Creative Russian VR/AR Technologies Are Quietly Reshaping the World

Russian developers are making waves in the VR/AR space, with solutions that span industries—from education and engineering to medicine, culture, and retail. As the global XR market evolves, these homegrown innovations are proving competitive, scalable, and impactful.

From Art Installations to Digital Twins

Virtual reality immerses users in fully digital environments, while augmented reality overlays digital objects onto the physical world. Russian developers are leveraging both to transform industries including industrial manufacturing, healthcare, real estate, and education.

At the Skolkovo Innovation Center, Itorum produces AR glasses used for industrial equipment inspection and maintenance. These allow remote experts to provide live guidance to on-site workers.

VR Concept offers full-scale refinery models where engineers and clients can collaboratively explore and revise designs in real time. Their platform supports 3D object uploads and digital twin workflows and is used by clients across Russia, China, India, South Korea, and the UAE.

In healthcare, AR is enabling lower-risk surgeries. At Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, surgeons use AR goggles to visualize patient anatomy in 3D based on MRI and CT scans—seeing bones, tissues, and vessels layered over the patient’s body.

Startup Fibrum creates cultural AR applications, such as the interactive project 'The Road to Victory,' which uses AR headsets to deliver immersive WWII museum experiences.

A New Era for Education and Training

Russian schools and colleges are incorporating VR/AR into curricula. At Isilkul Pedagogical College, students ages 14–18 learn game design and VR/AR app development, including 3D modeling and simulation.

At Belgorod State Technological University, students use VR Concept’s platform to work with BIM models of buildings, developing practical skills in virtual prototyping and digital construction.

Public and Private Investment Fuel Innovation

Government programs and tech clusters like Skolkovo are accelerating VR/AR growth. Public funds—such as the Bortnik Fund, IIDF, and Skolkovo Foundation—support emerging startups like Fibrum, Cuberlit, and VR Concept.

In 2025, Russia plans to host its first national AR/VR festivals in Kazan and Innopolis, designed to foster collaboration and spotlight new talent.

Going Global: Russian XR Enters the World Stage

Russian firms are now expanding globally. Moscow-based Hello.IO, a Skolkovo resident, delivers immersive solutions to major clients including Gazprom, Microsoft, Yandex, LVMH, and Ford.

Spider Group, based in Krasnodar, produces AR experiences for global exhibitions like MIPIM (France) and Expo Real (Germany). Meanwhile, House Tech builds apps, games, and AR projects across Europe, the U.S., and Russia.

These success stories highlight the increasing relevance of Russian VR/AR in the global marketplace—and the country’s growing influence in the future of immersive technology.