We and Vnesheconombank are facing a daunting challenge. The current innovative process in Russia is such that many of our developments are easier to implement in foreign countries than in Russia. I think this is wrong, and our agreement seeks to move away from this practice. Developments by our researchers must find their application within the country. We rely on capabilities of Vnesheconombank as a bank focused on innovation. Today, science needs a strong ally outside the research community. Only thus we will be able to succeed.
Vnesheconombank is actively involved in building an integrated system to support innovative projects and solutions. To this end, in 2010 we initiated the signing of a multilateral agreement on cooperation among development institutions and other stakeholders to ensure continuous financing of innovative projects at all stages of the innovative cycle. Parties to the agreement — Vnesheconombank, Rusnano, the Skolkovo Foundation, Russian Venture Company, SME Bank and a number of other development institutions — will jointly determine how to support high-potential innovative solutions in the most optimal way and promote them until the commercialisation stage.
In 2014, Vnesheconombank and the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) signed an agreement that became a next step in developing our innovation support relations. The agreement provides for joint efforts on development, implementation, independent review and professional education in the field of science and new technologies and seeks to implement the government’s innovative policy.
In 2014, Vnesheconombank co-organised the Moscow International Forum for Innovative Development ‘Open Innovations’ for the third time. The Forum has proved to be a global venue to discuss cutting-edge technologies and outlooks of international cooperation on innovations. As part of the Forum’s youth programme, Vnesheconombank held its annual award ceremony for the best innovative project among young entrepreneurs focused, among other things, on supporting the growth of the innovative segment of SME.