While the prime minister was touring the exhibition, Deputy Economic Development Minister Oleg Savelyev, who accompanied Mr Putin, was telling him that Russia has four special economic zones focused on introducing new technology – in Zelenograd, Dubna, St Petersburg, and Tomsk.

Each of the four zones also has its own specific focus ranging from equipment for power engineering to innovative pharmaceutical production.

Mr Savelyev showed Mr Putin new e-book reader displays – the so-called e-ink displays, which can be read in bright sunlight and make the device lighter, more efficient and more reliable.

At the next stand the prime minister literally found himself in the spotlight of light emitting diodes. State corporation RusNano plans to participate in the production of LED spotlights at one of the special economic zones.