Molecular Electronics Research Institute participated in the forum «Innoprom. Saudi Arabia 2026»

Molecular Electronics Research Institute (MERI) participated in Innoprom. Saudi Arabia Forum as part of more than 250 Russian companies presenting high-tech products and services with high export potential. At the Forum's plenary session speeches were given by Anton Alikhanov (Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation), Rustam Minnikhanov (Head of the Republic of Tatarstan), Veronika Nikishina (General Director of the Russian Export Center), Al-Khorayef (Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia Bandar), Abdullah Al-Dubaikhi (Deputy Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia) and other officials.

This year marks 100 years of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Russia, which continue to actively build economic ties. In 2025 Saudi Arabia was a partner country of the international industrial forum «Innoprom», this year Saudi Arabia will become a partner of St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. «Innoprom. Saudi Arabia Forum is the first Russian industrial exhibition in the Middle East and in April 2026 the Russian Export Center plans to hold the festival-fair in Riyadh named «Made in Russia».

MERI (part of the Element Group of Companies, MOEX: ELMT) presented at Moscow Government booth opportunities for technology transfer, development of technological processes and new materials, a range of licensable IP blocks, as well as samples of the final products that have been developed by MERI (chips for Russian transport cards, bank cards, foreign passports and other identification documents). At the Saudi side’s invitation, the delegation of MERI visited the Saudi Arabian External Economic Relations Development Agency’s booth.

At the plenary session, the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Anton Alikhanov noted that Saudi Arabia has adopted the Vision 2030 program with the aim of diversifying the economy and reducing dependence on oil. He emphasized the importance of finding contact points of this program with Russian priority projects. Anton Alikhanov noted that the automotive and aviation industries, energy and pharmaceuticals are the main areas of cooperation. In addition, he drew attention to the interest of Saudi Arabian entrepreneurs in cooperating with Russian colleagues in the field of high technologies and noted the need to move from a trade format to long-term industrial partnerships.

Veronika Nikishina (CEO of the Russian Export Center) said that Innoprom. Saudi Arabia Forum is a key event for the bilateral technological partnership development. She noted the parties’ systematic work in removing barriers for business and establishing regular interaction, emphasizing that countries of the Persian Gulf are an important direction for the development of Russian non-commodity and non-energy exports.

«Despite the trend of deglobalization in the world economy, no company in the semiconductor industry in the world will be able to provide a full cycle of creating commercially successful products within a single country. International cooperation is necessary and that is why integrating into the emerging new scientific and technological chains becomes particularly important. Saudi Arabia is forming the foundation of the future semiconductor industry by developing design directions and the scientific base, actively attracting foreign companies to cooperate,» - emphasized the head of the department of industry cooperation and interaction with the public sector Yulia Manzhura (Head of national projects in MERI). She added that the Heads of the National Semiconductor Hub (NSH) and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) national projects are looking for opportunities to develop their own technologies, showing interest both in developments in the field of microelectronics and in educational programs for improving the qualifications of their engineers. In this case, MERI has the necessary scientific base and extensive competencies for the implementation of projects in these areas.