Tomsk Oblast

When Imperial Russia decided in 1888 to establish its first university east of the Volga, it chose Tomsk—a decision that would shape Siberia's intellectual infrastructure for over a century. Tomsk State University became the foundation for systematic exploration and development of Siberian natural resources. Today, it comprises 22 faculties serving 18,000 students, leads the global SecNet network studying Siberia's unique scientific installations, and employs 24 Russian Academy of Sciences members.

The city doubled down on technical education in 1896 with Tomsk Polytechnic University, Siberia's first engineering institution. Now ranked among Russia's top 10 universities and world top 400, TPU focuses on materials science, nuclear medicine, Arctic studies, big data, and green energy. More than 15,000 students from 40 countries study here.

This concentration of educational capital makes Tomsk Oblast unusual in Russia. Rather than extractive industry or agricultural production, the region's economy runs on knowledge export. The university system provides trained scientists and engineers to the broader Siberian economy while conducting research that drives technological development.

But the model faces pressure. In March 2022, TSU's rector was suspended by the European University Association following the Russian Union of Rectors' support for the Ukraine invasion. International partnerships—long a source of prestige and funding—have contracted. Whether Tomsk can maintain world-class research in increasing isolation remains uncertain.

For 2026, the oblast's trajectory depends on whether intellectual infrastructure can substitute for international integration, or whether sanctions will gradually erode the educational ecosystem that took 135 years to build.