Innovations

The main objective of innovation policy of Lipetsk Region is to improve competitive ability of the regional manufacturers both at Russian and international markets by means of introduction of scientific breakthroughs and creation of the united innovation infrastructure integrated with higher education and science.

Major activities aimed at fulfilment of the assigned objective:

• Creation of Innovation Development Center, which could train specialists in the field of commercialization of innovations (university staff and employees of research organizations)
• Formation of an expert group specialized in monitoring of innovations
• Analysis and forecast of the trends of sci-tech and innovation development of the regional economy
• Attraction of investors geared to setting up innovative productions in the federal and regional Special Economic Zones

The following actions have been undertaken to support innovation activities:

• Assistance to innovation project owners with investor search
• Representation of innovators’ or innovative company’s interests at the federal and interregional and international levels
• Assistance in raising funds for development and implementation of innovation projects
• Subsidy assistance to organizations stimulating innovation development of the region

Sci-tech, intellectual and production potential accumulated in the region contributes to the development of a wide range of innovation and investment projects and enables introduction of technological developments that are competitive at the global market.

Regional government seeks to create favourable conditions for overall introduction of innovative developments and technologies to small and medium-size enterprises. To solve this task, creation of innovation infrastructure (including innovation technology centers and business incubators) and rendering priority support to small and medium-size innovative businesses seem essential. This will secure development of integrated municipal innovation system, which should include infrastructure for innovation support (municipal authorities and enterprises).

In 2005, the ‘Program on development and use of sci-tech and innovation potential of Lipetsk Region in 2005 – 2010’ was launched, designed to:

• form the regional innovation infrastructure
• create environment for efficient use of available sci-tech and innovation potential at the enterprises, stimulate employees’ innovation activities
• create conditions for the fastest possible introduction of inventions and innovation proposals in order to boost production and competitive ability of manufactured commodities
• contribute to extension of a number of the enterprises applying innovations
• increase the volume of innovative products manufactured by the regional enterprises, competitive both at domestic and foreign markets, develop new technologies, increase technical production level
• integrate scientific, educational and technology potential in order to handle the most urgent issues of the regional industrial complex
• improve the system of investment attraction in innovation projects involving both public and private (including foreign) capital
• assist the enterprises with obtaining international quality certificates for innovative goods
• organize training of staff dealing with commercialization of research developments
• create additional jobs
• constantly monitor the development of innovation sector of the regional economy

Currently, the program is at its 2nd phase, which will result in foundation of a network of small companies carrying out innovation activity in the region and formation of training innovation complex. Eventually, 50 innovation projects will be generated and implemented at the regional enterprises, and 50 start-up small innovation companies will be founded.

As for the top-priority activities, one can name formation of a system of economic, legal and organizational measures of state support rendered for innovation activity.

In 2009, over 1,700 people carried out research work in Lipetsk Region, including active members, corresponding members of the Russian, international and foreign academies. 114 people obtained state awards or were entitled honorary degrees. The volume of performed research work amounted to over RUR 57 mln.

Since 2005, financial support has been rendered to the scientists of Lipetsk Region participating in the contests (subject to co-financing terms) held by Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research, Russian Humanitarian Research Foundation.

Regional innovation module

The regional Innovation & Technology Fund ‘Meccano-Lipetsk’ was founded in the region. The project was sponsored by the European Committee as a part of TACIS program with assistance of Administration of Italian region Marche and ‘Meccano’ Company (Italy).

The fund cooperates with Russian enterprises in the sphere of introduction of high technologies, product certification in accordance with the international standards, export market penetration, preparation for operations under conditions Russia’s possible entering the WTO.

The founders of non-commercial organization focused on promotion and development of high technologies and rendering support to the local enterprises: Property Fund of Administration of Lipetsk Region, Regional Association of industrial Enterprises, Lipetsk State Technical University.

Highly-qualified engineers now employed at ‘Meccano–Lipetsk’ were trained at ‘Meccano’ enterprises in Italy. The Fund will help the experts implement computer engineering, digital design, testing of export goods.

The project may be eventually developed on the university basis (for instance, Lipetsk State Technical University and Eletsk State University n.a. I.A.Bunin), which allows to integrate scientific and educational activities and carry out fundamental research on the top-priority trends of scientific and technological development defined by the government.