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Call for Submissions: Industrial Experiment Competition (Russia)

Deadline: 16-Dec-2025

The Industrial Experiment Competition by the Vladimir Potanin Charitable Foundation funds projects that revitalize industrial heritage sites across Russia. Museums and cultural organizations can receive up to 10 million rubles for transforming old industrial assets into cultural, educational, and social resources. This program supports long-term heritage preservation, innovation, and institutional growth.

Industrial Experiment Competition: Grant Funding for Revitalizing Industrial Heritage in Russia

The Vladimir Potanin Charitable Foundation is accepting applications for its Industrial Experiment Competition, a national program supporting the transformation of industrial heritage into vibrant cultural and social assets. The initiative promotes innovation in museum practice, encourages sustainable revitalization, and strengthens institutions working with historic industrial sites.

Purpose of the Competition

The competition aims to:

  • Promote best practices in industrial heritage revitalization

  • Expand the role of museums in interpreting industrial history

  • Strengthen long-term social and cultural impact

  • Support sustainable institutional development

  • Encourage openness to new museum formats and community engagement

  • Increase awareness of industrial heritage as a cultural and socio-economic resource

What the Grant Supports

The competition funds projects focused on restoring or reimagining industrial sites that are at least 40 years old. These may include:

  • Former production facilities

  • Transport and logistics structures

  • Agricultural or storage buildings

  • Engineering and machinery sites

  • Social infrastructure related to industrial operations

  • Industrial equipment and associated assets

These sites must be linked directly or indirectly to industrial processes.

Funding Amounts

  • Total program fund: 175 million rubles

  • Additional restoration fund: 50 million rubles for conservation/restoration tasks

  • Industrial Start category: up to 5 million rubles

  • Plant-Museum, Industrial Upgrade, New Heights categories: up to 10 million rubles

  • Restoration allowance: up to 25% of the maximum grant may be requested for restoration and conservation work

Project Duration

  • Projects must last 18–24 months

  • Activities must be feasible and completed within this time frame

Who Is Eligible?

Eligibility applies to both individuals and organizations.

Eligible Applicants

  • Full-time employees of:

    • Russian museums

    • Cultural heritage organizations

    • Institutions working with industrial heritage

  • Applicants must have worked at least 6 months in the field prior to the deadline.

Eligible Organizations

  • Operating within the Russian Federation

  • Non-profit legal entities

  • Publicly accessible (with open communication channels)

  • Formally registered for at least 6 months before the application deadline

Application Submission Rules

  • An organization may submit multiple applications through different employees.

  • Each individual applicant may submit only one application.

  • In the “New Heights” category, only one application per organization is allowed.

Why This Competition Matters

This initiative helps preserve Russia’s industrial legacy while promoting:

  • Sustainable cultural development

  • New museum formats and public engagement

  • Skills development in heritage management

  • Economic and social revitalization of industrial regions

  • Broader public access to historical industrial knowledge

Industrial heritage, when properly interpreted, strengthens community identity and supports cultural tourism, education, and regional innovation.

How to Apply

Follow these steps to submit a strong application:

1. Review Eligibility Requirements

Ensure both the applicant and organization meet all criteria. Confirm proper registration and the ability to implement an 18–24 month project.

2. Select the Appropriate Category

Choose among:

  • Industrial Start

  • Plant-Museum

  • Industrial Upgrade

  • New Heights

Match your project’s scale, maturity, and goals with the right category.

3. Prepare Your Project Proposal

Include:

  • Clear project goals

  • Description of the industrial site

  • Proposed conservation or restoration actions

  • Planned activities and timeline

  • Expected cultural and social impact

  • Risk assessment and mitigation plan

  • Long-term sustainability strategy

  • Budget with detailed justification

4. Highlight Partnerships

Demonstrate commitments from:

  • Local authorities

  • Cultural institutions

  • Technical or engineering partners

  • Community organizations

Strong partnerships significantly increase evaluation scores.

5. Submit Before the Deadline

Ensure documents are complete, accurate, and follow all formatting rules. Late or incomplete applications are rejected automatically.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting unclear or overly complex project descriptions

  • Providing unrealistic budgets

  • Failing to demonstrate organizational capacity

  • Insufficient justification of the site’s heritage value

  • Missing required documents or eligibility proofs

  • Underestimating long-term sustainability requirements

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are evaluated using the following metrics:

  • Compliance with formal criteria

  • Clarity, logic, and coherence of the proposal

  • Professionalism and experience of the applicant

  • Achievements and management capacity

  • Relevance to the competition’s goals

  • Realism and sustainability of the project

  • Quality of partnerships

  • Strength and competency of the project team

  • Budget transparency and feasibility

FAQ

1. What types of industrial sites qualify?

Any industrial site at least 40 years old, including production plants, transport structures, agricultural facilities, engineering works, or industrial equipment tied to historical industrial activity.

2. Can my organization submit more than one application?

Yes. An organization may submit multiple applications via different employees, except in the “New Heights” category, which allows only one application per organization.

3. What is the maximum funding amount?

Up to 10 million rubles depending on the category. An additional 25% of the maximum possible grant can be requested for restoration activities.

4. How long should the project last?

Projects must run for 18–24 months with clear milestones and a feasible timeline.

5. Who reviews the applications?

Independent experts assess proposals based on professionalism, project relevance, sustainability, risk management, and budget logic.

6. Can restoration be the main focus of the project?

No. Restoration can complement the project (up to 25% of funding) but cannot be the primary objective.

7. Are new organizations eligible?

Yes, provided they have been registered for at least six months before the application deadline.

Conclusion

The Industrial Experiment Competition offers a significant opportunity for Russian museums and cultural heritage organizations to preserve industrial history through innovative, community-centered projects. With substantial funding, clear evaluation criteria, and strong institutional support, the program empowers organizations to transform aging industrial sites into sustainable cultural assets that benefit society for decades to come.

For more information, visit Vladimir Potanin Charitable Foundation.