President of Tatarstan takes part in innovation forum “Interra-2012”

IV international innovation forum “Interra-2012” has opened in Novosibirsk. The Tatarstan delegation led by the President Rustam Minnikhanov takes part in the event.

The international innovation forum “Interra” is held in Novosibirsk for the fourth time. This year the event is dedicated to the theme “Innovations for life”. Participants, experts and guests will focus on innovative projects and ideas for improving the quality of life.

Conferences, round tables and presentations will be held within the framework of “Interra-2012”. Young innovators, world-known scientists and experts, businessmen and representatives of state authorities participate in the forum. The Summit of innovative regions of Russia will be an important part of the event.

Governor of the Novosibirsk region Vasily Yurchenko welcomed participants of the forum “Interra-2012” at Novosibirsk theatre “Globus”. He also read out the greeting telegram on behalf of Chairman of the Russian Government Dmitry Medvedev.

Plenary session of the Summit of innovative regions of Russia was the first event of the forum. President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, Governor of the Novosibirsk region Vasily Yurchenko, Governor of the Krasnoyarsk krai Lev Kuznetsov, representatives of scientific and business community took part in discussion.

The Tatarstan President, Board Chairman of the Association of innovative regions of Russia Rustam Minnikhanov told about activity of the association. He noted that formation of innovative economy of the state is not possible without active participation of regions.

According to the RT President, consolidated position of several regions is more influential than the opinion proposed by a certain subject. He told that at first the Association of innovative regions of Russia included eight regions, and four regions were accepted in 2012. Relevant committees were established for solving urgent problems.

Rustam Minnikhanov said that priority tasks of regional economies are attraction of investments, realization of projects, creation of new and modernization of old production works. The Tatarstan President told about Tatarstan experience in this sphere. Thus, earnings from oil production and oil processing are used in republic for creation and development of scientific research centers, investment projects and infrastructure.

Tatarstan’s scientific centers hold leading positions in the country, innovative infrastructure comprised of technoparks and industrial parks was created.

The investment committee of the Association of innovative regions of Russia deals with selection of most perspective projects, attraction of funding of institutional and private investors and with use of the stock market.

Rustam Minnikhanov informed that the association performs a large amount of work in the sphere of cluster approaches to economic development.

The association takes a proactive stand in terms of generation of legislative initiatives.

Representatives of other regions - members of the association, Russian and foreign experts, presented reports at the session.