Innovations

Tambov Region has a well-developed system of innovation activity management. In 2005 the regional law “On the Program for Tambov Region’s scientific, sci-tech and innovative development” was enacted. The implementation of the above program helps establish necessary conditions for step-by-step achievement of the strategic objective of the region’s sci-tech policy, which is creation of highly competitive scientific and industrial complex that could secure stable and ecologically safe economic growth, budgetary provision and efficient employment of population.

Tambov Region actively cooperates with the Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research (RFFR).

Guidelines on cooperation between RFFR and regional Administration include:

• Environmental management and stable social and economic development of the region
• Fuel and power industry: new energy saving technologies and materials, non-conventional energy sources
• Technical and technological developments to the benefit of the region’s key industries development
• Modelling of the region’s social and economic processes 
• Modern systems of life cycle management and information support to knowledge-intensive production
• Information support system for scientific, research-and-production and educational activities in the region
• Information and telecommunication systems
• Industry of nano systems and materials
• Safety and high quality of agricultural raw materials, food stuff, improvement of population’s life standards and health
• Scientific basis for creation of efficient methods for agricultural product manufacturing, processing and storage 
• Sci-tech and innovation infrastructure
• Evaluation of regional educational market’s tendencies and dynamics with regard to demographic changes

Scientific projects are financed through subsidies envisaged by "The program for Tambov Region’s scientific, sci-tech and innovative development."

Tambov Region Expert Board for Evaluation of Priority Sci-Tech and Innovation Projects and Programs has been set up and is currently functioning. The members of the Board are scientists working in the field of fundamental sciences and humane studies.

In May 2007, Administration of Tambov Region and Russian Humanitarian Scientific Foundation signed an agreement to hold joint contests in the field of humanitarian studies.On resolution of regional Expert Board for Evaluation of Priority Sci-tech and Innovation Projects and Programs, 14 projects were validated for ′Central Russia′ contest. Later on, RFFR Council approved these projects for financial backing. A number of projects form background for creation of promising industrial technologies, new materials and services.

The vital issue on regional government’s agenda is implementation of scientific output obtained with support of RFFR grants. Serious consideration is given to the possibility of engaging local business in co-financing of fundamental research projects.

Innovation infrastructure of Tambov Region is represented by the Science City of Michurinsk, universities, innovative enterprises and some other organizations:

• ′Innovatika′ business incubator of Tambov State Technical University
• Innovation Centre for High Biological and Chemical Technologies
• Distance Education Institute 
• Institute for Innovations and Priority Scientific Trends
• Tambov Innovation and Technology Centre for Machine Building
• Tambov Innovation Business Incubator of the Regional Management and Culture Centre
• Tambov Foundation for Business Support and Development
• Tambov Sci-Tech Information Centre
• TechnoEcos Company 
• Centre for Technology Transfer at Tambov State Technical University 

Technopark in the field of high biotechnologies – agricultural Science City of Michurinsk

In 2003 the town of Michurinsk was assigned the status of the Science City by the Decree of the RF President.

The total investment in Science City project makes about RUR 9 bln, budgetary efficiency – RUR 500 mln. 4,000 jobs in the sphere of innovative production were created in Science City. Manufactured goods and services are expected to contribute over 5% to GRP in the long view.

Priority trends of scientific, sci-tech and innovation activity in Michurinsk:

• Fundamental research in the field of genetics, selection, biotechnology, physiology, biochemistry, ecology of fruit, small-fruit and vegetable cultures, stabilization mechanisms for resistance and productivity of horticultural and vegetable agricultural ecosystems
• Experiments in the field of bio-engineering, production of eco-sound raw materials, new unconventional kinds of healthful, therapeutic, functional and other food stuff
• Elaboration of efficient, eco-friendly methods of production, processing, long-time storage and transportation of agricultural and horticultural products with high contents of bioactive substances

Innovation infrastructure of Michurinsk Science City includes Innovative Technologies Centre and Centre for Laboratory Equipment Sharing.

Sci-tech potential, accumulated in Michurinsk, enables production of import-substituting products, handling the problems of high quality and balanced nutrition for population and protection of people against negative environmental aspects through development of new cultivars and production methods.

Administration of Tambov Region and the Russian Academy of Sciences signed an agreement on implementation of the project on preservation of human health, using scientific resources of Michurinsk Science City.

Innovation activity at universities

The students of Tambov State University n.a. G.R.Derzhavin (TSU) have taken part and won the contests organized by Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research for more than 15 years.

Seven of TSU projects approved by Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research are financed jointly by RFFR and Administration of Tambov Region, since their implementation could help solve the tasks of the region’s development. Thanks to the scientific achievements of TSU researchers, the university has become a federal center for nanotechnology research, supported from federal and regional budgets.

TSU’s innovative educational program “University as the centre of innovation and education programs cluster for development of priority social trends and real economy of the region” got financial support - over RUR 460 mln of state subsidies. Within the framework of this program, the university provides cluster participants with innovations and next generation specialists. 5 priority fields to be covered by the program include: Information Telecommunication Systems, Nanotechnologies and Nanomaterials, Living Systems, Environmental Management, Continuous Education.

Innovation and educational program implementation will see re-creation of 50 and renovation of 38 research and university laboratories and centres aimed at satisfaction of the region’s needs in innovative developments in research-and-production and social spheres.

Tambov State Technical University is the largest regional university, able to handle the problems of industrial, agro-industrial, energy generating, construction, environmental and other sectors of the regional economy. Moreover, the university activity affects the policy of the region’s socioeconomic development by training the engineering staff, participating in the work of executive bodies’ profile committees, as well as through institutional reorganizations, introduction of university’s scientific developments in the real sector of economy and in service sphere of Tambov Region.

Most significant results of TSTU’s scientific and innovation activity include:

• 2 RF Government awards in education (for development of research and organizational elements of informatization in the sphere of education)
• 2 state awards given to young scientists for their outstanding developments in the sphere of science and technology
• The first Russian pilot reactor producing carbon nano-materials with output capacity of 2 tons per year, protected by 4 RF patents and 2 grants awarded by RFFR

TSTU is a strategic university of “Joint University n.a. V.I.Vernadsky” Association, that incorporates Michurin State Agrarian University, Voronezh State Technology Academy and All-Russian Research and Engineering Design Institute for Use of Machinery and Oil Products in Agriculture.

Joint projects of Association’s universities contribute to the effective solution of the regional tasks for economic and social development, primarily to the increase in population’s quality of life. The works envisaged by the projects include fundamental research, applied development, innovative product creation, development of high-tech production method, production launch. Major national projects are carried out in the Association:

• Production engineering and cultivation of ecologically clean fruit, small-fruit and vegetable products bearing medical and preventive properties
• Vacuum long-term storage technology for horticultures and perishable products, involving additional ozone treatment
• Technology and equipment for postharvest and special-purpose processing of grains, cereal products, legume crops and sunflower

The innovation program for Association’s further development involves organization of innovation consortium of continuous education, science and hi-tech – a corporate university based on the following principles: integration (but not merger of universities), enhancement of each university’s profile orientation, combination of universities’ efforts for solving the tasks of national significance.