Digital bet: the government will focus on the national project "Data Economy"
In 2026, the government will focus on the implementation of the national project "Data Economy", as well as on the implementation of priority projects of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, the office of Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of Staff of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Grigorenko reported on the results of the implementation of priority projects on digitalization in 2025. Among the key areas of work are the reengineering of public services and the creation of new approaches to countering fraud. Izvestia investigated how the implementation of these projects would affect citizens and businesses.
Citizens' demand
Updating the mechanisms for providing public services, as well as launching digital solutions aimed at countering fraud, are among the most significant areas of digital development for society, the office of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko told Izvestia. At the same time, a significant part of IT initiatives - including the creation of government information platforms, analytical panels for management decisions, and the introduction of digital technologies into the work of federal and regional authorities — remains outside the field of everyday attention of ordinary users.
— This is the so-called backup of a lot of work on digital transformation that the government is doing today. Improving the quality of public services and launching new services, including to protect against fraudsters, is the "front" of this work. Today, any citizen can already use them," the Deputy Prime Minister's office noted.
There is also a noticeable interest on the part of the population in tools to help counter fraud. In particular, over 20 million people have already taken advantage of the opportunity to voluntarily limit the issuance of loans and borrowings. In addition, the ban on connecting additional SIM cards was issued by more than 800 thousand users.
— We see the effect of launching measures against fraudsters. Last year, for the first time, a decrease in the number of registered digital crimes was recorded by 10% compared to the same period in 2024, the office said. — The government will continue to work to protect citizens from fraudsters: a second package of measures has been prepared, including about 20 initiatives.
The Government is not only focused on developing individual digital solutions and translating them into a more user-friendly, proactive model of interaction, but is also consistently strengthening the technological foundation. In order for electronic services to be used by residents throughout the country, including hard-to-reach areas, it is necessary to achieve the widespread distribution of stable and inexpensive access to the Network.
Changing approaches
The functioning of a modern state today is unthinkable without the widespread introduction of digital technologies, so the choice of this area as one of the key strategic guidelines looks logical, Olga Pozdnyakova, head of the Popular Front, told Izvestia. Analytics". The faster transition of services to an electronic format, as well as the increasing openness and accessibility of information, imply the need to simultaneously solve both organizational and technical problems.
According to her, standardized processes and uniform rules of execution contribute to greater transparency, and the use of big data analytics and personalized approaches makes services more convenient and tailored to a specific person.
— Transparent and unified digital interfaces should reduce administrative barriers and costs for businesses. Transparency of processes, including calculations, and the ability of service recipients to influence the prompt correction of technical errors should be key here," she said.
It is planned that by 2030 all authorities will completely switch to electronic document management and will work through a single digital platform, she recalled. To do this, we need to develop the infrastructure, update the rules and ensure the coordinated work of all levels of government. It is important that digital government services are available to every citizen, regardless of whether they live in a large city or in a remote region.
The implementation of projects within the framework of the "Data Economy" will simplify the interaction of citizens and businesses with the government, Tatyana Tirskikh, Managing Director for Sovereign and Regional ratings at Expert RA agency, confirmed to Izvestia.
— Services will become faster and more convenient. Many issues can be resolved online, without paper documents and personal visits," she said. — Public Services services will be based on the principle of life situations, and mobile electronic signature will facilitate the signing of documents. Anti-fraud solutions will reduce the risks of fraud and increase trust in digital services, including in trade and finance.
The full digitalization of the economy is designed for the period up to 2030, but the process may slow down due to a shortage of IT specialists, dependence on foreign software, problems with data quality and financing. In some difficult areas, deadlines may shift, but in general, the goal remains achievable with consistent government and business work.
At the end of 2024, the level of digital maturity in Russia was estimated at 34%, and in 2025 it increased to 45%, Petr Shcherbachenko, associate professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, told Izvestia. This year, the figure should reach 56%.
"Achieving a high level of digitalization is directly related to the development of cybersecurity, the protection of personal, commercial and government data, as well as the training of qualified specialists to support the digital infrastructure," he said. — In the context of sanctions, technological sovereignty and the support of domestic hardware and software developers are gaining additional importance.
The implementation of these initiatives as a whole should bring a positive effect for citizens and businesses, Maxim Chirkov, Associate professor of the Department of Economic Policy and Economic Measurements at the State University of Economics, told Izvestia. A significant part of the measures is directly related to countering fraud, which is especially in demand now. In general, digital development in Russia is progressing quite confidently, and today the country occupies a strong position in terms of information infrastructure for the population and companies, so such steps seem justified and useful.
— Speaking of complete digitalization, it is difficult to determine the moment when it can be considered completed. Rather, it is a continuous process of introducing new solutions and technologies, which does not have a clear time frame. At the same time, digital transformation is accompanied by certain difficulties," he noted. — These are the risks of abuse associated with anonymity and lack of personal contact, as well as restrictions arising from sanctions pressure.
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