President Medvedev has won the backing of the Russian scientific community in the US to help build a Russian Silicon Valley in the Moscow suburb of Skolkovo. Russian scientists who figured high in turning the Silicon Valley into a world innovation center, pledged maximum support with Skolkovo. It looks like the Russian scientific elite, who left Russia to fulfill their potential abroad, is coming back.
Russian professors at Stanford University and IT company executives working in California had never thought they would be discussing issues of their concern with President Medvedev. Sitting in a café in Silicon Valley, they were writing business plans and project roughs on paper towels. The talks, though long, produced good results, the most significant being that both sides are willing to join forces and form a good tandem.
"Russia welcomes scientists who would want to try their hand in Russia," President Medvedev said. "Money is not everything. It’s the environs that count. This presents a far bigger challenge than getting the appropriate equipment and buying the services of big-name scientists and businessmen. Companies must produce high-quality products, and human factor is crucial here. A good environment is everything. We’ve learned to run big businesses and spend money. But the success of Skolkovo lies in consolidated effort. The state should invest money in it at the initial stage, but businesses and scientists should invest effort and knowledge."
While President Medvedev was visiting the Silicon Valley, the ‘Skolkovo’ Innovation Technology Center and the American ‘Cisco” signed a deal under which Cisco will invest one billion dollars in ‘Skolkovo” within the next few years. Cisco is not the only overseas company willing to cooperate on Skolkovo.
In addition to agreements on IT technology, Russia and the United States are set to cooperate in other areas. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Russia’s metals billionaire Viktor Vekselberg signed an accord to preserve Fort Ross Park, a historic landmark known as the site of the first Russian settlement in America established by Commerce Counsellor from Vologda Ivan Kuskov to trade in fur 200 years ago. Russian hunting parties went to Fort Ross to stock up on food and timber. Russia’s support comes more than handy in light of plans by the local authorities to close the park for lack of financing.
In the late 17th century Emperor Peter the Great sent Russians to study different trades abroad so that they could use the acquired skills for Russia’s further development when they came back. Nowadays, even though the reasons for Russians leaving their country have changed, the purpose stays the same: to ensure the country’s economic development. And the means of achieving that are the same too: smart and well-educated people, capable of achievement.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario