Russian experts, entrepreneurs and officials discussed up-to-date topics connected with consumer market, import substitution, governmental support, as well as local and international cooperation.
Apart from round table meetings participants took part in a small conference initiated by “The first Saint Petersburg business incubator.” Participants intenrsted in how to start business and support it attended several workshops presented by skilled entrepreneurs and business advisors. The representatives of the "Technopark of St. Petersburg" shared its activities and talked about the extra opportunities for residents and non residents of the Technopark.
The program of the Forum also included presentations of various tech inventions. Thus ITMO University`s researchers presented the projects developed with the assistance of their partners. For example, “NPO Sopot” presented an innovative chemical for firefighting invented together with experts of International Laboratory “ Solution Chemistry of Advanced Materials and Technologies.” Mikhail Kondrakhin, engineer of Chair of IT in the Fuel and Energy Industry, talked about the multiple application of a new type of polymers. Adding different ingredients one can turn them into effective substances that are used in medicine, petroleum refining sector and agriculture. For instance,the small innovative enterprise “ChemLab” presented a hydrogel, which helped to water plants in rainless areas. Using the same basis “InnoVack`s” researchers invented a special bandage.
“It is an antiseptic medical dressing, which absorbs moisture. That is why one can use it when it`s impossible to clean a wound,” noted Mr. Kondrakhin.
The graduates of Future Technologies startup accelerator also talked about their projects. Thus Vadim Kotenev, head of Rehabot, presented a device for post-stroke rehabilitation. His colleagues, ColorIT`s representatives, demonstrated an innovative service of color laser marking. Pavel Burak, head of InNavi startup, who developed a software for indoor navigation, presented a Bluetooth tracker.
The representatives of Engineering Center “M2M Telecontrol and Instrumentation” of ITMO University shared how to implement inventions into the market by providing such activities as market research, prototype construction, coordination of engineering design processes and others.
One of the most unusual exibits was Expobot, a mobile robot, which served as interactive exhibition stand. Apart from moving aroung it also can distribute leaflets.
“Expobot has already taken part into several exhibitions. Various visitors were interesnted in different parts of its` construction depending on their fields. For instance, AD experts focused on Expobot`s ability to distribute leaflets while organizers of cosplay festivals were interested in its` engine system. That is why we decided to change Expobot`s construction by turning it into module-type,” noted Artem Kuznetsov, head of “Biotelemekhanika” small innovative enterprise.
