Innovations

Sverdlovsk Region is one of Russia’s leaders in sci-tech potential development. It ranks 5th among 83 regions of Russia in the volume of shipped innovative products in the total scope of shipped products (10.1%).

Innovation activity is viewed as most important resource for production-and-technology and social development of the region, and necessary requirement for preservation and mobilization of its sci-tech potential able to resolve the problems of the region.

The backbone of innovation development strategy of the region is the maximum possible use of sci-tech and innovation potential accumulated in the region.

State support for innovation

The Regional Law “On State Sci-Tech Policy in Sverdlovsk Region” has been enacted, aimed at support of scientific and technological activities and development of regional sci-tech policy. The Law is currently being brought into agreement with federal legislation.

The Government of Sverdlovsk Region has developed a Concept for Development of Innovation Activity in Sverdlovsk Region in 2002 – 2010, and currently the regional Law “On State Support for Innovation Activity in Sverdlovsk Region” is in progress, aimed at regulation of legal and economic relations between the subjects of innovation activity.

Direct financial support from regional funds will be provided for creation of crucially new high technologies and productions, which implement challenging sci-tech design efforts having high level of readiness, as well as for the some significant for the region and high-yielding projects.

Certain package of measures is being introduced in the region to ensure preferential operation of small innovative enterprises at the start-up stage:

• reduction of tax rates in the part payable to the regional budget
• compensation of bank credit rate, office and equipment leasing allowances
• accelerated depreciation

A system of warranties and allowances granted by public authorities of Sverdlovsk Region to Russian and foreign investors backing challenging innovative projects and programs using their own funds is currently being developed.

Public authorities have elaborated and adopted the Program “On Development of Nano-industry and Innovation Infrastructure in Sverdlovsk Region in 2011 – 2015”, which has already entered the draft 2011 budget. The cost of the Program is RUR 80 mln.

The Program envisages creatin of at least 40 new innovative products (including new knowledge in the field of fundamental science) and 24 new products (commercialization objects) in nanotechnology sphere. By 2015, minimum 39 new productions founded with direct support of the regional Government are expected to be launched.

Since 1993, the Government of the region has been forming and financing region-guaranteed order for scientific developments with a view to boosting scientific and innovative activity in the region. In 2001, the first regional contest for fundamental research “RFFI – Ural” took place. The unified interuniversity information computer network has been created with support of the regional Government.

Scientists are supported through annual presentation of Demidov Award to Russian prominent scientists and The Cherepanovs Award in various fields of engineering and sci-tech activities. Governor scholarships are given to students and postgraduates, competitions of student research works are held in order to support the brightest young people.

Innovation infrastructure

Modern innovation infrastructure has been formed in Sverdlovsk Region:

• 162 large and medium-sized innovative industrial enterprises
• over 150 small innovative companies
• 4 business incubators
• 3 innovation technology centres
• 3 regional industrial centres
• 2 technology transfer centres for promotion of innovative products to the market
• centres of standardization, metrology and certification
• 6 sci-tech technoparks and innovation and technology centres

Innovation technology centre “Academichesky”, technopark “Uralsky”, International Technology, Equipment and Tools Center “Technocenter-Ural” are the leading organizations. Territorial industrial technoparks have started operating on the basis of major industrial enterprises such as “UralMash”, “VIZ”, Plant n.a. N.I.Kalinin. Documents for conversion of technopolis “Zarechny” into science town have been prepared.

Ural Joint Research and Design Metallurgy Center has been founded and is currently functioning in the region, aimed at acceleration of introduction new technologies into production. The center includes 17 organizations from Ural region. Ural Innovation Center is being created on the basis of RAS Ural Department and branch-wise institutes.

In May 2002, the Regional Foundation for Support of Small Entrepreneurship in Sverdlovsk Region was established. Its main objectives are accumulation and proper use of property for support and development of small entrepreneurship; planning and holding events aimed at creation of favorable environment for successful operation of newly opened and existing small enterprises in the region.

Regional Venture Fund for Investment in Small Sci-Tech Enterprises of Sverdlovsk Region was set up in 2007 on the basis of public-private partnership. Venture fund finances innovation projects of the companies at the early stage of their development, with the product or technology already elaborated, when the company needs investment to carry on development works and launch batch production of a product or service.

Innovation Center for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises of Sverdlovsk Region has been founded on the initiative of the regional Ministry of Economic Affairs to support, develop and commercialize innovation projects.

In 2004 the regional Government formalized in legislation the right of major enterprises possessing idle land lots and production facilities to organize technoparks on the above mentioned territories and get considerable land charge allowances.

Research activities

Sverdlovsk Region is one of major scientific and engineering centres of the Russian Federation. It has the highest scientific and personnel potential in Russia. Two thirds of all the Ural research and development organizations are concentrated in Sverdlovsk Region.

1,394 organizations are involved in various types of scientific, sci-tech and design activities. 146 organizations are basic and specialized institutes with excellent scientific, production and technological bases and high qualification of its specialists:

• 22 institutions of RAS Ural Department (4,909 employees)
• 32 universities (7,656 research officers)
• 92 branch-wise research institutes (16,814 employees)