Strive for an idea: Russia is preparing to launch a new stage of technological development

Russia has to take a huge step forward and launch a new stage of technological development based on its own developments. Vladimir Putin stated this on July 3 at the plenary session of the ASI forum "Strong Ideas for a New Age." Domestic brands already cover a wide variety of industries, including high-tech, the president said. The forum participants presented many ideas, including on topical environmental issues. For example, it was proposed to create a national plan for the restoration of nature, the creation and restoration of protective forest belts, as well as to develop a strategy for the provision of fresh water and its use. Does Russia have a chance to become the main water superpower of the 21st century and why Vladimir Putin remembered Isaac Asimov — in the Izvestia article.

How many initiatives have Russians sent to develop the country

On July 3, the Russia National Center in Moscow became the venue for the annual forum "Strong Ideas for a New Age." Vladimir Putin traditionally takes part in it: here Russians can personally present to the head of state their initiatives to improve the lives of people and the country as a whole.

Hundreds of members of the public and experts gathered at the site. In 2025 alone, residents sent over 35,000 proposals to ASI, which is 2.5 times more than in the first year. In just five years of the forum, the number of projects submitted by the participants has exceeded 120 thousand.

— Many of our citizens can show their creative, business initiative, present their teams and the results of their work, compete, and in a fair and open competition, to promote what these teams and these people have managed to do, to confirm their competitiveness. And not only in the Russian market, but also with access to international markets, which makes us very happy," said Vladimir Putin.

Thousands of the best initiatives receive support every year, and the most significant ideas are sent to the authorities, he recalled. For example, the chairman of VEB.Igor Shuvalov of the Russian Federation said that the state corporation has received over 30,000 initiatives this year, and the 100 most important ones will be sent to the government for working with ministries.

The forum has already acquired an international character — citizens from 17 countries, including Azerbaijan, Belarus, Germany, India, China, the USA and Ethiopia, have sent their ideas this year. Among the Russian regions, Bashkiria, Moscow, Mordovia, as well as the Nizhny Novgorod and Saratov regions became the leaders in the number of applications. Vladimir Putin said that it is especially necessary to support small, just starting scientific and business teams.

Year by year, the Russian economy is proving its confidence and capacity in development, says Natalia Poluyanova, a member of the State Duma Committee on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. Today, its further strengthening requires both the development of major research centers and the support of small expert groups that can also offer their solutions.

— Our economy, which was recently called by some experts a raw material economy, is now showing its vivid multidirectionality. We understand that it is necessary to develop science, technology and technology for the further development of the economy. And today it is one of the brightest accents that is being made by both the president and all structures involved in the preparation and development of relevant programs," the deputy told Izvestia.

The Russian Federation is on the threshold of a new stage of technological development

This year, applications for participation in the forum were accepted in five areas: entrepreneurial, human resources, technological, environmental and climate national initiatives, as well as social ones.

The latter turned out to be one of the most in demand. One of the participants proposed an automated assessment of the effectiveness of depreciation charges for housing and communal services and tracking the actual depreciation of its facilities — this, according to the author of the idea, should save the budget about 5 trillion rubles. Vladimir Putin recalled that in the housing and communal services issue, it is not wear and tear that is important, but timely decisions to support the industry. And here, obviously, we cannot do without the development of technology. However, the Russian Federation just has to make a huge step forward in this area.

— It is with the participation of talented, enthusiastic people that we have to make a huge step forward, and in fact, launch a new stage of technological development. It should, in the full sense of the word, become a new time for Russia," the head of state noted.

Vladimir Putin stated that the country has already made a leap forward, for example, in the field of drone production. He recalled that decisions have been taken to develop this area, and interest in modern Russian products is also being shown abroad. At the same time, new technologies will help Russia in less obvious ways, for example, in fighting forest fires in Siberia.

— You know, a few years ago there, when we were still actively communicating with European leaders, one of these leaders told me: somehow we are very disappointed with how Russia is fighting fires in Siberia. I say, have you been there? Only by plane 700 km or a thousand in one direction and in the other. It's like pouring gold on top of the dust. You see, but new technologies, they will allow us to get closer to solving these problems," said Vladimir Putin.

Can water become a resource for economic development

The ecology was also of particular concern to the forum participants. A farmer from Melitopol told the president about how climate change, in particular, the loss of forest belts, adversely affects yields. The participant proposed to develop a national plan for the restoration of nature, including the creation and restoration of protective forest belts. The President promised that all tools to support agricultural producers in returning land to agricultural turnover will be extended to new regions. Moreover, he demanded not to allow the destruction of forest plantations for the construction of cottages, although he noted that residential housing needs to be developed.

— Protective forest belts in our country were created about 70 years ago. They significantly reduce wind erosion of the soil, especially in open areas where there are few forests. Accordingly, soil fertility and moisture are preserved, which has a positive effect on yields," Yulia Ogloblina, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Agrarian Issues, told Izvestia. — The restoration proposal is very relevant, it is necessary to monitor all forest belts, calculate their volume, describe their condition and, based on these data, develop the necessary measures.

Another participant drew attention to the problem of water imbalance in the world. According to him, in a couple of decades, two thirds of the population will suffer from water scarcity: countries will pay for this with increased morbidity, ecosystem degradation and loss of biodiversity. He proposed to the president to create a comprehensive strategy for the provision of fresh water and its use, since Russia has every reason to become a water superpower of the 21st century. Putin stressed that water resources really give Russia huge competitive advantages.

"It is absolutely necessary to act extremely rationally <...> If we use water as a resource for economic development, then we must assume that we are provided with water, on the one hand, but on the other hand, it is distributed unevenly," the head of state said.

How domestic brands are developing

Of course, the forum paid special attention to the development of Russian brands. Today, the Russian Federation has built a unique mechanism to support industries and the development of the economy as a whole: many Russian products are created on the basis of its own developments, the president noted. He promised that the Russian authorities would support such initiatives. Moreover, Vladimir Putin got acquainted with some of them clearly. At the forum site, he visited the exhibition of participants of the growing Russian brands competition "Know our People". The head of state even took a taste of natural lemonade, which became an alternative to the well-known carbonated drinks with added sugar. The President was interested in the mango and chili-flavored drink. "This is instead of any energy drinks," the president noted.

The founder of a natural lemonade company promised Vladimir Putin to send a jar of a new drink with the probiotic beta-glucan to lower cholesterol levels.

— Our new brands, which is very important, are in different industries. I've just looked at the exhibition, it's both food and clothing, but it's also high-tech, including the use of artificial intelligence. And what is very important: that this is no longer reverse engineering, it is no longer something that has been disassembled, reassembled and worked on through import substitution — no. Many products appear on the basis of their own developments," the president noted.

However, Vladimir Putin called improving the quality of life of citizens the most important meaning of scientific and technological achievements. Speaking about the development of robotics, he recalled the main law of the writer Isaac Asimov: "An American science fiction writer once said this in his book Round Dance, in my opinion, back in the forties, 42nd or 43rd year. By the way, he is of Russian, Russian origin: "The main thing is that the robot does not harm humans," the head of state concluded.