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The Skolkovo Innovation Center is a high technology business area at Mozhaysky District in Moscow, Russia. [1] [2] [3] Russia's lack of entrepreneurial spirit led to government intervention in patents and the limitation of Russian tech companies within regional operations.
As corporations and individuals register their residency in the city, they can receive financial assistance to realize their proposed projects and ideas. [4] Skolkovo was first announced on 12 November 2009 by then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. [5] The complex is headed by Viktor Vekselberg.
In March 2010, Vekselberg announced the necessity of developing a special legal code for Skolkovo and emphasized the need to offer a tax holiday lasting 5–7 years. [6] In April 2010, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev charged the government with working out legal, administrative, tax, and customs regulations for Skolkovo. [7] In May 2010, Medvedev introduced two bills regulating working conditions in Skolkovo. The bills were adopted by the State Duma in September of that year [8] and on 28 September 2010, the President of the Russian Federation signed the bills into federal law. [9] [10] In August 2010, Medvedev introduced a bill easing migratory policies in regards to Skolkovo. [11]
On 20 August 2010, a new government decree regulating visas for participants of the Skolkovo project was published. According to this decree, specialized and highly skilled foreign nationals who arrive in Russia with the purpose of securing employment at Skolkovo will be granted a visa for a term of up to 30 days. In the event of successful job placement they can then obtain a work visa for a term of 3 years. [12]
A new highway was opened connecting Skolkovo to the MKAD in June 2010. [13]
The innovation center was initially financed primarily from the Russian federal budget. However, over the years the amount of federal funding has decreased in relation to private sector funding. The center's 2010 budget was 3.9 Billion RUB. An additional 22 Billion RUB was planned for 2012 and 17.3 Billion RUB in 2013. [14] [15]
Skolkovo includes five "clusters" specializing in different areas. These include IT, Energy, Nuclear Technologies, Biomedicine and Space Technologies. [16]
The IT cluster is tasked with creating an effective model for successful commercialization of IT technologies in Russia. Over 450 companies have signed up for the IT cluster. [17]
The Energy Efficient Technologies cluster aims to introduce breakthrough technologies focused on the reduction of energy consumption by industrial, housing and municipal infrastructure facilities. Today over 80 companies are on board for the energy efficiency cluster. [18]
The Nuclear Technologies cluster aims to encourage the competitiveness of nuclear power markets and develop breakthrough technologies and products. [19]
The strategic goal of this cluster is to create an ecosystem for biomedical innovation. In order to achieve this goal, the best practices of leading biotechnology and biomedical research centers were studied. More than 215 companies signed on for the Biomedical Technologies cluster. [20]
The Space Technology and Telecommunications cluster is intended to strengthen Russia's position in the respective industries. The scope of activity is wide: from space tourism to satellite navigation systems. Russian companies aim to increase their market share in this global market, the total volume of which is estimated at $300 billion. [21]
There are examples of cooperation between the clusters. For example, in 2012 clusters of Information Technologies and Biomedical Technologies organized joint contest on Mobile Diagnostic Device "Skolkovo M.D." [22] and FRUCT was named the contest winner.
Skolkovo Softlanding Program is a special program for high-tech foreign companies willing to expand to the Russian market. It bridges the gap between startups from all around the world and the opportunities available to them in Russia. It helps innovators, small and medium-sized companies to find their success on the Russian market by connecting them to the Russian companies, investors, business angels, mentors, partners and professionals. The duration of the program is one week, it takes place three times a year (March, June, October). Starting from 2019 ten cohorts have been conducted, 234 companies from 55 countries have participated in the program. When the program is over foreign startups may apply for Skolkovo resident status on order to start receiving tax benefits. and get opportunity to apply for grants.
Daria Shunina, Head of the Skolkovo Softlanding Program says: "Our main mission is to help foreign companies to expand to the Russian market or at least to learn more about it".
