital transformation of science and higher education. Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Andrey Omelchuk presented new platforms and services that are already reshaping the lives of students, applicants, and researchers, making processes more efficient and accessible. Digital transformation has become one of the country’s key strategies to bolster global competitiveness. Building a unified digital ecosystem will connect data, research, and infrastructure into a powerful engine for breakthrough discoveries and Russia’s technological leadership.
One of the flagship projects is the “Science” platform—an extensive online hub for researchers. It already integrates 26 specialized services that help scientists collaborate with clients and government agencies. By the end of 2026, six additional services are expected to launch. Artificial intelligence plays a critical role in the platform: it identifies overlapping studies to avoid duplication, automatically reviews research quality, and matches projects with the right experts. In the future, large language models will power an AI-based research assistant capable of analyzing publications and generating new ideas.
Education is also being reimagined. On the “GosTech” platform, a digital twin is being developed to accompany individuals along their entire educational journey—from kindergarten to employment.
A vivid example of successful digitization is the super service “University Admission Online” available on the Gosuslugi state portal. In 2025, it processed a record 1.23 million applications. A total of 1,717 universities and branches are now connected to the system, while the minimum application time has been reduced to just 50 seconds. Applicants can now submit documents not only for undergraduate and specialist programs but also for master’s and doctoral studies.
These digital initiatives mark a significant step forward not only for Russia but for global science and education, showing how technology can accelerate progress and make knowledge more accessible.
