Tomsk Region to Maintain Its Cluster-Based Approach to Industrial Policy

The governor noted that a cluster-based industrial policy makes it possible to foster even more effective collaboration between manufacturers and scientists and to develop industrial production in key sectors.

In 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation registered three federal industrial clusters in the Tomsk Region: Forest, Timber Processing and Forestry Chemistry cluster which united five organizations, Non-Ferrous and Rare Earth Metals cluster based at the TGOK Ilmenite JSC (also comprising five organizations) and Electronics and Unmanned Technologies cluster, which brought together 13 participants, including a university for the first time.

The volume of investment in the forest cluster is estimated at eight billion rubles, and in the rare-earth cluster at six billion. Investments in the electronics and unmanned technologies cluster, which brings together industry leaders from the Tomsk Region, Moscow, and St. Petersburg, are estimated at the same amount.

For example, a member of the cluster, the Tomsk-based Cognitive Company, has developed the world’s first fully unmanned, cabinless mini-tractor capable of performing a complete cycle of specific tasks without an operator and without a GPS signal. These tasks include snow removal, cargo transportation, various agricultural tasks, and more. The Tomsk-developed vehicle is already in use at Pulkovo Airport. The mini-tractor was also presented at a specialized exhibition to Russian President Vladimir Putin and at the International Gas Forum to Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller.

In 2026–2027, the cluster’s members plan to start implementing six investment projects aimed at import substitution. These include the mass production of the mini-tractors and the manufacture of lidars, which are airborne laser scanning devices. These devices will be in demand in the automotive industry, for specialized vehicles, and in unmanned aerial vehicle systems.

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• Year 2026
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