The main elements of The city are the University and a Technopark. The city will also feature a Congress Center, office buildings, laboratories, fitness centers and stores. The city will measure roughly 400 hectares and have a permanent population of 21,000. Employees, including commuters from Moscow and surrounding regions, will comprise about 31,000 people. [23]
At least 50% of the energy consumed by the city come from renewable sources, according to the initial plans. The well-developed water system uses significantly less water by Russian standards without compromising comfort or hygiene. The transport system prioritizes walking and cycling. The use of vehicles with internal combustion engines is prohibited in the city. Energy passive and active buildings that do not require energy from the outside and even produce more energy than they consume will be built at Skolkovo. Household and municipal waste will be disposed of in the most environmentally friendly way possible – leveraging the use of plasma incinerator technology. [24]
In July 2012, IBM and five Russian innovation companies: the Skolkovo Foundation, Rusnano, Rostelecom, Russian Venture Company [25] and ITFY, signed a collaboration agreement to foster a culture of applied research and commercialization and attract key talent and investment from around the world in the area of microelectronics. [26]
The agreement will give the Electronics Technology Center access to IBM's intellectual property for chip design.
The cloud will help unite Russia's dispersed microelectronics development teams and provide access to advanced technologies and best practice and foster global collaboration.
The agreement was signed by Victor Vekselberg, President of the Skolkovo Foundation; Anatoly Chubais, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Rosnano; Alexander Provotorov, President and Chairman of the Management Board of Rostelecom; Igor Agamirzian, CEO of Russian Venture Company; Evgeny Babayan, Chairman of the Board, ITFY; Leonid Svatkov, CEO ITFY; Bruno Di Leo, Senior Vice President IBM; and Kirill Korniliev, Country General Manager, IBM Russia & CIS.
The ETC will initially focus on microelectronics design; however in the future it may be extended to other fields where cloud computing can support collaborative development projects. [27]
Skolkovo's Open University (OpUS) isn't an educational institution in the typical sense of the word, because graduating students don't receive a diploma. Instead, OpUS is a source of prospective Masters and PhD candidates, for the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (SkolTech), and interns for Skolkovo partner companies. The educational plan of OpUS includes lecture series, master classes and courses by leading scientists, thinkers and practitioners. Students acquire knowledge in the priority research and development areas of Skolkovo (information technology, biomedicine, energetics, space and nuclear technology). In addition, they have an opportunity to gain knowledge in academic and innovative competencies (foresight, forecasting, thinking, projecting), entrepreneur competence, experience in teamwork on projecting and solving inter-disciplinary problems. [28]
OpUS was opened on 21 April 2011 in Moscow. There are currently more than 250 students enrolled in OpUS.
The Skolkovo Innovation Center features several innovative buildings, particularly the Hypercube and Matrex by Bernaskoni, [29] [30] and the East Ring by Herzog & de Meuron. [31]
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International partners include:
The Skolkovo Center publishes annual reports about the project, showing some data from their own sources. [38]
Skolkovo Human capital
Revenues earned by Skolkovo participants (billion ₽)
Raised investments (billion ₽)
International Patents (pcs)
Sources by Skolkovo
Viktor Felixovich Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born Russian-Israeli-Cypriot oligarch, billionaire, and businessman. He is the owner and president of Renova Group, a Russian conglomerate. According to Forbes, as of November 2021, his fortune is estimated at $9.3 billion, making him the 262nd richest person in the world.
The American Business Association of Russian-Speaking Professionals (AmBAR) is a non-profit organization founded to support the Russian-speaking professional community in the United States. The organization's headquarters are located in Palo Alto, California.
Silicon Wadi is a region in Israel that serves as one of the global centres for advanced technology. It spans the Israeli coastal plain, and is cited as among the reasons why the country has become known as the world's "start-up nation". The highest concentrations of high-tech industry in the region can be found around Tel Aviv, including small clusters around the cities of Raʽanana, Petah Tikva, Herzliya, Netanya, Rehovot, and Ness Ziona. Additional clusters of high-tech industry can be found in Haifa and Caesarea. More recent high-tech establishments have been raised in cities such as Jerusalem and Beersheba, in towns such as Yokneam Illit, and in Airport City.
The Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO is a graduate business school located near Skolkovo, Moscow Oblast, close to Moscow, Russia. The school, founded in 2006, is a joint project between Russian and international business leaders.
RVC (JSC) is a state fund of funds and a development institute of the Russian Federation.
The Medvedev modernisation programme was an initiative launched by President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev in 2009, which aimed at modernising Russia's economy and society, decreasing the country's dependency on oil and gas revenues and creating a diversified economy based on high technology and innovation. The programme was based on the top 5 priorities for the country's technological development: efficient energy use; nuclear technology; information technology; medical technology and pharmaceuticals; and space technology in combination with telecommunications.
