Rustam Minnikhanov delivers 2026 Address to the State Council of Tatarstan
Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov delivered his annual Address to the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan on 17th October, outlining key priorities for the region’s economic, scientific, and educational development in 2026.
The event took place at the Salikh Saidashev State Grand Concert Hall, drawing an audience of ministers, lawmakers, municipal leaders, business executives, religious figures, veterans, and representatives of the academic community — among them the Rector of Kazan Federal University, Lenar Safin.
Minnikhanov highlighted the vital contribution of the Republic’s universities to workforce development and technological innovation. He emphasized the role of higher education institutions in the implementation of the Advanced Engineering Schools program.
“Major businesses are actively involved in building the infrastructure for the training, retraining, and upskilling of industrial personnel,” he stated. “Our industrial partners help design training programs, provide facilities for internships, and ensure employment for graduates.”
Among the examples cited were the partnerships of Sibur and KAMAZ with Kazan Federal University. The companies collaborate closely with KFU on joint projects, particularly within the university’s Advanced Engineering School Cyber Auto Tech, where KAMAZ serves as a strategic partner.
Technology-driven entrepreneurship also featured prominently in Minnikhanov’s address. He pointed to strong results from national initiatives such as the University Technological Entrepreneurship Platform and the Student Startup competition. “Winners from Tatarstan have secured more than 1,000 grants worth one million rubles each,” Minnikhanov noted. “These are the future professionals of our innovation economy.”
Kazan Federal University continues to strengthen its national standing, with its students making up 6% of Student Startup winners across Russia — placing KFU among the country’s leaders in student entrepreneurship. Minnikhanov called this success a milestone in developing a new generation of higher education — the University 3.0 model.
He also tasked the Government with expanding cooperation between educational institutions and industry, ensuring active involvement of enterprises in forming state workforce training programs, and creating internship opportunities for students and young professionals at major regional companies.
The Rais underscored the growing support for science and innovation from both the Republic’s leadership and the federal government. Five of Tatarstan’s universities, including KFU, are currently participants in the national Priority 2030 program, receiving a combined 2 billion rubles in grant funding.
To address the shortage of qualified researchers, 29 youth science laboratories have been established under the Science and Universities national project, eight of which operate successfully at KFU. These labs, led by promising young scientists, are producing important results and registering intellectual property in priority research areas.
Wrapping up the educational section of his address, Minnikhanov called for deeper integration of research, industry, and education. He instructed the Government, together with the Academy of Sciences, universities, and enterprises, to ensure Tatarstan’s active participation in national projects aimed at technological leadership — from aircraft and automotive engineering to radio electronics, new materials, chemistry, agriculture, and medicine.
He also urged the creation of new interdisciplinary research fields, including unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology, and proposed incorporating these subjects into educational programs at all levels.