The 4th Venture Fair opened in Kazan

Opening of the Venture Fair in the period of the economical crisis is an indicator of high economical and innovative potential of the Republic of Tatarstan. Prime Minister of the Free State of Saxony, Mr. Stanislaw Tillich said about that in the opening ceremony of the 4th Kazan Venture Fair at the complex “Korston.”

According to him, the fact that representative delegation of businessmen and officials from Saxony had come to Tatarstan in difficult for economy period, may prove that the time of crisis may be considered as the most appropriate for expansion of business contacts.

Tatarstan Prime Minister Rustam Minnikhanov, Russian Minister of Education and Science Andrei Fursenko, Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs Vasily Yakimenko, CEO of Russian Venture Capital Association (RVCA) Albina Nikkonen, and Director of Investment and Venture Fund of RT Aynur Aydeldinov took part in the opening of the 4th Kazan Venture Fair.

It is a reminder that in the Fair, 40 companies from 6 Russian cities take part (total volume of required investment by them make up 360 mln. dollars). помним, что в ярмарке участвуют 40 компаний из 6 городов России (общий объем запрашиваемых ими инвестиций составляет 360 млн.

The guests examined the stands of the companies-exponents, in particular, “Plazmatekh” (KSU after Lenin, Kazan), “Celoform,” “Toledo” (production of foundry equipment, Naberezhnye Chelny), “Poliol” (Kazan), “New Technologies NSE” (Leninogorsk), “Thermal Systems” (Kazan), etc.

The representatives of KSTU after Tupolev, KSMU after Kurashov, and other institutes of higher education of Tatarstan made the presentations of their institutes of higher education and projects.

CEO of RVCA Albina Nikkonen mentioned that it was especially pleasant to see so much youth in the 4th Venture Fair. She reminded that exactly for that purpose, it was held the Youth Innovation Forum (about 500 participants). 

Tatarstan Prime Minister Rustam Minnikhanov conducted the plenary session of the 4th Kazan Venture Fair. According to him, the session is dedicated to developing the innovations in Russia in the terms of economical crisis. Head of the RT Government mentioned that the crisis had revealed vulnerability of a number of economical branches but it had showed high competitiveness of the business oriented to innovations, as well.

Rustam Minnikhanov thinks today Tatarstan is actively occupied with innovative activity, and it is clear that it is better to do that in cooperation, combining the efforts, because it is impossible to cope with that by efforts of only one region. He expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for support in this matter.

Rustam Minnikhanov said exactly now it is necessary to develop those niches in the market, which became available in the time of crisis. He informed that today Tatarstan had signed Memorandum of Understanding on establishing the Center of Competence for Machine Building/Manufacturing Technology together with the Free State of Saxony. It is supposed that implementation of this project will help machine building branch of the Republic move to a new level of quality.

According to Rustam Minnikhanov, the main purpose of such fairs is to further the venture investing development in Russia. The main constituents of venture projects are institutes (of higher education), investment, infrastructure, and innovations. One more component is intellect.

“Every year we see real products of our joint work,” – said the RT Prime Minister. – “This Fair is already the fourth one. We want to integrate in the world science and promote our innovative projects and groundwork.”