Last week, Moscow hosted the third edition of “Open Innovations,” a huge, internationally-focused tech forum and exhibition. The event was held at Technopolis Moscow, a large area in the eastern part of the Russian capital dedicated to developing high technology industries.
At the site, representatives from more than 50 countries gathered. China was the special guest country, with Chinese premier Li Keqiang personally attending the event. Last year’s special guest countries were France and Finland.
During the plenary session, the Chinese official and his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, shared their views at “Innovative new map of the world: how to reduce the technological gap between countries.”
$20 billion in state support since 2007
In his report, the Russian prime minister outlined his own vision for the development of innovation since 2007 when, in his words, in Russia “they first began to innovate seriously.” Medvedev said that the authorities have, in recent years, “substantially increased public investment in innovation.” Over seven years, 13,000 projects worth 700 billion rubles (around $20 billion) have been financed.
Medvedev is the initiator of Skolkovo, the giant tech hub under construction on the outskirts of Moscow, in which the Russian government has invested several billion dollars so far.
The authorities are also trying to boost the innovative potential of the largest state-owned companies. The government has taken on the role of consumer of new technologies, as the law on the contract system established a priority on the supply of this type of product, reminded Medvedev.
Further, Medvedev highlighted the need for developing partnerships in innovation with China. In his words, the two countries have “colossal opportunities for cooperation.” Medvedev concedes that, “the share of high-tech production in commerce in relation to our country is one of highest, although I must admit quite frankly that there is a certain imbalance in favor of our Chinese partners.”
Skolkovo President Viktor Vekselberg, left, and PM Dmitry Medvedev, center, visiting the Skolkovo Foundation stand with Li Keqiang on Tuesday. Photo: sk.ru
More transparency, fewer barriers: Can China inspire Russia?
Li Keqiang also spoke about the necessity to collaborate with Russia in the field of new technologies, along with all other countries. The main part of his speech was dedicated to the issue of the secret to China’s rapid development. According to the speaker, the answer lies first of all “in the hard work and wisdom of the Chinese people,” as well as in the government’s reforms and greater openness.
“We are opening the gates to the outside world, are gradually expanding the openness, and strengthening innovative capacity and competitiveness,” stated the Chinese premier.
While Medvedev devoted the majority of his speech to government regulation of the innovation sphere, Li Keqiang highlighted the importance of supporting bottom-up initiatives. His government’s priorities are the simplification of administrative formalities and the regulation of the legislative base “in order to give investors greater rights regarding independent management and control of their own profits,” as well as create an environment “to protect innovations.”
In line with this approach, Evgeny Kuznetsov of RVC, the Russian state’s venture arm for supporting innovation and a co-organizer of the forum, commented that, “we hope that the economy of Russia, as a whole, will become more entrepreneurial and lively. In this sense, I very much liked the report of China, which, in Russia, is associated with strict governmental control, even though they are building innovations like everywhere else in the world: through openness, flexibility, and the removal of barriers.”
Russia’s GLONASS and China’s Beidou had a common booth this year at Open Innovations
Russo-Chinese smart homes and smart cities
Several agreements regarding international technological cooperation were signed during the forum. One of the agreements concerned a Russian-Chinese investment, entrepreneurship and scientific program in the fields of smart homes and smart cities. The deal was inked by RVC, Moscow State University (MSU), and Chinese construction and investment corporation ZHUODA Group.
One of the main strategies for cooperation between the new partners will be the search of innovative venture capital projects and new technologies in the sphere of building automation, in particular, construction robotics, of highly-effective transport logistics systems, technology for monitoring the environment and the strength of buildings and structures, as well as technology for production and innovative building materials.
For the Russian side, the agreement will open the potential of creating venture and other university-based funds and thus attract investment to the scientific developments of Russian scientists, noted the Russian online publication RBC Innovations.
Another Russo-Chinese agreement involves a Russian innovation technology degassing of coal seams. Developed by NOVAS, a Skolkovo resident, the technology is to be launched on the Chinese market via a joint venture with Fortune (Beijing) Technology Company, a specialist in the promotion of innovation.
Source: Open Innovations, RBC Innovations
