Import substitution with a focus on science: a project from Tatarstan creates analogues of liquid silicone rubbers

Alena Lakomkina from the Republic of Tatarstan became one of the 30 winners of the federal youth entrepreneurship competition "Create OURS". Her research and production project aimed at import substitution in the field of polymer materials received a grant of 1 million rubles. 

"Youth entrepreneurship is one of the drivers of the development of small and medium–sized businesses in Russia, which today operates in almost all sectors of the economy. New high-tech industries are being opened, new technologies are being developed, and infrastructure is being created to improve people's comfort and quality of life. When it comes to youth, most often a dream or idea appears first, then it develops into a hobby, and then you make it your profession. And such contests as "Create OURS" help and give the first impulse on the path of this transformation "from a dream to a business." Today, one in four of the nearly 4.2 million individual entrepreneurs in our country belongs to the youth. Through the SME Corporation, we will continue to support this trend by creating conditions and implementing effective tools to support youth entrepreneurship in Russia," said Alexander Isaevich, CEO of the SME Corporation.

Alyona graduated from Kazan Federal University with a Master's degree in Chemistry and has been engaged in scientific research in the field of organometallic chemistry since 2018. In 2023, together with like-minded people, she decided to develop her own production in the field of polymer materials, focusing on the development of domestic analogues of liquid silicone rubbers.

"After negotiations with a number of industrial enterprises, it became clear that there is a shortage of such materials in Russia. We conducted a series of studies, received the first prototypes and successfully tested them at a paper silicification company," said Alyona.

Winning the competition and receiving the grant became an important milestone for the team and confirmed the relevance of the project in the professional community. The funds will be used to purchase raw materials and equipment necessary for the transition from the pilot testing stage to mass production.

According to the entrepreneur, for her, the grant is not just financing, but recognition of the importance and relevance of the project for the Russian industry. And such support from the foundation allows us to accelerate the pace of development, increase the technological readiness of the product and form a sustainable business model. 

The funds received will allow the team to improve the formulation, adapt production processes, conduct additional tests and expand production facilities. In the long term, the project aims to localize critical components, reduce production costs, and reduce the industry's dependence on imports.

Alyona and her team are also actively using measures to support entrepreneurship implemented in Tatarstan by the Ministry of Economy of the Republic and subordinate development institutes. According to her, training on the Digital SME.RF Platform provided the necessary knowledge in financial management, strategic planning and marketing. This has created a solid foundation for growth and effective use of grant funds. 

Lakomkina Project clearly shows how scientific research, entrepreneurial initiative and government support can work in synergy, contributing to the development of high-tech production in Russia.

The federal competition "Create OURS" is a joint project of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, the SME Corporation and the Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative Foundation. In 2025, it gathered more than 7 thousand participants from 14 to 28 years old from all regions of the country. According to the results of the competitive selection, 30 winners received grants in the amount of 1 million rubles and underwent an acceleration program from leading SME experts.