20.04.2012
The first Summit of innovation economy creators, organized by Skolkovo Foundation together with Expert RA, took place on April 19 in the Moscow School of Management. The Summit was based on the “Expert” media-holding analytical study, resulting in making a rating of the world 30 leaders in the world innovation economy, 13 of whom found time to come to Moscow and share their experience of properly establishing innovation centers, have a dialogue with the Russian development institutions.
The Summit was visited by Dov Fruman, one of the Intel founders, Pertti Huuskonen, a founder of Finnish technoparks’ system, Igal Erlich, a founder of all Izraeli venture industry, John Kao, Hillary Clinton adviser on innovations and competition, Sven-Tor Holm, ex-consultant of Australian and Chinese governments on innovations, Chintai Shi, Taiwan government adviser on science and technology.
Stanislav Naumov, vice-president of Skolkovo Foundation on interacting with the State bodies and development of public relations and regional policies opened the conference saying that the current world contains about a thousand innovation centers, and 40 years ago there were no more than a dozen. Thus it is possible to analyze a unique experience in the area to avoid repeating “mistakes of the others”, although facing difficulties is quite normal, he said.
“After its first crisis any system regulates and develops itself and becomes viable the way it should be”, the Skolkovo Foundation vice-president stressed.
The innovation leaders discussed vital issues, like “Innovation development centers: world experience and Russian approach”, “Innovation reproduction environment: global trends and Russian specifics”, “Innovation growth regional centers: instruments, technologies, business-approach”, held a number of master-classes for students “Technologies for establishing innovation centers”.
According to the Summit participants, innovation centers should be free from the State regulation, develop long-term strategy, have a recongizable brand and get investment support from large international corporations. Experts say that Skolkovo can and should become independent system for “growing” innovation projects. The forum pasrticipants were not insistent of finding a universal receipt for a successful innovation center but noted Skolkovo was moving in the right direction.
On April 20 another set of master-classes discussed issues of incubation of innovation startups, risk capital attraction and deveopment of efficient technopark infrastructure. Skolkovo Open University, Moscow State University, Open Innovation Union students and postgraduates were engaged in master-classes.
Foreign guests favored importance of an international dialogue and agreed to develop ties in the interests of all the world innovation players.