International practices in creation of innovative clusters discussed in Kazan

On April 23 Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov took part in a plenary session of international conference “Partnership for development of clusters” organized by the Association of innovative regions of Russia and Russian Ministry of Economic Development at Kazan IT park.

The conference aims to study modern models of development of regional innovative clusters as a tool for increasing competitiveness and development of partnership of Russian and European regions and innovative clusters.

Delegations from European regions with powerful clusters that might be interesting for Russia, such as manufacturing of products with high added value in oil and gas industry, advanced technologies and materials, biotechnologies and biomedicine, representatives of research and technology parks, small and medium-size business, engineering centres, are taking part in the conference. Russia is presented by 13 regions, members of the Association of innovative regions of Russia, employees of federal ministries, heads of regional infrastructure objects, universities and development institutes.

Most topical issues to be discussed are increasing competitiveness of regional innovative clusters, studying modern development models of US and Europe innovative clusters, development of mechanisms of government support of regional innovative clusters, and implementation of joint international projects by enterprises – members of Russian clusters, and foreign clusters.

Industrial enterprises of Kama innovative territorial production cluster will be presented at the conference.

Before the session Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov thanked partners and colleagues from Russian regions and foreign countries for participation in the event.

CEO of the Association of innovative regions of Russia Ivan Bortnik offered foreign partners to make suggestions concerning development of cooperation with the Association.

Representatives of foreign companies said they are willing to cooperate with Russian partners in creation of innovative enterprises, educational and scientific research. In particular, a French cluster “Pegas” is interesting for the Association of innovative regions of Russia as the centre of European aerospace industry.

Foreign guests believe that Tatarstan can offer lots of opportunities for implementation of innovative projects.

European businessmen noted that notwithstanding difficult relations between countries, they are, first of all, interested in personal contacts.

Tatarstan President welcomed guests and participants of the event at a plenary session. He stressed that members of the Association of innovative regions of Russia are main entities in implementation of major federal projects in the sphere of creation of engineering centres and industrial clusters.

Ivan Bortnik thanked foreign colleagues for coming to the conference in spite of difficult political situation.