Russian Silicon Valley may refer to:
Skolkovo is a rural locality in Odintsovsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) west of MKAD near the Setun River. Population: 325.
The Skolkovo Foundation is the principal agency, as a part of VEB.RF group (ex-Vnesheconombank), responsible for the Russian Skolkovo Innovation Center, a scientific and technological center for the development and commercialization of advanced technologies. It is a non-profit organization founded in 2010 and charged by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev with creating a new science and technology development center in the Moscow suburb of Skolkovo. The Skolkovo innovation system comprises the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) established in partnership with MIT, corporate R&D centers, business incubators, private seed and venture funds, and start-up companies, as well as residential space and social infrastructure. It is a city with over 30,000 residents and employees.
The Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, or Skoltech, is a private institute located in Moscow, Russia. Skoltech was established in 2011 as part of a multi-year partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Globally, the university in 2023 was ranked # 702 in the world by US News & World Report. It was among the number 65 young university in the world according to Nature Index in 2021. That same year Skoltech entered the subject ranking in physics among young universities for the first time, and named a rapidly rising university. In February 2022 MIT ended its partnership with Skoltech in protest of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The presidency of Dmitry Medvedev began on 8 May 2008, when he became the 3rd President of the Russian Federation. Medvedev was the Head of the Presidential Administration during the 2nd term of Vladimir Putin as president, and the Chairman of Gazprom oil company. Dmitry Medvedev was the youngest Russian leader since 1918 at the time of his inauguration.
Open Innovations is an annual international forum that focuses on new technologies and perspectives of the international cooperation on innovations.
RRT Global is an international company that specializes in the development of technologies for oil refining process. The company's CEO, Douglas Harris, is a former vice president of TNK-BP. The company is a resident of the Energy Efficient Technologies cluster of the Skolkovo Foundation. RRT Global is the first company to implement the conversion of light gasoline fractions in a combined process.
Technopolis Moscow is a specialized territory for innovative production development in Moscow, created under the control of SUE Stroyexprom.
Boris Bernaskoni ; is a Russian architect, engineer, publisher, the recipient of various architectural awards and a participant in various architectural exhibitions. He is the founder of the BERNASKONI bureau. Boris Bernaskoni is a founding member of the Urban Council Board at the Skolkovo Innovation Center in Moscow. Boris Bernaskoni first achieved international recognition in 2008 when he won an international competition for the Perm Museum of Modern Art that was juried by Peter Zumthor and had participants like Coop Himmelbau, Zaha Hadid and Asymptote. His Matrex project received high acclaim at the 15th Venice Biennale of Architecture in 2016. In 2019 Bernaskoni participated in several events at the Davos World Economic Forum, talking on transformable architecture in the cities of the future and urban digitalization.
Olga Uskova is a Russian tech entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist. She is a founder and president of Cognitive Technologies, one of the leading software development companies in Russia and Eastern Europe. Since 2012 she is head of the Department of Engineering Cybernetics at National University of Science and Technology MISiS.
The Moscow International Medical Cluster (MIMC) is a medical infrastructure project built in Moscow in the area of the Skolkovo Innovation Center; it is aimed at developing the health care ecosystem of Moscow and the Moscow Region. It is planned to establish clinics, training centers and multiprofile research institutions in the MIMC area.
Alexander "Sasha" Galitsky is an international technology entrepreneur. He is the founder of ELVIS-PLUS and the founder and managing partner of Almaz Capital, and involved in many technology companies in Europe and the USA. In the Soviet years, he was a defense scientist in the Soviet space industry. Alexander Galitsky identities himself a Ukrainian.
Nanosemantics Lab is a Russian IT company specializing in natural language processing (NLP), computer vision (CV), speech technologies (ASR/TTS) and creation of interactive dialog interfaces, particularly chatbots and virtual assistants, based on artificial intelligence (AI). The company uses neural network platforms, including its own-made platform PuzzleLib which works on Russian-made microprocessor architecture Elbrus and Russia-based Astra Linux operating system. The company was founded in 2005 by Igor Ashmanov and Natalya Kaspersky.