A Growing Software Deficit
Russia is grappling with significant challenges in replacing nearly 1,000 types of foreign industrial software following the departure of international technology providers, leaving critical gaps in its economic infrastructure. A report by CNews, citing Ilya Massukh, head of the IT Competence Center, highlights 837 identified “white spots” in the country’s software needs across various industries.
Speaking at a cross-sectoral demo day for Industrial Competence Centers, Massukh revealed that Russian alternatives are entirely lacking for 412 of these requirements. In 425 cases, domestic solutions exist but require substantial refinement to meet industrial standards.
The agricultural sector faces the most severe shortfall, with 172 identified gaps—159 of which have no Russian-developed alternatives. Also automotive industry is similarly impacted, with 101 software needs identified, including 56 without local replacements.
The Electronics and Microelectronics Competence Center has noted 47 unmet software requirements, 35 of which lack domestic alternatives, while 12 require further development. In the General Mechanical Engineering sector, 62 gaps have been identified, with 14 requiring entirely new software development.
Implications for Russia’s Industries
These findings underscore Russia’s deep reliance on foreign technology and the significant investment required to close these gaps. As the country navigates this complex transition, addressing these deficiencies will be critical to ensuring the resilience and modernization of its industries.
