Russia's tech hub signs deal with Nokia, eyes Intel
Credit: Reuters (www.reuters.com)
(Reuters) - Intel Corp may join a growing number of the world's biggest technology firms in backing Russia's Silicon Valley-style technology hub.
Skolkovo, launched earlier this year as part of President Dmitry Medvedev's drive to modernize the oil and gas-dependent Russian economy, on Wednesday signed an agreement with Nokia, the world's biggest handset maker.
"We are holding talks to attract a number of big corporations. Before the end of the year we hope to sign an agreement with Intel," Viktor Vekselberg, an oil and mining tycoon who heads the Skolkovo foundation, told journalists.
Skolkovo aims to give state backing to companies to help them develop new products in five priority sectors -- energy, IT, telecommunications, biotech, and nuclear technologies.
Vekselberg said he wanted to have two or three key partners in each area.
Skolkovo is attractive to foreign companies seeking to cement their positions in Russia's fast-growing economy.
Vekselberg has this month signed a partnership agreement with Microsoft's Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, who said the U.S. firm's investment in the project would amount to "tens of millions of dollars" a year.
Esko Aho, Nokia's Vice President for corporate relations and responsibility, said he also expected to spend "double digit millions of dollars" on setting up a research and development center in Skolkovo and providing venture investments.
"In Skolkovo Nokia will continue to support Russian software developers," he said adding that the center would also cover areas ranging from mobile computing to nanotechnologies.
Nokia currently has seven research and development centres -- in UK, India, Kenya, China, the United States, Switzerland and Finland -- and expects that the Russian center would be comparable by size and tasks.
U.S. group Cisco said in June it would invest $1 billion in Russia this decade and help to build the Skolkovo center alongside Germany's Siemens.
(Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by David Cowell)
Credit: Reuters (www.reuters.com)
Credit: Reuters (www.reuters.com)
(Reuters) - Intel Corp may join a growing number of the world's biggest technology firms in backing Russia's Silicon Valley-style technology hub.
Skolkovo, launched earlier this year as part of President Dmitry Medvedev's drive to modernize the oil and gas-dependent Russian economy, on Wednesday signed an agreement with Nokia, the world's biggest handset maker.
"We are holding talks to attract a number of big corporations. Before the end of the year we hope to sign an agreement with Intel," Viktor Vekselberg, an oil and mining tycoon who heads the Skolkovo foundation, told journalists.
Skolkovo aims to give state backing to companies to help them develop new products in five priority sectors -- energy, IT, telecommunications, biotech, and nuclear technologies.
Vekselberg said he wanted to have two or three key partners in each area.
Skolkovo is attractive to foreign companies seeking to cement their positions in Russia's fast-growing economy.
Vekselberg has this month signed a partnership agreement with Microsoft's Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, who said the U.S. firm's investment in the project would amount to "tens of millions of dollars" a year.
Esko Aho, Nokia's Vice President for corporate relations and responsibility, said he also expected to spend "double digit millions of dollars" on setting up a research and development center in Skolkovo and providing venture investments.
"In Skolkovo Nokia will continue to support Russian software developers," he said adding that the center would also cover areas ranging from mobile computing to nanotechnologies.
Nokia currently has seven research and development centres -- in UK, India, Kenya, China, the United States, Switzerland and Finland -- and expects that the Russian center would be comparable by size and tasks.
U.S. group Cisco said in June it would invest $1 billion in Russia this decade and help to build the Skolkovo center alongside Germany's Siemens.
(Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by David Cowell)
Credit: Reuters (www.reuters.com)
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