Igor Badin Proposes Establishment of Intersectoral Technological Adaptation Centers for Accelerated Import Substitution
On April 2, 2026, during the roundtable discussion "Main Directions of the EAEU Economic Development - 2045: Strategy for Business," organized by EEC, RUIE, and FBA EAC, Professor Igor Badin, an expert from the Institute for the Preservation of Shareholder Ownership, presented an initiative to establish intersectoral centers focused on technological adaptation.
Badin's presentation concluded the second session, moderated by Alexander Kotlyarsky, First Vice President of FBA EAC and member of FBA EAC Bureau. The session addressed practical mechanisms to enhance the economic and industrial potential of EAEU, with participants discussing potential solutions for implementation in the coming years.
Expanding on the practical mechanisms, Badin highlighted the systemic challenges requiring immediate attention. He noted that the current stage of industrial development is marked by significant transformations in global cooperation models. Limited access to advanced technologies, equipment, and software has necessitated rapid reconfiguration of production and technological chains. Crucial is not only the efficiency of individual enterprises but also the overall capacity of the industrial system to adapt swiftly.
Badin argued that the existing model of isolated enterprise development is insufficient to address these challenges. Parallel efforts to solve similar problems, duplication of costs for solution development and implementation, and insufficient dissemination of successful practices diminish the overall efficiency of transformation processes. In this context, mechanisms combining competitive and cooperative approaches become essential: maintaining market competition while promoting cooperation in technology, production processes, and standards.
In light of these systemic deficiencies, Igor Badin proposed intersectoral centers for technological adaptation as a specific solution. These centers aim to consolidate practical experience, accelerate the adaptation of technological solutions, and replicate effective approaches across various industries. Unlike traditional consulting formats, these centers prioritize the achievement of practical results, including process optimization and measurable economic benefits. The activities of these centers are based on a comprehensive approach incorporating operational management tools, lean production principles, and systems analysis. This transition enables moving from isolated improvements to the formation of sustainable production systems.
Special emphasis was placed on digitalization. Badin noted that the implementation of digital solutions without first optimizing processes does not yield expected results. Priority should be given to establishing an effective process model before digital support is introduced.
In the current context, import substitution challenges have become more systemic, requiring comprehensive restructuring of technological chains rather than merely replacing individual suppliers. Implementing such tasks necessitates cooperation between enterprises, formation of new production links, and intensification of interaction within integration associations. Consequently, the role of supranational institutions in coordinating and creating conditions for intersectoral interaction is increasing.
Professor Badin reported that the practical implementation of the intersectoral centers for technological adaptation system is underway. Pilot projects are being initiated, a pool of participants is being formed, and applied solutions are being accumulated to serve as a basis for scalable practices. A supplier base is being developed, which will be integrated into ERP-system as a model offering suppliers of materials, equipment, and software meeting customer requirements. Additionally, a system based on a mathematical model of control points is being created to identify potential issues in processes before they result in losses.
According to Igor Badin, participation in this system offers businesses additional opportunities to access proven technological solutions, reduce development and implementation costs, and expand their cooperative networks.
He emphasized that in the context of the external environment's transformation, the ability to adapt systematically and rapidly has become a key factor in competitiveness. Intersectoral centers for technological adaptation can be considered as fundamental tools for developing this ability at the industry level. At the current stage, a core of participants in this model is being formed, creating additional opportunities for enterprises to actively participate in the emerging industrial development architecture.
Igor Badin's proposal effectively shifts the logic of import substitution from point-based component replacement to the restructuring of the entire production system through cooperation between competitors. Intersectoral centers for technological adaptation can serve as the missing link in transitioning from declarations of technological sovereignty to operational mechanisms. Scaling up this model to the EAEU level could not only accelerate enterprise adaptation but also create a new, more resilient industrial architecture for the Union, less dependent on imported solutions.