History of the Russian Innovation Week

The Forum program included nearly 30 various events – conferences, discussions, round tables, seminars, signing of agreements and official awarding ceremonies of winners in various city contests.

"Innovation Forum was created as a sequel to the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, – the first Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Economic Development, Industrial Policy and Trade and co-Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Forum, Sergey Fiveyskiy says. – Moreover, after its startup, we announced a proposal of making it the federal event. At present, when the first results of the Forum has been achieved, it may be said that the Forum has met the Organisers' expectations. The Forum, besides discussions on crucial issues regarding the development of the innovation activity could produce many positive practical results. At the same venue we could gather all the people engaged in the innovation activity, from representatives of fundamental and applied sciences to large investment companies which are ready to invest money to the development of innovation products or services".

The 9th Russian Venture Fair and 4th Russian Venture Forum were held within the framework of the Forum.

Among participants of the Fair, the majority of companies were engaged in manufacturing industries – 26%, medicine – 18%, electronic industry – 17%, information technologies and software – 15%. The companies engaged in biotechnologies, power industry, telecommunications, chemistry and advanced materials also took part in the Fair.

A total number of Russian companies participating in the Fair accounted for 56.

44% exhibitors have startup companies, 36% – started to cultivate the market, 16% of companies are engaged in business expansion and 5% – go through reorganising.

The majority of investment companies were provided with up to 10 million dollars – 28%, up to 1 million dollars were allocated to 24% of companies, up to 3 million – 22%, over 10 million – 14% and 300 thousand at most – 12%.

According to final results of the contest, among companies taking part in the event the Winners of the Fair were determined:

The event was visited by the following people: the Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation A.A. Fursenko, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the North-Western Federal District I.I. Khlebanov, Governor of Saint-Petersburg V.I. Matvienko, Director General of ROSNANO A.B. Chubais, Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma on Federal Affairs and Regional Policy G.I. Sergeeva, Managing Director of the Troika Dialog Group of Companies A.V. Sharonov, Head of the Corporate Management Department of the Ministry for Economic Development of the Russian Federation I.V. Oskolkov, Investment Director of the Troika Capital Partners V.V. Doronin and others.

Several agreements aiming at the development of innovation activities in Saint-Petersburg were signed at the Forum. Thus, the Agreement on Development of Innovation Technology Cluster for machine-building and metal-working industries, Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing the Finnish-Russian Innovation University were signed. The Russian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association signed an agreement with the ROSNANO corporation and with the Foundation for Assistance of Small Innovation Enterprises. Next 13 residents of the technology development special economic zone in Saint-Petersburg acquired their certificates, the awarding ceremony for winners of the Governmental Contest on the development of a significant innovation industrial project and for winners of the U.M.N.I.K. program was carried out.