About Project

Skolkovo innovation center establishment raises an obligate question about the innovation regions role in the national innovation system establishment.

Tomsk region worked out a model of Federal education, research and development center. For the first time the project was presented in the framework of Tomsk Innovation Forum INNOVUS in May 2010 under the brand name “INO Tomsk 2020”.

INO Tomsk 2020 project significance for Tomsk and Russia

Today Russia needs new solutions and complex pilot models of “clever” cities, which have a specific mentality and are aimed at innovation production and distribution. Exactly the intellection peculiarities but not geoeconomical advantages determine modern states wealth within new economy.

Experience of world innovation centers, such as Silicon Valley and Oxford innovation network, shows that the approach, when not only special scientific institutions, universities and high technology companies but also federal and regional authorities, municipalities, are the agents of innovation process, is the most effective.

Building of innovation economy is impossible without establishment of special territories, education, research and development centers. New schemes of urban development should be put into practice. They school lead to high living standards, successful competition for talents and innovation communities. An objective to establish such centers is becoming a key priority for Russia.

Innovation territory parameters

Key parameters – high-quality urban environment in combination with universities, R&D and innovation companies commitment:

• critical mass presence of research, scientific, educational, innovation structures which are competitive on an international scale.
• business alignment with promotion of innovation products and services.
• positive environment for innovation processes development.
• high rate of young well-educated population, a central role of university campus in city space.

Tomsk today

Today Tomsk is a potential site for Federal education, research and development center building. Within more than 10 years a model of innovation development territory is being gradually implemented. Tomsk universities are traditionally town-forming organizations, and they can be attached to Russian higher education leaders. Tomsk state university and Tomsk polytechnic university have a status of national research university. Tomsk region is ritually attached to Russia three leaders in number of students per capita. Special economic zone of technology development type is functioning, multi-access centers network and other elements of innovation infrastructure exist in Tomsk. More than 400 innovation organizations are established in the region, an innovation network of knowledge-intensive business at Tomsk universities and R&Ds is being formed.

In Tomsk purpose-oriented programs are fulfilled in all innovation development directions, including a support of small innovation enterprises. An average amount of finance of regional budget for regional innovation system establishment and development has increased in 4,5 times within last 5 years and in 2010 it was more than 1,4 billion rubles, and more than 10 billion rubles including federal budget financing and private investments.

Experts consider Tomsk region as the most prepared one for an innovation breakthrough in comparison with all the rest Russian regions. Tomsk could become one of the first success stories on the way of national innovation system establishment.