Skolkovo, the state-sponsored innovation hub under construction near Moscow, has selected 28 projects to fund, according to its vice president, Stanislav Naumov, on March 4. He said that by the end of the year, that number will have risen to 116.
Important tax and customs exemptions will also be offered.
According to Naumov, Skolkovo will allocate about 8 billion rubles for these projects in 2011, 3 billion of which will come from private investors.
One of these projects results in a product that “simplifies the 3D visual expression of texts and, conversely, enables the creation of 3D content rather easily and inexpensively,” the vice president explained.
Another project generates a product that can detect the presence of toxic substances in confined areas in a record-low time. Created by biologists of Pushchino industrial park in the Moscow region, it “may help combat terrorism,” remarked Naumov.
Naumov said that the 116 projects will be divided into several groups, one of which includes startups. The primary funding for this group will begin this year. Skolkovo is prepared to support about 20 such projects in biotechnology, medical and information technologies, and energy efficiency.
A second group includes early-stage projects. Skolkovo is prepared to support about 30 such projects.
A third group includes more mature projects that require investing in international IPR protection.
Source: Unova
