The "Technopolis Moscow" Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has secured first place in the 4th Sustainability Ranking of Russian Special Economic Zones
The "Technopolis Moscow" Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has secured first place in the 4th Sustainability Ranking of Russian Special Economic Zones, maintaining its lead for the second year in a row. The "St. Petersburg" SEZ took second place, while the "Kulibin" SEZ ranked third. The findings of the study—prepared by the Association of Clusters, Technology Parks, and SEZs of Russia (AKIT RF) with the support of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development—were presented on October 22 at the 4th International SEZ Forum in Moscow.
The ranking results were announced during an open meeting of the Expert Council. In addition to the top winners, the organizers recognized three other special economic zones in specific categories.
The "Dubna" SEZ (Moscow Region) received the "Territory of Human-Centric Care" award. The "Alga" SEZ (Republic of Bashkortostan) won in the "Systematic Approach to Sustainable Development" category, while the "Dobrograd-1" SEZ (Vladimir Region) was recognized for "Energy-Efficient and Low-Carbon Solutions."
In 2026, AKIT RF updated its research methodology. The assessment was based on 86 indicators grouped into four equally weighted areas: environmental, social, governance, and the sustainability practices of resident companies. Each area accounts for 25% of the final score.
The inclusion of a dedicated category for resident companies allows the study to account for the activities of individual enterprises alongside the performance of the SEZs' management companies. Criteria include the existence of sustainability strategies, environmental performance metrics, investments in employee training, and the disclosure of non-financial information.
"The sustainability of a special economic zone is determined, in part, by how its resident companies operate." "While a management company creates the conditions for a territory’s development, a significant portion of the environmental and social outcomes depends on the enterprises themselves. For this reason, in our updated methodology, we have designated the practices of resident companies as a separate category for assessment. For the second consecutive year, Technopolis Moscow has taken first place, maintaining a high overall score. It is important to us that this ranking helps management companies compare their approaches and identify solutions that can be applied at other industrial sites," noted Mikhail Labudin, Director of the Association of Clusters, Technology Parks, and SEZs of Russia.
In compiling the ranking, experts analyzed resource efficiency, waste management, working conditions and social support for employees, corporate governance, and engagement with resident companies. The assessment took into account performance trends, adherence to established criteria, and documented sustainable development practices.
The study is conducted by the Association of Clusters, Technology Parks, and SEZs of Russia to compare the performance of management companies across Special Economic Zones (SEZs) of varying scales and specializations. The calculations incorporate data provided by participants, official statistics, and supporting documentation.
Note: The 4th International Forum of Special Economic Zones is taking place on October 21–22, 2026, in Moscow, hosted by the Technopolis Moscow SEZ. The event is organized by the Association of Clusters, Technology Parks, and SEZs of Russia and the Technopolis Moscow SEZ, with the support of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation and the Government of Moscow.