Rustam Minnikhanov: “Integrated systemic work is important in innovative development”

Creation of conditions for development and support of innovative business in Russia must be the common task of regional authorities and federal center, the Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said at Moscow international forum for innovative development "Open innovations".

The forum opened at the exhibition center “Expocenter” today and will finish on November 2.

The forum is aimed at creation of international communication platform to search for new solutions in the sphere of innovative development and commercialization of advanced technologies.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev participated in a plenary session of the forum. The Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov spoke at the panel discussion “Regional specifics for innovative business”. He noted that every region has its own competitive advantages and experience in innovative development. Rustam Minnikhanov told about work implemented in Tatarstan in this sphere.

“I suppose that infrastructure is an important factor in promotion of innovations. We were establishing different funds, business incubators, technoparks, industrial parks, special economic zone,” the Tatarstan President said. “We did not have much practice at first, but gradually we understood the process,” he explained.

“For instance, we established technopark “Idea”, then we realised that major strategic problems could not be solved. And we started searching for a strategic investor. “ROSNANO” became our strategic investor,” Rustam Minnikhanov said.

“Education is the second more important area. For a long time we did not pay due regard to school education. But now it is of great priority for us,” the Tatarstan President stressed.

Modernization of higher school is being aggressively realised in Tatarstan. One federal and two scientific and research universities are functioning in republic. Serious modernization of laboratory facilities is underway. Teachers are improving their skills at main Russian and foreign universities.

“Creation of infrastructure and development of education require investments. I hope that programs will be financed by the federal center,” the Tatarstan President said.