1. The Russia Innovation Collaborative
Connecting Russia to US Innovation Clusters
Presented to
The American Chamber of Commerce in Russia
13 July 2010
Cynthia Bouthot, Partner
cbouthot@russiainnovation.com

2. Russia is currently undertaking a program of modernization of its
economy, with a particular focus on fostering technological innovation.
Despite the strength of intellectual resources and very strong basic
science, Russia has not been successful at developing clusters of
innovation.
Massachusetts is one of the world-leading clusters of innovation. It has
a well-developed public-private relationships that contributes to the
success of the innovation ecosystem.
The focus of the Russia Innovation Collaborative is to connect key
institutions and stakeholders in Russia with those in Massachusetts
and throughout the US with the goal of increasing economic wealth
Russia Innovation Collaborative:
Our Mission

3. The Russia Innovation Collaborative:
Background
• The Russia Innovation Collaborative (RIC) are experienced trade and
investment professionals that promote, develop and integrate companies
and technologies into the US and European markets. Specific areas of
expertise include:
– cultivating technologies and early stage companies coming out of the
scientific-technical ecosystems
– designing programs to nurture and support innovation and accelerate the
migration of ideas from the lab to practical commercial application
– connecting innovation ecosystems
• We are located in one of the leading world centers of entrepreneurship
and innovation in Boston/Cambridge and have ties with Silicon Valley and
New York, as well as Europe

4. Growing U.S.-Russia Tech Ties
Concentrated in CA and MA
• In July 2009, Presidents Obama and Medvedev meet in Moscow and decide to re-start
not only political relations, but economic ties.
• In 2009, contacts between Russian and MA organizations, incl. MIT, began to outline
areas for practical cooperation. Rusnano develops close cooperation with MIT for
training and discusses joint projects.
• Jan. 2010 Russian Government delegation, led by First Vice Prime Minister visits MIT.
Russian Government decides to initiate so-called Skolkovo Project, sometimes
referred to as “Russian Silicon Valley.”
• Feb. 2010 US State Dept takes “RusTechDel” delegation made of 10 West Coast CEO’s
and Execs (incl. eBay, CISCO, Twitter, …) to Moscow and Novosibirsk.
• March 2010 - Russian delegation in Cambridge/Boston.
– Cooperation agreement signed with Novosibirsk hi-tech park and Russia Innovation
Collaborative
– Russian sponsorship for MassChallenge.org - business plan competition
– Negotiations begun with MIT to become involved in Skolkovo Project

5. Tech Ties Continue to Grow
• April 2010 – Massachusetts Senate invites Pres. Medvedev to come to
MA
• May 2010, Delegation of 20 prominent venture capitalists to Moscow (VC
Trip), supported by State Dept.
• June 2010, Skolkovo Board of Directors announced - 6 Russians, 6
foreigners, incl. 3 Americans.
• June 2010, Pres. Medvedev visits Silicon Valley
– Several high-profile agreements signed.
– President Medvedev decides to open Skolkovo project office.
– Agreement between MIT and Skolkovo Foundation to explore wide ranging
cooperation in education, research and entrepreneurship signed.

6. The US and Russia: New Possibilities

7. Russia – US:
Complementary Strengths
• Russia’s 5 technological priorities match US core competencies:
– Biotech and life sciences
– Cleantech - new energy sources
– IT and supercomputing
– Space and telecom
– Nuclear technologies
• Russia can become resource for manufacturing facilities, R&D
personnel, scientific advances to be commercialized, clinical trials
– MA can host Russian corp. offices, tech holding companies, provide training
to entrepreneurs and financing of new companies.
• Russia’s domestic market, especially for new energy and biotech
projects with underlying layer in nanotechnologies, is very promising

8. • SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION of NEW IDEAS that CREATE VALUE
• Innovation is strongly linked to R&D (R&D accounts for nearly half of U.S.
economic growth, with an ROI of 30%)
• But Innovation is more than just R&D. Innovation encompasses:
– new products,
– new processes, and
– new ways of engaging the customer and creating quality
• Innovation is fundamentally about applying new ideas in organizations, not
just about creating those ideas.
Innovation:
Some Common DefinitionsWhat is Innovation?

