Business Experts Shared how to Make Russian Companies International

Leading entrepreneurs and experts discussed peculiarities of Russian business at the annual conference “International scientific-technical cooperation programs: how to make St. Petersburg companies international,” which took place in St. Petersburg on September 29. Participants of the roundtable meetings discussed tech transfer, partner attraction methods, programs of research financing as well as business project support. Philip Kazin, dean of the Department of Technological Management and Innovation, and Nina Yanykina, head of Project Management and Innovation Department, also took part in this conference.

One of the most discussed topics was “Horizon-2020,” the biggest EU Research and Innovation program. According to speakers this program has strict requirements for its candidates. Thus it is very hard to receive significant financial support. Horizon-2020`s main priorities are breakthrough research programs, industrial achievements and social oriented projects. To get financial support a company has to organize an economic interest group, and present a joint project, which will be evaluated by experienced experts. Then the best applicants will sign a grant agreement. A grant will be divided into several parts. Some money will be given at the beginning of the program. Then to receive other parts a company will have to present interim reports.

According to Sergei Troshkov, “Cursor Oy, Kotka-Hamina Regional Development Company`s” international investment specialist, Finnish support program “To upgrade education using modern technologies” differs from “Horizon-2020”. It is not so large; its participants receive noncommercial profit. Thanks to this program a company gets an opportunity to become international without investments.

“This program covers almost all Russian cities. Thanks to it Russian companies can enter European market in order to understand what business projects they can realize abroad. “To upgrade education using modern technologies” offers a variety of support programs such as invitations for key business meetings and state support. We give an opportunity to “test” your business in Finland extending influence area,” noted Mr. Troshkov.

Maksim Balanev, coordinator of the discussion and executive director of “Enterprise Europe Network,” underlined that it is very useful for entrepreneurs to develop your business abroad, where market environment, people and other conditions differ from local. European partners are ready to assist Russians supporting them financially and giving valuable recommendations. To attract partners all participants should take part in international meetings such as annual startup conference “Slush”, which happens in Helsinki.

Taking part in “technology transfer” roundtable Nina Yanykina presented ITMO University case. The expert noted what innovative projects have been realized by the University.

“Analyzing competitive projects we came to the point that business suffers from the lack of technological brokerage. It means that an expert communicate with both university and entrepreneurial area assisting businessmen and scientists to understand each other. Unfortunately we have no such specialists now,” said Ms. Yanykina.

Currently ITMO University aims to train Russian technological brokers. These specialists will deal with intellectual property issues, predict innovative area and so on. ITMO University is ready to support both small and large enterprises.

“First of all universities have to develop special training programs for tech brokers. Now we are going to organize a joint educational project together with “Russian Venture Company” attracting Russian government,” said Nina Yanykina.

In recent years universities develop tech broker community, which becomes more and more effective. It gives an opportunity to collaborate with key educational and research institutions such as Russian academy of sciences.