What Moscow State University does

Moscow State University (MGU named after M.V. Lomonosov, МГУ имени М.В. Ломоносова) is a federal state-funded higher education institution founded in 1755 under the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education, operating from its main campus on Lenin Hills (Lomonosov) in Moscow. It delivers undergraduate, specialist, master's, doctoral, and preparatory programs across 45+ faculties spanning natural sciences, humanities, engineering, economics, law, and arts, and serves domestic Russian students primarily through state-funded budget places alongside contract-paying domestic and international students. The institution runs a research enterprise through dedicated institutes, laboratories, and the 10-million-item Scientific Library, with international book exchange partnerships spanning 352 organizations across 55 countries and approximately 65,000 active annual readers.

The research portfolio is anchored by a 72-qubit neutral-atom quantum computer developed in partnership with Rosatom (State Atomic Energy Corporation), achieving 94% two-qubit gate fidelity and operating as the third Russian quantum system to exceed 70 qubits, building on the 50-qubit prototype unveiled in December 2024. MSU operates a dedicated Faculty of Artificial Intelligence and an AI Center conducting research in graph neural networks for 3D object recognition, universal transcriptomic aging clocks (tAge), neural network training methods for delayed-control-signal systems, explainable molecular analysis using GNNs, and predictive analytics for digital advertising auctions. The university also maintains a Kolmogorov School-Internat for gifted students (established 1988) and a University Gymnasium (opened 2016) as talent feeder pipelines, with the Lomonosov and Pokori Vorobiovy Gory olympiads serving as primary admissions pathways.

Revenue is generated primarily through federal budget appropriations for state-funded education places, contract-based tuition from fee-paying students (particularly international enrollees and certain domestic programs), and research grants from national quantum roadmap programs and Rosatom-supported initiatives. Distribution operates through the Central Admissions Commission (CPK), 40+ individual faculty admissions offices, nine Russian/CIS branch campuses (Sevastopol, Sarov, Dubna, Grozny, Astana, Tashkent, Baku, Dushanbe, Yerevan), and the joint MSU-PPI University in Shenzhen, China, alongside a dedicated International Office for foreign student recruitment. The institution does not publicly disclose revenue figures, consistent with its federal entity status under Federal Law No. 259-FZ (November 10, 2009), which established MSU's special status alongside St. Petersburg State University.

Name

Moscow State University

Legal name

Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего образования «Московский государственный университет имени М.В.Ломоносова»

Website

https://msu.ru

Company type

Private

Founded year

1755

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Moscow State University (МГУ имени М.В. Ломоносова) is Russia's oldest federal university (founded 1755), delivering higher education and doctoral programs across 45+ faculties, operating a 72-qubit quantum computing program with Rosatom, and maintaining 10+ branch campuses across Russia, the CIS, and China.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Research Universities with National Laboratories/Big Science Facilities (EDAHAAAJ), Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI), STEM-Focused Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAE)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• University degree programs
• Scientific research services
• Doctoral postgraduate programs
• International student education

Headquarters

HQ city

Moscow

HQ country

Russia

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Federal budget funding: As a federal state-funded educational institution, MSU receives government appropriations for educational services, classified as budget-funded places for eligible students.
2. Contract-based tuition: Revenue from tuition-paying students enrolled on contractual basis outside budget-funded places, particularly for international students and certain domestic programs.
3. Research grants and contracts: Funding from national quantum roadmap programs, Rosatom-supported quantum research, and international scientific collaboration grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Moscow State University is Russia's oldest and most comprehensive federal university, offering undergraduate, specialist, master's, and doctoral degree programs across more than 40 faculties spanning natural sciences, humanities, engineering, law, economics, and arts. The university also conducts extensive scientific research, operates a 72-qubit quantum computing prototype in partnership with Rosatom, and delivers pre-university preparation, international student programs, and continuing professional education.

Product overview

Moscow State University (МГУ) is a comprehensive multi-faculty university offering a broad portfolio of educational services and research capabilities. The university provides undergraduate, specialist, master's, and doctoral programs across 45+ faculties covering natural sciences, humanities, engineering, economics, and arts. Research infrastructure includes a 72-qubit quantum computer prototype developed with Rosatom, the AI Center conducting neural network research, and specialized research institutes. The university also offers pre-university preparation courses through its faculties, international student programs, and additional continuing education services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Educational Programs (Undergraduate, Specialist, Master's) Comprehensive higher education programs across more than 40 faculties including natural sciences, humanities, engineering, economics, law, and arts, offered at undergraduate (bachelor's), specialist, and master's levels for Russian and international students.
• Doctoral Programs (Aspirantura) Research and teaching personnel preparation programs across all MSU faculties following specialized admission rules, leading to candidate and doctoral of sciences degrees.
• 72-Qubit Quantum Computer Prototype Neutral-atom quantum computer developed in partnership with Rosatom, achieving 94% accuracy in two-qubit logical operations, featuring a three-zone register architecture for computing operations, quantum state storage, and information readout. Available for advanced quantum computing research.
• Scientific Research Services Comprehensive research services across disciplines including physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, computer science, and humanities delivered through faculty laboratories and research institutes, supported by national and international research grants.
• Pre-University Preparation Courses Preparatory courses across 30+ MSU faculties covering mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, languages, history, and other subjects for school students preparing for university admission and olympiad participation.
• International Student Programs Educational programs for international students including Russian language preparation courses (offered through the Russian Language and Culture Institute) and degree programs taught in Russian and English, with recruitment handled by a dedicated International Office.
• Additional Education Programs Continuing education and professional development programs across various disciplines for working professionals, delivered by MSU faculties and institutes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% two-qubit gate fidelity achieved in quantum operations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and major.

