Berlin – 2 March 2012 – Today marked a new milestone in cooperation between Russian and German academic and scientific communities. During a joint press conference today in Berlin, the Skolkovo Foundation announced the signing of cooperation agreements with three German institutes: the Technische Universität Berlin (TU), the Science and Technology Park Berlin Adlershof and the Science, Healthcare and Biotech Park Campus Berlin-Buch.
These new agreements are part of Skolkovo’s vision to build an international ecosystem of excellence in science, innovation and their applications. They will reinforce existing cooperation between Skolkovo and renowned research institutes worldwide in place since 2011 including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Tokyo’s Waseda University and Imperial College London.
“We are proud that these agreements have been concluded in the historic city of Berlin, but especially that they confirm our conviction that ideas and innovation do not stop at national borders,” said Alexei Beltyukov, Vice-President of the Skolkovo Foundation who participated in the press conference. “The research focus and the expertise of our German partners perfectly complement our own research clusters covering information technologies, biomedical technologies, energy efficiency and finally space and telecommunications.”
The announcements followed a 3 days meeting of the Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) in Berlin. SAC plays a key role in determining the guidelines for scientific research at the Skolkovo Innovation Centre, a high-profile project boosting innovation and entrepreneurship in Russia.
The new agreements reflect the long tradition of scientific cooperation between Russia and Germany that has benefitted both countries and their respective research communities. The new deals will not be any different, according to representatives of TU Berlin, Adlershof Science Park and Campus Berlin-Buch who all participated in the press conference.
“The Technische Universität Berlin has worked closely with Russian scientists for over 40 years”, said Prof. Jörg Steinbach, President of TU Berlin. “Against this background, we were very pleased to have hosted this week the meeting of the Skolkovo Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Council. Scientific cooperation and academic exchange are important aspects of our international work, and we are therefore delighted to have signed this agreement with Skolkovo.”
“At Adlershof, we have been very impressed by the vision and efforts put into establishing Skolkovo and believe that as a result, Skolkovo is a natural partner for us,” referring to the Science and Technology Park Berlin Adlershof, Germany’s largest science and technology park,” said Hardy Schmitz, Chief Executive Officer of WISTA-MANAGEMENT GMBH, the company operating and managing Adlershof.
“Our collaboration agreement opens a new chapter in the long history of cooperation between the Moscow and Berlin regions in the field of biomedical science, clinical research and biotechnology,” commented Ulrich Scheller, CEO of BBB Management GmbH Campus Berlin-Buch. “From this collaboration not only do we hope to further develop our mutual networks and initiate joint research projects, but we are confident that the agreement will help attract new personnel and improve access to the Russia market for our biotech companies,” he continued.
At Skolkovo, five research clusters are currently being established together with a technology park, the new Skolkovo Institute of Technology and a completely new city. These component parts will form a unique ecosystem for technological innovation and entrepreneurship. With three Nobel laureates, more than 370 technology companies and global partners including SAP, Siemens, Bosch and RWE, and an annual budget of more than 1.2 billion euros, the Skolkovo Innovation Centre is Russia’s largest innovation project and about to become a technology hub of global importance. One of the most important objectives of the Skolkovo Foundation is to support Russia’s transformation from a resource-dependent country to an economy based on innovation.
Press contacts:
For the Skolkovo Foundation in Germany:
Andreas Pütz
Burson-Marsteller
Hanauer Landstr. 126-128
60314 Frankfurt
Tel. +49 69 238 09 -23
Mobile +49 173 300 3462
E-Mail: andreas.puetz@bm.com
Technische Universität Berlin:
Stefanie Terp
Technische Universität Berlin
Straße des 17.Juni 135, 10623 Berlin
Tel: +49 30 314-23922
E-Mail: steffi.terp@tu-berlin.de or pressestelle@tu-berlin.deScience and Technology Park Adlershof:
Valentina Gorny
International Office
WISTA-MANAGEMENT GMBH
Rudower Chaussee 17
12489 Berlin
Tel+49 30 63 92 22 30
E-Mail: gorny@wista.de
BBB Management GmbH Campus Berlin-Buch:
Dr. Ulrich Scheller
Chief Executive Officer
BBB Management GmbH Campus Berlin-Buch
Robert-Roessle-Str. 10
13125 Berlin-Buch
Tel +49 (0) 30 9489 -2511
E-Mail: u.scheller@bbb-berlin.de
About the Skolkovo Foundation
The Skolkovo Foundation has the mandate from the Russian Government to help accelerate the transformation of Russia from a resource-intensive to an innovation-based economy through strategic partnerships with leading scientists and corporations (currently numbering over 370 companies and start-ups.) The Foundation aims to strengthen the links between Russian and international science, technology, education, entrepreneurship and investment communities. To achieve this objective it is overseeing the creation of the Skolkovo Innovation Centre composed of five R&D clusters, a Technopark, the Skolkovo Institute of Technology (a new graduate research University established in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and Skolkovo city, located near Moscow. Together these entities will establish a vibrant eco-system of technology innovation and entrepreneurship. The Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in May of 2010 by the Russian Government with a grant of USD 5 billion. For more information: http://www.sk.ru/en/ Weitere Informationen unter: http://www.sk.ru/en