The issues of strengthening of the role of national development institutions are now firmly on the Russian economic agenda. Today national development institutions are one of the most important areas of the socio-economic policy of the Russian Federation. In the managing of the country's economy competitiveness, special attention is paid to institutional aspects, the factor of innovative development and the formation of investment growth drivers. The author analyzes the history of formation and current activities of some national institutions that currently have a significant impact on the development of the Russian economy.