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Lappeenranta – window to Europe!

18 june 2012

The official delegation of the Republic of Tatarstan led by Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov took part in the 3^rd EU-Russia Innovation Forum and the XXI European Business and Innovation Centers Network (EBN) Annual Congress .
The event was held in Lappeenranta (Finland) on the basis of the Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) on June 13-15, 2012.

This year the Forum was organized by the municipality of the city of Lappeenranta, the Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) and European Business and Innovation Centers Network (EBN).

The EU-Russia Innovation Forum has been held in Lappeenranta for the 3^rd year in a row. The EU-Russia Forum is an annual key event in the field of innovation. The Forum highlights the current level of technological development and innovation international cooperation as well as sets out the priorities and areas of interaction in the mid-term and long-term prospects.

This year, over 700 high level managers of innovation platforms, entrepreneurs, innovation experts and analysts, representatives of investment funds, business angels, venture investors and other players concerned with development of the EU-Russia cooperation have participated in the Forum.

Zhores Alferov, Nobel Prize winner, has also been participated in the Forum.

The subject of the Forum was Partnership for Modernization. The conference highlighted such relevant topics as innovation education and research, business incubation, nanotechnology, energy, environment and others.

Several practical activities focused on development of business cooperation between EU and Russia were also held within the framework of the Forum: Program on search for business partners “Business Without Borders”, exhibition of innovations, meeting with investment funds, business angels and venture investors.

The Republic of Tatarstan was presented by Tatarstan Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov, RT Minister of Economy Midkhat Shagiakhmetov, head of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency Lenar Yakupov, Chief Executive Officer of Technopolis “Himgrad” Airat Gizzatullin, General director of JSC “KIP “Master” Maxim Steblov, General director of Technopark “Idea” Sergey Yushko and other representatives of the republican innovation infrastructure.

Today Russia is not only Moscow and St. Petersburg, but also its regions.Tatarstan is one of the stable and dynamically developing regions of the Federation. In 2011, the Republic of Tatarstan was recognized as the best region in Russia in the field of business and investment development according to the version of “Forbes”, - said Ildar Khalikov in his opening speech at the plenary session.

Exposition of the Republic of Tatarstan displaying the republican investment and innovation resources, key socio-economic indicators as well as innovation infrastructure in the region was held as a part of the Forum.

Presentation of an innovative ecosystem of the Lappeenranta University of Technology was organized for members of the Tatarstan delegation.

Tatarstan Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov met with Minister for Economic Affairs of Finland Jyri Häkämies. During the meeting the Parties discussed issues of further cooperation, including exchange of experience in the field of innovation, interaction in other areas.

In addition, Prime Minister met with Chief Executive Officer of EBN Philipp Vanrie where the participants discussed the further development of innovation infrastructure in the Republic of Tatarstan through a network of technoparks, technopolices, business incubators and cluster system.

EBN representatives explained the strategy of cooperation with non-EU countries, including the Russian Federation and its regions, in particular, with the Republic of Tatarstan.

To the point, the Memorandum of Understanding between the EBN and the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia (AIRR) was signed in April 2012.

Source: tpidea.ru, photos of prav.tatar.ru