💰 IRI to Support Over 140 Projects with 4.6 Billion RUB in Funding

A total of 143 initiatives will receive support, focusing on education, the preservation of the cultural code, and addressing pressing social issues.

Neural Networks in the Service of Meaning

Under the specialized competition for AI-driven content, 42 projects were selected for funding. As IRI CEO Alexey Goreslavsky noted, AI is evolving into a powerful instrument for conveying meaningful messages rather than being a tool solely for entertainment.

A significant portion of the winners (10 projects) are laureates of the “First Neuro-Content Cup.”

Among the most striking concepts:

• Vasnetsov: The Frontier of Legend – The classic paintings of the renowned artist will be brought to life using AI.
• Russo Futuristo – An AI-copy of a celebrity host will embark on a tour of Russian cities in the year 2226.
• Don Cucu: Green Debut – A satirical series about a cucumber building a career in the human world.
• Tolik’s Pitfalls – Instructive parables about a bear working at a pickup point.
• Kultprosvet Neuro-School – Transforming biology and geography lessons into an interactive show.

These neuro-projects will begin rolling out on social media and video platforms from July 1 to November 9. Each cycle consists of at least 30 videos.

Youth-Oriented Content

The second competition focused on the 14–35 age demographic. IRI will support 101 projects (79 blogs and 22 multi-format projects) with a total funding of 3.7 billion RUB.

“Authors are not shying away from difficult questions; rather, they are trying to make sense of them. We see more projects with clear practical utility, ranging from career guidance to protection against scammers,” Alexey Goreslavsky emphasized.

Key Themes and Winners:

• Heroes of Our Time: Projects such as Your Callsign is Hero, In the Ranks Forever, and Russian Voice.
• Vocational Guidance and Education: In the project Olga Vuzova: Colleges, Olga Buzova will inspect Russian vocational schools. Meanwhile, the travel show Road Lessons features teachers conducting classes while traveling.
• Social Sphere and Psychology: Family for Love (a guide for foster parents), Victims of Psychology (exposing fake experts), and Generation XXL (addressing the issue of obesity).
• Entertainment and Comedy: The mockumentary Window No. 6, detailing the daily life of a multifunctional government service center (MFC), and the teen comedy Glamour Girls.

All youth projects are slated for completion by November 13, 2026.

The broad range of topics—from the legacy of composer Igor Stravinsky to cybersecurity—is designed to foster a high-quality and beneficial digital environment for the new generation.