Innovations

Innovation activity is one of the priority trends in Nizhny Novgorod Region. The region ranks the 4th in Russia (following Moscow, St. Petersburg and Moscow Region) in the innovation potential. A lot of developments made by the regional scientists are world-renowned: the first fast-neutron industrial reactor, 5th generation radar stations, hydrofoil and air foil boats.

Innovation enterprises have increased their share in the regional industrial production up to 15% within 3 years.

Nizhny Novgorod Region has all the necessary facilities for effective development of research and educational systems, innovation activity and new economy enterprises:

• Nizhny Novgorod Region is historically one of the most developed research, industrial and educational centers of Russia. Research and technology potential is formed by fundamental and applied sciences which include over 100 organizations and institutions such as the Russian Federal Nuclear Center (Sarov) and 6 institutes of the Academy of Sciences.
• The region has a powerful development network. Leading regional universities are in the top ten universities of Russia list.
• Defense industry, machine building (including aircraft and ship building), medicine, radio electronics and instrument making, nuclear physics and power engineering, material technology and other fields are well developed and form the technology basis of the regional research network.
• Scientific expenses invariably increase both in private and public sectors.

The government of Nizhny Novgorod region is working on innovation state support programs. Today state support is based on the law “Of state support of innovation activity in Nizhny Novgorod region”. The law envisages state support of innovations in the form of financing from the regional budget, investment tax credit, tax privileges, etc. Another law “Of grants for science and technology in Nizhny Novgorod region” encourages research activity. Total annual financing is 1 mln rubles.

In order to increase significant developments, the government holds various grant-related events such as contest for Russian Fund of Fundamental Research grants. In 2008 the amount of financing was 30 mln rubles. 118 projects participated, 18 organizations received the grants.

Since 2000 the regional government has been holding the exhibition called “Nizhny Novgorod Innovations in the regional economy”. This exhibition supports developers, attracts attention of potential investors to high technology developments, promotes promising technologies in the national and foreign markets. Winners get the chance to participate in the Moscow International Show of Innovation and Investment, the international show of inventions, new technologies and products in Geneva, the world show of innovations, research and new technologies “Brussels-Innova/Eureka” (Belgium, Brussels).

Innovation infrastructure of Nizhny Novgorod Region includes:

• Business incubator network
• Industrial parks: Orbita IT Park, Konversia Industrial Park, System-Sarov Industrial Park, Ankudinovka IT Park
• The innovation and technology center of Lobachevsky Nizhegorodsky State University the technology park of Nizhegorodsky State Technical University
• Nizhny Novgorod High-End Technology Incubation Center
• Nizhny Novgorod Research Information Center
• Regional Small Hi-Tech Business Venture Investment Center of Nizhny Novgorod Region
• Regional Training Center for high technology personnel
• Technology Transfer Center of Volga State Water Academy
• Nizhny Novgorod Regional Nanoindustry Center, etc.