Innovations

St. Petersburg is one of the three leading innovation centers of Russia (together with Moscow and Moscow Region). Geopolitical advantageous location, positive investment climate and innovation policy program can make the city a leader in innovation.

Innovation development of St. Petersburg is defined by the city government as one the main trends in St. Petersburg’s social and economic development for the period until 2025. Federal executive bodies provide organizational, financial and information support to major projects aimed at facilitation of innovation development of the city:

• Technology-innovative special economic zone
• High-tech industrial park
• Peterhof, science town of the Russian Federation

St. Petersburg’s government annually awards scientists for innovation achievements. Awards are given for the most significant development of fundamentally new or improved products and technology processes, including goods transferring methods, innovation in production process and marketing research of technology innovation in St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg innovation infrastructure is rather diverse, it includes:

• Business incubators for small innovation businesses
• Industrial parks
• Innovation and technology centers
• The special economic zone
• Peterhof, the science town
• Fund for Venture Investment in Small Businesses
• Small Business Lending Fund
• Information and consulting center “Innovation”, etc.

The government of St. Petersburg has affirmed the special business incubator program. The program is aimed at property support of small businesses by leasing offices on preferential terms and rendering a number of free services. The incubation process lasts for three years. Not less than 70% of the placed small businesses work in scientific, technical and innovation fields.

12 innovation and technology centers are operating in St. Petersburg at the moment. The centers are the link between science and producers, researchers, developers and investors. They host small and medium-sized businesses and pool organizational and financial resources, develop business plans and examine innovation projects, finance and provide consulting services.

An innovation and technology center will also be established in Peterhof science town. The innovation and technology system of Peterhof will also include Technology Transfer Center, Innovation and Technology Center; Information Technology Industrial Park; Nanotechnology Center; Biotechnology Center; Business Incubator.

Another large innovation infrastructure project is Ingria Industrial Park. The construction of the park will be completed by 2015. Today the business incubator of the Ingria Industrial Park is already operating in St. Petersburg. Its objective is to create constructive environment and tools for efficient business experience transfer.

The technology-innovative special economic zone is to play significant role in St. Petersburg’s innovation activity. The zone is to involve the following processes:

• Development of software, communication facilities, automated systems of technology process control, military and civil avionics, medical equipment
• Development of analytical equipment and pilot batches
• Establishment of technology centers in the following fields: optoelectronics, precision metal working, precision tool engineering, robotics, vacuum processing of semiconductors, nanomaterials, hydrogen power engineering, helioenergetics, thermoelectricity.

The special economic zone in St. Petersburg will be located on two grounds – in “Neudorf” Peterhof region of 18.9 hectares and the “Novo-Orlovskoe” seaside region of 112 hectares.

2 public-private financial funds were established in St. Petersburg to become the main tools for small innovation businesses support: Fund for Venture Investment in Small Businesses and Small Business Lending Fund.