• Rosneft (PJSC)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2026Three-party cooperation agreement signed at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2026 between MSU, MSU-PPI (Shenzhen), and Rosneft focusing on cooperation in oil and energy sector research and development.
• India (National Quantum Mission)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026India pitched for quantum computing collaboration with Russia at first BRICS Quantum Technologies Forum in Moscow, seeking to partner under India's US$730 million National Quantum Mission. BRICS nations adopted joint statement reaffirming commitment to cooperation in quantum technologies.
• Tsinghua UniversitystrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026MSU Rector met with Tsinghua University delegation led by President Li Lu to discuss academic cooperation and collaboration between Russia's top university and China's leading institution.
• Peking Polytechnic University (PPI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Joint establishment and operation of MSU-PPI University in Shenzhen, China - a comprehensive partnership creating an international campus offering dual-degree programs.
• Rosatom (State Atomic Energy Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 January 2026MSU partnered with Rosatom to deploy a 72-qubit neutral-atom quantum computer prototype, the third Russian quantum computer to exceed 70 qubits. The system uses a three-zone architecture for computing operations, quantum state storage, and information readout, supporting Russia's national quantum roadmap targeting fault-tolerant quantum computers with several hundred qubits by 2030.
• Russian Quantum CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Collaboration with Russian Quantum Center on 50-qubit prototype quantum computer unveiled December 2024 and subsequent 72-qubit prototype development. The partnership forms the foundation of Russia's quantum computing ecosystem.
• Lebedev Physical InstitutemajorTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2025Collaboration on Rydberg atom quantum computing research achieving 94% two-qubit operation fidelity using neutral rubidium-87 atoms. Joint research validated through numerical modelling with custom Julia package.
• Technical University of MunichmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2025International research partnership on quantum computing with neutral atoms, contributing to the 94% two-qubit operation fidelity achievement in Rydberg excitation scheme.
• BRICS nations (Quantum Technologies Forum)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025BRICS Quantum Technologies Forum held in Moscow with participation of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa; concluded with joint statement on continued cooperation in quantum technologies including scientific development, applications, education, and workforce development.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Skoltech (Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology): Modern Russian research university with strong industry ties in AI, energy, and quantum. Smaller and more specialized than MSU but a fast-moving competitor for federal R&D funding and corporate partnerships.
• ITMO University: St. Petersburg-based STEM university with strong computer science and quantum optics research. Smaller and more specialized than MSU but a credible emerging competitor in the same Russian federal university system.

Direct peers

• ETH Zurich: Europe's leading STEM-focused public research university with similar scale, federal-style governance, and strength in quantum, AI, and computational research. Direct benchmark for MSU's quantum and AI ambitions.
• Peking University: China's most comprehensive top-tier research university, a natural comparison point for MSU as a flagship national university with full disciplinary coverage and large research output.
• Indian Institute of Science (IISc): India's premier research institution and a BRICS counterpart actively exploring quantum collaboration with MSU/Russia. Comparable as a federally funded flagship research university with strong STEM and engineering programs.
• Tsinghua University: China's top comprehensive research university and MSU's principal Chinese partner (joint MSU-PPI campus in Shenzhen, active rector-level dialogue). Comparable scale, STEM depth, and government-backed national research mandate.
• Saint Petersburg State University: Russia's only other federally designated university with special status under Federal Law 259-FZ. Comparable as a comprehensive, multi-faculty national research university with similar scale, branch campuses, and government funding model.
• Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT): Russia's leading STEM-focused research university, also federally funded. Direct competitor for top STEM talent and overlapping research strengths in physics, computer science, and applied mathematics.
• HSE University (Higher School of Economics): One of Russia's top modern research universities with strong economics, social science, and computer science faculties. Comparable in scale and a rising competitor for international student recruitment and research funding.

Broad incumbents

• University of Cambridge: Global top-5 comprehensive research university with multi-faculty structure and centuries of brand heritage comparable to MSU's 270+ year history. Useful benchmark for international brand positioning and research output per faculty.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VA_Sadovnichiy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/msu
• Facebookfacebook.com/176576422388633
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lomonosov-moscow-state-university

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Moscow State University