Innovations

Kursk Region Development Strategy is focused on intensification of the innovative process. “Innovative breakthrough” scenario of the Strategy rests upon the following ideas:

• development and improvement of market mechanisms for financial and economic activities
• cluster-oriented development of sci-tech and production potential
• improvement of state strategic management

Regulatory framework for investment activity in Kursk Region is compiled by over 20 regulatory acts and the Industrial Policy Concept of Kursk Region. A special Committee for development of regional regulatory legal acts was established to enhance innovative activity in the region.

Technopark of Kursk Region is being formed to become a basis for innovation infrastructure of the region.

Strategic activities of Technopark:

• space technologies and communications
• energy efficiency and energy saving
• technologies for medicine
• strategic information technologies
• nanotechnologies in energy saving

Technopark structure will include research university, business incubator, multiple-access centres, international technology transfer centre, regional innovative management school and various regional centers.

Apart form Technopark, the principle elements of Kursk Region innovation infrastructure include:

• Industrial Nanotechnologies Center and Geo-information Technologies Center of South West State University
• Innovative Corporation for competitive human resources training on the basis of interactive cooperation with strategic partners of Kursk State University
• Agro-industrial Training and Research Centre and Agro-technopark of Kursk State Agricultural Academy
• Centre for Medical Technologies of Kursk State Medical University

Innovative activities are carried out mainly by regional university staff and enterprise specialists. The most active participants of the innovation process are scientists at the oldest universities of the region: South West State University (former Kursk STU), Kursk State Agricultural Academy, Kursk State University, Kursk State Medical University.

There are 16 scientific schools in the region, carrying out research in more than 140 scientific fields.

Research work is carried out by both scientists of regional universities and experts at local enterprises, and covers all the priority sectors of economy:

• Ferrous metallurgy. Mikhaylovsky GOK, JSC – advanced technology of flotation iron ore beneficiation introduced; unique innovative production method of hematite concentrate out of production waste elaborated; commercial development of technology started.
• Machine-building – new kinds of high-tech productions are being created. 
• Chemical and pharmaceutical industries – projects aimed at production of new high-efficiency low-toxic antimicrobials implemented. Research work on the possibility of production of high performance nano-dimensional medication compositions for various purposes and elaboration of antimicrobials by means of microencapsulation of drugs of acridone series is being carried out. 
• Medicine – research on implementation of new technology of transdermal medication deliver. This approach offers crucially new abilities for treatment procedures.
• Agro-industrial complex – activities aimed at creation and introduction of new high-yielding and high-quality varieties of cereal crops, technical and feed crops planned.

Annual regional contests are held to boost innovative activity in the region: “Innovation and Invention of the Year”, “Kursk Region Governor Award for Quality”, “Best in Profession” (among key blue collar specialties).

Innovative developments are displayed at exhibitions and fairs. Permanent exhibition “Innovations of Kursk Region” is held in the main pavilion of the Exhibition Centre “Kursk Korenskaya Fair”.

In 2006, Kursk Region was one of the first in Russia to start training programs for intellectual property market specialists, who could secure efficient innovative process management. In 2011 first innovative activity management specialists will graduate from South West State University.