Students of Tatarstan received more than 1 billion rubles in grants for startups.

      Since 2022, business project initiators from the republic have won 1,032 grants of one million rubles each. In 2026, Tatarstan ranked first among regions in the number of applications for the "Student Startup" competition.

      How the "Student Startup" competition changed the lives of young entrepreneurs in Tatarstan

      The All-Russian "Student Startup" competition has significantly accelerated the development of youth technological entrepreneurship in Tatarstan over its few years of existence. Since the initiative was launched in 2022, students from the republic have received 1,032 grants of one million rubles each. In total, this amounts to over one billion rubles, which have been directed towards supporting innovative ideas from young people. For comparison, in 2022, when the competition was just starting, Tatarstan students won just over one hundred grants. Over five years, the number of winners has grown almost tenfold. This not only indicates a growing interest in entrepreneurship among youth but also reflects the quality of project development, which becomes increasingly mature and competitive each year.

      What the "Student Startup" competition offers and who is behind it

      The "Student Startup" competition is a federal program of the Innovation Support Fund, also known as the Bortnik Fund. The program helps university students financially support their business projects at the very early stages. Winners receive a grant of one million rubles to create new goods, products, technologies, or services based on their own scientific and research ideas. The money can be spent on prototype development, purchasing materials, patenting, marketing research, and other urgent needs. Importantly, the grant is provided free of charge — it does not need to be repaid if the project is indeed implemented. The initiative is part of the "University Technology Entrepreneurship Platform," launched by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia. This platform unites dozens of universities across the country and helps students turn their scientific developments into real businesses. The platform, in turn, is part of the federal project "Technologies" of the national project "Effective and Competitive Economy." Thus, support for student startups is not a one-time action but a systematic state policy aimed at developing an innovative economy and the technological sovereignty of the country.

      Startup studio based at KFU: how academic science meets real production

      A startup studio in the field of mechanical engineering has been established at Kazan Federal University in partnership with PJSC "KAMAZ" and the Investment and Venture Fund of the Republic of Tatarstan. Project financing over three years amounted to 900 million rubles. This is serious money that allows the studio not just to exist but to actively work on creating new products and technologies.

      What does the startup studio do? Its main task is to develop entrepreneurial skills and competencies among students and teachers. This is not just lectures and seminars. Students, under the guidance of experienced mentors, develop real projects that can then be implemented in enterprises. The studio has its own laboratory base, access to KAMAZ's production facilities, and the opportunity to receive feedback from engineers and technologists of active production. This approach helps avoid situations where a student comes up with something brilliant but completely unsuitable for real-life use.

      KIMB program: federal and republican funds to support university startups

      The Investment and Venture Fund of Tatarstan won a grant under the program for creating companies to invest in small businesses. The program is specifically aimed at supporting university startups. The total funding volume is 400 million rubles per year. Half of this amount comes from the federal budget, while the other half comes from the budget of the Republic of Tatarstan. Such co-financing shows that the republic is ready to invest its own funds in the development of youth entrepreneurship, rather than just relying on federal money.

      The program operates until 2028, with a possible extension until 2030. During this time, it is planned to support several dozen student projects, help them enter the market, and find their first customers. The conditions for participation in the program are designed to prevent the scattering of funds: each project undergoes a strict selection process, its technological and market potential is assessed, and then a curator is assigned to each application to help the project survive its first year.

      Tatarstan is a leader in the number of applications and project quality

      Since 2022, the republic has actively participated in the "Student Startup" competition and traditionally ranks among the top three leaders in the number of applicants and winners. This year, in the seventh round of the competition, Tatarstan took first place among all regions of Russia in the number of submitted applications. This is a significant achievement made possible by the systematic work of the Ministry of Economy of the republic, universities, and enterprises.

      What exactly influenced such success? Firstly, Tatarstan has a well-developed infrastructure for supporting youth entrepreneurship: technoparks, business incubators, coworking spaces. Secondly, an active mentoring system is in place: experienced entrepreneurs and industrial partners help students refine their ideas to a level suitable for winning the competition. Thirdly, the culture of entrepreneurship in Tatarstan's universities has changed significantly in recent years. While students were previously afraid to try, they now see examples of successful peers around them and understand that taking risks is worthwhile.

      Support system for student startups: from idea to export contract

      The Ministry of Economy of the republic and its subordinate Entrepreneurship Support Fund provide students with a comprehensive set of support measures. This is not just money, but a whole range of services that help a project grow from an idea into a functioning business. Among them are educational programs featuring lectures by practicing entrepreneurs, investors, and lawyers. Mentoring sessions where students can receive feedback from someone who has already gone from startup to large company. Round tables and seminars on the most relevant topics.

      Additionally, students receive assistance with legal entity registration, product certification, and export contract support. This is especially important for projects that are initially aimed not only at the Russian market but also at foreign markets. Students can also participate in exhibition and fair events — both regional and federal. This is an opportunity to make themselves known, find their first customers, and attract the attention of investors.

      The Center for Scientific and Technical Information, subordinate to the Ministry of Economy of the republic, assists with patent searches and research. This is critically important because many students do not even know whether what they have invented already exists. Specialists at the center conduct in-depth analyses, help prepare applications, and register the results of intellectual activity. Without a patent, a project can simply be copied, rendering all efforts futile.

      At the Cluster Development Center, student startups can participate in a comprehensive support program. What does this program include? Development of an individual project development map — essentially, a roadmap for one or two years ahead. Preparation of a business plan that can be shown to investors. Provision of engineering services: assistance in design, prototype creation, and testing. Selection of industrial partners — that is, finding enterprises that can become the first customers or co-investors. Assistance in attracting preferential financing — preferential loans, grants, subsidies.

      All of this comprises non-financial support measures that often prove to be more important than the money itself. Because money can be spent incorrectly, while a good mentor and a well-thought-out strategy help steer in the right direction from the very beginning.

      Outcome: an established ecosystem for supporting student startups

      As a result, an effective system for supporting student startups has been established in the republic. Companies created under the "Student Startup" competition are integrated into the structure of "university — profile ministry — enterprise." Eighteen universities, fourteen ministries, and over ninety industrial enterprises and organizations are involved in this process.

      This system operates as a single organism. The university provides knowledge and generates ideas. The ministry assists with documentation and connections. The enterprise offers a platform, equipment, and expertise. And the student finds themselves at the center of this ecosystem: they have support, resources, and — most importantly — faith that their idea can turn into a real business that creates jobs and new technologies.

      Tatarstan does not intend to stop at what has been achieved. Plans include expanding the network of startup studios, increasing the number of grant recipients, and involving even more students in entrepreneurial activities. After all, every successful startup means not only money for its creator but also new jobs, new taxes, and new technologies for the entire republic.

      Diana Salikhzanova