Rustam Minnikhanov holds session of heads of committees of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia in Samara

On September 11, within the framework of VIII Samara interregional economic forum, Tatarstan President, Chairman of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia Rustam Minnikhanov held a session of heads of committees of the Association in Samara.

State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Oleg Fomichev, Director of the Department for small and medium business of Russian Ministry of Economic Development Natalia Larionova, Director General Fund for Promotion of Small Enterprises in Scientific and Technical Sphere Sergey Polyakov, Acting First Deputy Governor of Novosibirsk region Anatoly Sobolev, Acting Vice-Governor and Chairman of the Government of Samara region Aleksandr Nefedov took part in the session.

Opening the session, Rustam Minnikhanov said that development of clusters is a very urgent issue, especially considering current economic and geopolitical situation. He said that he supposes that support of cluster initiatives may become a key tool of social and economic development that will facilitate development of innovative enterprises and increase in labor efficiency.

This, in turn, will help solving the most important task on providing high-performance jobs and realization of strategic breakthrough projects for Russian industry, he said. Systemic approaches should be developed in this sphere and additional support for developing regional clusters should be found, Minnikhanov continued. 

Tatarstan President also thanked Presidential Administration and Russian Government for their help in development of clusters.

“Due to support rendered last year, innovative projects that are very important for increasing competitiveness of the Russian industry were implemented,” Rustam Minnikhanov said.

Speaking about priority goals to be realized this year, Minnikhanov mentioned active support of economic growth rates and reaching new development pathway in Russian regions.
 
He also noted that lack of highly skilled staff and infrastructural restrictions are key problems today.

“We should provide overall rapid development of transport, energy, engineering, social and innovative infrastructure of clusters,” he said.

In his turn Oleg Fomichev reported on prolongation of the programme of support of territorial innovative clusters and formation of the register of regional clusters.

Tatarstan President also told about experience of Vietnam and Singapore, where all big projects are implemented with measures of state support.

During the discussion Rustam Minnikhanov also noted that the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia uses opportunities on promoting its interests in State Duma not efficiently enough.

Summing up, Tatarstan President thanked participants of the meeting for constructive work and asked to prepare reports for heads of their regions.