The First EU–Russia Innovation Forum.

The Forum was organized within the international project of the Euro-Russian Innovation Corridor (ERIC), aimed to the development of EU-Russia collaboration in innovation field based on the cooperation experience between St. Petersburgand South-Eastern Finland.

ERIC is considered to be an important tool in the future "common space" ofRussia and the European Union, promoting free exchange of information, interpenetration of technology and successful innovation.

The Forum is organized by the City of Lappeenranta, Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) and the European–Russian InnoPartnership.

The Forum focuses on the following specific themes:

• Modernizing our Industries – strengthening the partnership in industrial modernization;

• Commercializing Russian Innovations - realizing the potential of Russian innovations within the EU–Russia collaboration;

• Promoting Energy Efficiency - renewing the competitiveness of the European–Russian economic area;

• EU–Russia Innovation Collaboration Roadmaps 2010–2013

- Innovation Policy Dialogue

- Business Cooperation

- Research and University Cooperation

- Innovation & Business Support Cooperation

The EU–Russia Innovation Forum gathered over 770 experts from 12 countries – the European and Russian policy makers, business leaders, innovation experts and researchers.

The following events were also held within the Forum:

- Innovation Exhibition 2010. Purpose of the exhibition is to boost internationalization of Russian innovations by providing Russian companies with an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their new Innovations in the Forum.

- Innovation Competition 2010. Purpose of the competition is to boost internationalization of Russian technology start-ups and innovations. Aim is to find and recognize new potential High Technology Business Ideas and New Business Models.

Prime Minister of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of Finland Matti Vanhanen participated in the Prime-time Session of the First EU-Russia Innovation Forum on May 27, 2010.

Vladimir Putin in his speech singled out the cooperation in the field of energy saving technologies and environmental issues as the priority areas of Russia and Finland collaboration. The Head of the Russian Government also noted the necessity to harmonize the existing standards between Russia and EU countries in order to make standard system does not interfere, but serves to the scientific and technical cooperation.

Concerning the research universities, Vladimir Putin reminded that a reform of higher education is being held in Russia and national universities are being organized within this reform. In addition, the legislation in the field of intellectual property has been seriously updated and 217 Federal Law, contributing the intellectual property created in universities to be commercialized. The Prime Minister said, that universities and R&D organizations "have acquired the right to create an innovation company." "It was absolutely new page for us. Until now it was absolutely prohibited to set up R&D companies. Such companies can easily move to a simplified tax system ", - said Putin.

Vladimir Putin paid a great attention to the management of intellectual property in his speech. The Prime Minister noted that substantial funds are laid out for the establishment of technological and industrial parks as infrastructural tools for development of small innovative companies; he also raised the issue of creating nanotechnology centers as a continuation of this process.

At the conclusion of his speech, Vladimir Putin invited all people to participate in the Second EU-Russia Innovation Forum, which will be held this autumn in St. Petersburg.

Besides, the Heads of both Governments discussed the issues on cooperation in trade, transport, energy, scientific and technical innovations, forestry and agricultural sectors, joint development of border and customs infrastructure, as well as issues of regional cooperation in Northern Europe.]

Within the First EU–Russia Innovation Forum Corporation of Nanotechnologies (RUSNANO) and government-owned investment company Suomen Teollisuussijoitus Oy (Finnish Industry Investment Ltd) signed an agreement on a Finno-Russian nanotechnology investment program. The aim of the cooperation is to co-invest a total of MEUR 50 in rapidly growing nanotechnology companies, operating in both Finland and Russia. The investment program will last three years and may be extended.

Finnish Industry Investment and RUSNANO are evaluating possible target companies and will invest in them jointly and on equal terms. “We have reviewed the deal flow and identified a number of interesting companies. The first joint investment can be implemented within six months,” comments Industry Investment’s President & CEO, Juha Marjosola.

“This co-investment program will allow us to consolidate our resources and experience in developing innovative companies, thus opening new opportunities for Russian technologies to enter global markets," said RUSNANO’s CEO Anatoly Chubais.

During this Forum the delegation from Innovative Technopark “Idea” and the representatives from RUSNANO discussed the issues on establishment of Nanotechnological Center on the basis of Technopark "Idea" and Technopolis "Himgrad". The results of this discussion will be announced at the meeting to be held on June 2, 2010 in Technopark "Idea" with the participation of Deputy Director General of RUSNANO Andrey Svinarenko and the First Vice-Premier of Tatarstan Republic Ravil Muratov.

Under previously signed Memorandums of cooperation with Lahti Science and Business Park, the representatives of Technopark "Idea" and Technopark "Idea-South-east” visited a number of companies - the potential partners of Tatar-Finnish project.

It should be mentioned that Memorandum of Understanding on Environment and Energy Technology and Related Innovation System was signed January 20, 2009 between the Innovative Technopark “Idea” and Lahti Science andBusiness Park. And Technopark “Idea-South-east” (Leninogorsk) and Lahti Science and Business Park signed the Memorandum of Understanding on organizing the production of special equipment intended for community services by equipping of KAMAZ trucks with additional equipment made according to the Finland technologies.

Source: tpidea.ru, photo by ITAR-TASS, RIA news