Expert session: “Strategic scenarios for technological leadership in pharmaceutical innovation”

Aligning the efforts of the government, academia, pharmaceutical corporations, investors, and patient communities is a strategic imperative that underpins the success of the pharmaceutical industry. This synergy is essential both for securing the medicinal safety of the Russian Federation and for consolidating the nation’s standing in the global market as a state capable of consistently developing and deploying novel, original pharmaceuticals. Today, all stakeholders must take the next step: transitioning from import substitution to import pioneering, and driving technological leadership initiatives within targeted industry segments, underpinned by domestic technology platforms for pharmaceutical innovation. At the same time, the goal of technological leadership extends beyond ensuring medicinal security in the domestic market to establishing a presence for Russian high technologies and products in international markets. This is precisely why an ecosystem of trust is required – serving as the core foundation that delivers a competitive advantage on an international scale.

Competition in the global pharmaceutical development market has intensified over the last decade. China has been a particularly active participant, emerging as a global innovation leader in a short space of time and launching its strategic industry development programme in 2012 – concurrently with Russia’s “Pharma 2020” programme. Russia has already addressed the challenge of ensuring access to medicines through a generic-based model: today, domestic generics cover around 95% of the INNs (international non-proprietary names) included in the list of vital and essential medicines, pharmaceutical production has doubled since 2019, and the share of imports by volume has fallen from 71% to 33%.

The next step is to pursue a new and ambitious goal: establishing Russia as a competitive participant in the international pharmaceutical innovation market while ensuring medicinal security domestically. The technological leadership programme sets clear benchmarks up to 2040: the advancement of innovative technological platforms; an increase in the share of domestic innovations within public procurement – reaching at least 100 billion roubles by 2030 and no less than 300 billion roubles by 2036; scaling pharmaceutical exports from 50 billion to 300 billion roubles, and ultimately to 2 trillion roubles; and a substantial expansion of the share of biotechnology within pharmaceutical development.

How can the ambitious goals set for the pharmaceutical industry be achieved? What are the technologies that shape the technological leadership strategy? What financial resources does the sector possess to secure technological sovereignty? What regulatory opportunities are currently available to drive pharmaceutical market development? How can we establish cooperation, integration, and the shared utilisation of limited resources across adjacent industries to advance pharmaceutical manufacturing? How can the strategic scenario for technological leadership in the pharmaceutical and medical fields be realised through to 2040?

Expert session: “The future quantum landscape: A national framework for security and technological leadership”

Today, quantum communications establish the foundation for a resilient ecosystem of trust that directly fuels national economic growth. Across the globe, quantum technologies are steadily transitioning from fundamental research to practical application, unlocking new horizons for science, manufacturing, transport, energy, healthcare, and other strategically vital industries. Concurrently, their development introduces a series of risks that extend beyond information security to encompass technological sovereignty, the resilience of critical infrastructure and the state’s long-term competitiveness.

The emergence of quantum computers capable of solving practically significant tasks may in the longer term compromise the reliability of information transmission mechanisms deployed today. The precise timelines, scale, and potential consequences of the “quantum threat” to the Russian Federation remain a subject of active scientific and expert debate. Consequently, establishing a space of trust between the state, academia, and business is becoming increasingly paramount to objectively assess quantum risks and develop timely response strategies.

During the session, participants will examine what should be understood by the “quantum threat” today, assess Russia's preparedness for its potential onset, identify priority areas requiring immediate attention, and explore which joint initiatives between the state, academia, and business can secure technological leadership and national security amidst the rapid advancement of quantum technologies.

During the session, the launch of developing initiatives for a sovereign Memorandum on Countermeasures for the Russian Federation will be announced. The Memorandum will draw on the expertise and sector-specific competencies of market-leading quantum technology companies, federal executive authorities and research organisations. It will formalise the parties’ commitment to consolidating their expertise and sector-specific competencies and developing coordinated approaches to ensuring the security of data transmission, processing, and storage systems, while safeguarding the technological sovereignty of the Russian Federation in matters related to the advancement of quantum technologies.

The discussion will therefore help to outline the foundations of a national ecosystem of trust within the quantum technology sector, which is vital to ensuring Russia's long-term security, technological independence, and leadership.

What should be understood by the “quantum threat” today? How prepared is Russia for its potential onset, and which areas demand immediate, priority attention? Which joint initiatives involving government, academia, and business can secure the nation's technological leadership and national security amidst the rapid advancement of quantum technologies?

Expert session:“Russia–Africa: Challenges and opportunities for cooperation in technology, education, and security”

A sustainable partnership between Russia and African nations is impossible without an ecosystem of trust. This ecosystem is built upon shared values, transparent operational frameworks, unified quality standards, and mutual accountability. Trust serves as the very foundation required to establish long-term technological, educational, and infrastructural projects capable of withstanding any political or economic cycles.

African countries are interested in advancing their manufacturing, energy, transport, agriculture, education, healthcare and digital technologies. Russian companies and research organisations have expertise across all these areas. However, cooperation is constrained by regulatory discrepancies, limited financial instruments and logistical challenges. Overcoming these barriers requires shifting from the perception of Africa as a single, homogenous market to engaging with individual countries and their unique national priorities. Initiatives can be based on national development strategies, local needs, and offer long-term operational support. Such an approach strengthens mutual trust and ensures a resilient partnership. This dynamic is further enhanced by existing administrative capital: many members of the African establishment, including three sitting heads of state, have educational ties to the Soviet Union and Russia.

A practical example of this approach is the activities of the Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation “Russia–Africa: Educational and Technological Cooperation”, which consistently develops the infrastructure for technological cooperation. With its involvement, innovation hubs have already been established in South Africa and Tanzania, while a “blue economy” hub is being developed in the Seychelles. These platforms are becoming pivotal pillars for systematic interaction between the state, academia, and business. In the longer term, this will facilitate the replication of successful practices, mitigate risks, and ensure the long-term sustainability of partnerships.

The session will serve as a platform for discussing practical frameworks for Russia–Africa cooperation. Participants will review approaches to selecting priority countries, establishing joint project management offices (PMOs), localising manufacturing, and training personnel. Special attention will be dedicated to project support tools that ensure their sustainability and scalability.

Which technologies and areas of expertise are genuinely in demand among African partners? In which sectors do Russian companies offer competitive solutions? How should the discrepancies between African regions and national markets be taken into account? Which models for localising production and training personnel are the most realistic? In what manner can the Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation “Russia – Africa: Educational and Technological Cooperation” function as a one-stop shop to support Russian projects in Africa?