9. Innovation Ecosystems
Academic Excellence
Innovation Ecosystem
Venture
Capital
Thriving
knowledge
based
sectors
Tech transfer and commercialization
Serial
Entrepreneurs
Public and Seed
Funding, grants and
loans
Innovation Ecosystems
Innovation Ecosystems are the foundations that
support all knowledge-based activity:
Government
/ Policy

10. Why Innovation Matters
• Buildings
• Incubators
• Tech Parks
• Tech Transfer and Commercialization Offices
• Groups of Scientists
• A University
• Clusters of Businesses
ECOSYSTEMS are NOT:
What are Innovation Ecosystems?

11. Why Connect Innovation Ecosystems?
• Prosperity depends upon the productivity with which the
Russian economy uses labor and capital to produce goods and
services.
• Sustained economic growth will require continued innovation
at all levels of the economy, especially as we enter a new era
when the workforce will be increasing more slowly.
• Innovation infuses the economy with growth-incubating new
ideas, new products and services, and new technologies.
• Productivity rises because of innovation.

12. Pittsburgh - Manchester
We build the bridge between ecosystems!
Pittsburgh, PA
Manchester UK
Our Experience Linking Two
Innovation Ecosystems:

13. Our Experience Linking Two
Innovation Ecosystems:
Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh was named in 1758 by
General John Forbes in honor of
British Statesman Sir William Pitt
From Steel to High Tech and Life
Science: the birthplace of the polio
vaccine and the multiple organ
transplant
• The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is
an $8 billion global health enterprise, integrating 20
hospitals, more than 400 outpatient sites, a major
insurance division, and an international and
commercial unit
• The McGowan Institute for Regenerative
Medicine serves as a single base of operations for
leading scientists and clinical faculty to develop
tissue engineering, cellular therapies, biosurgery
and artificial and biohybrid organ devices.
• Centers like the Pittsburgh Life Sciences
Greenhouse, Innovation Works, The
Technology Collaborative and the Pittsburgh
Technology Council help entrepreneurs bring
innovations to the marketplace
• Strong BABC

14. Manchester UK
Named in AD 79 for Roman fort and settlement
Mamucium
From Textile Manufacturing and cotton
production (Cottonopolis and Warehouse Cit)
to the first industrialized city to professional
services, life science industries, creative,
cultural and media, manufacturing and
communications.
• The largest Cancer Research Centre in Europe -
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
• The largest Cardiovascular and Renal Clinical
Research Networks in the UK
• The largest European Centre dedicated to the
Ageing and Health (Newcastle)
• MIMIT – Manchester Integrating Medicine and
Innovative Technologies
• Manchester Academic Health Science Centre
(MAHSC) - partnership between six NHS
organizations and the University of Manchester
• University of Manchester Incubator Company:
A growing portfolio of incubators, covering both
the Bioscience and IT/Hi-Tech sectors
• NHS Technology Adoption Centre – Marg
Parton as CEO
Our Experience Linking Two
Innovation Ecosystems:

15. Our Access to Clusters
Healthcare
, Devices,
and
Diagnostics
Healthcare
, Devices,
and
Diagnostics
Consumer
and Food
Products
Consumer
and Food
Products
Biotech and
Personalize
d Medicine
Biotech and
Personalize
d Medicine
Energy,
Renewable
s and
Cleantech
Energy,
Renewable
s and
Cleantech
Space
Technologies
Nano and
Materials
Space
Technologies
Nano and
Materials
ICT, Digital
and
Creative
Media
ICT, Digital
and
Creative
Media
Russia
Innovation
Collaborative
Russia
Innovation
Collaborative
The Russia Innovation Collaborative has experience in and access to a
wide variety of sectors:

16. Russia – US:
Practical Next Steps
• Create a series of public events to raise awareness of US innovation
ecosystem model in Russia and vice versa
• Sponsor a series of trips for East Coast entrepreneurs to Russia
– Sept. 23-25 to Novosibirsk and
– Sept. 28-30 to S.-Petersburg
• Expand on existing relationship with Academpark by developing formal
cooperation agreements with key innovation centers or institutions in
Russia, i.e. Skolkovo Foundation, regional tech parks, industry
associations.
• Bring a delegation of Russian Companies and Policy Makers to Boston in
Spring 2011 for intensive innovation and entrepreneurial policy
program.

17. Example Program

18. Example Program

19. The Russia Innovation Collaborative
has the experience and desire to
link
Innovation Ecosystems in the US
with
the Emerging Innovation Ecosystems
in Russia.
In Conclusion: