How to automate your company with 1C using government funding

In 2023, there are two ways to do this.

Option 1

With a non-repayable grant from the Russian Foundation for the Development of Information Technologies (RFRIT)

Grants range from RUB 10 million (≈ $100,000) to RUB 6 billion (≈ $60 million). The grant covers only Russian-developed software, including projects that migrate away from foreign systems.

Applications are accepted until October 30, 2024, after which they go through a competitive selection. You can apply for new projects or for projects already under way. There are certain application requirements, but there is no need to worry. If necessary, the application can be revised, but no more than 4 times. If that does not help either, you will have to start over in the next fiscal year.

Applicant requirements:

• Have no debts (taxes, fines, late-payment penalties, insurance contributions, etc.)
• Be a fully Russian company
• Not receive other government budget funding for the same project. However, you can submit a separate application for each project.

Project requirements:

✔️ At least 20% co-financing

✔️ The project meets the criteria for particularly significant projects

✔️ The project is implemented in at least 2 stages, each lasting 3 to 9 months

✔️ Implementation period: 6 to 60 months

✔️ Implementation starts no earlier than the beginning of the fiscal year in which the government support decision is made, and no later than 6 months after the application is submitted.

✔️ The solution being implemented must be at technology readiness level (TRL) 5 or higher. 1C meets this requirement

✔️ A project is considered implemented once it reaches its planned target indicators

Application procedure and document forms

Option 2

If the RFRIT grant does not work out, you can try the Industrial Development Fund (IDF).

In this case, of course, the money is not a grant but a concessional loan that has to be repaid. Still, the terms are quite reasonable.

Key requirement: you must be an industrial company.

Terms:

✔️ Amount: RUB 100 million (≈ $1 million) to RUB 1 billion (≈ $10 million)

✔️ Term: up to 5 years

✔️ Co-financing: 20%

✔️ Interest rate: 3%. BUT! If you implement Russian equipment or software, it is 1%

✔️ Applications are accepted for projects started no more than 2 years before the application date

Required documents and detailed terms

Given that a 1C:ERP implementation project starts at around RUB 10 million (≈ $100,000), it is well worth the effort to enter the competition.

Give it a try, and it WILL work out!