Regional Industrial Specialization as a Driver of Russia’s Industrial Sovereignty

Abstract

Macroeconomic turbulence has created the need to strengthen Russia’s industrial sovereignty by developing high-tech sectors and enhancing the complementarity between production and innovation. Given the heterogeneity of Russia’s economic space, achieving this goal requires a strategic redistribution of functions across territories, taking into account variations in industrial competencies and sectoral structures. This article develops analytical tools to assess the economic complexity of industrial structures and individual types of activity in industrial regions, aiming to optimize the portfolio of strategic specializations and identify promising areas for development to support Russia’s industrial sovereignty. The study focuses on 22 regions, covering 71 manufacturing industries of high and medium-high technology levels. The research methodology involves evaluating indicators of economic complexity, including comparative advantages of specialization, diversity, prevalence, technological connectivity, density, and inter-industry distance. The analysis draws on employment and shipped-product data for 2023–2024 from the EMISS and FIRA PRO information systems. The analysis mapped regional industrial structures, identified regions with complex industry profiles, clarified key strategic specializations, and highlighted promising industries with potential for technological and production growth. The analysis examined how the specialization structures of Yaroslavl and Kaluga regions align with their broader industrial systems, helping to identify promising types of economic activity and potential areas for policy support. The findings provide a foundation for defining industrial policy priorities, strengthening regional production and technological capacities, and advancing Russia’s industrial sovereignty.