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Russian Silicon Valley needs global players
Published: 25 March, 2010, 13:16
Edited: 28 April, 2010, 16:14
TAGS: Investment, Russia and the global economy, Big deal, Finance
Russia’s new Silicon Valley needs both support from Government and young scientists to become successful, say Russian and international analysts.
Silicon Valley in Skolkovo, which is claimed to become a hub for the development and commercialization of new technologies in Russia, can only succeed if it attracts global I.T. giants, according to the world’s largest PC maker.
But Alexandr Mikoyan, General Director at Hewlett Packard in Russia, told RT it needs government incentives to set up production there. Without those sweeteners, the company warns there are better places to invest.
“Russia's Silicon Valley will fly if there's some Western big players are present big-time in this valley. The presence of these players will serve as the tool to create more talent. China, Malaysia, India, Brazil use government policy, huge government incentives to get Western and foreign companies to come in and produce something. They compensate, I think, 25% of salaries of American companies investing there, they provide free lease. To negotiate with us sucesfully Russia should be in the same kind of domain.”
On Wednesday President Medvedev picked tycoon Victor Vekselberg to lead the hi-tech hub in Skolkovo, west of Moscow.
However, some analysts believe that intellectual property is far more important, with Jack Barbanel from Strategic Investment group saying to Vedomosti that it’s a key factor for a success.
“The basic precondition for a successful innovation centre is a laboratory of ideas, which could later be converted into revenues,” he said using the examples of the existing Silicon Valley in the U.S. and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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“Russia's Silicon Valley will fly if there's some Western big players are present big-time in this valley. The presence of these players will serve as the tool to create more talent." Is that so? This is ridiculous!!!! Why Russia needs their own Silicon Valley? Why does Russia need to invest in Silicon Valley? May be it is more economically correct to give to Hewlett Packard all government funds directly without costly ineffective Russia's Silicon Valley? What is the particular role of Russia's Silicon Valley in this business? I guess, it is just another financial scam. OK, let me ask you something? Did Japan attracted some Western big players to produce Japanese PC? Did Michael Dell asked for help Western big players to establish his Dell Computer Corporation which was included in its list of the world's 500 largest companies by Fortune magazine. The answer is NO. I guess, Vladislav Surkov had to resign before starting a big mess, if he would ask for help from Alexandr Mikoyan, General Director at Hewlett Packard in Russia.
Innovation needs the correct evironment, that environment needs critical mass. There is no faster way to achieve critical mass than a) move in the existing players b) make sure that freedom is established, so that the players contribute, but don't control, so you truly have a critical mass of innovation, not western companies. Basically let the workers have freedom to migrate from company to company and in the end to their startup, without big brother western corp, claiming ownership of everything. Yes we need pay to get critical mass, there are no free lunches. These firms will need pampering.... However, that money in the end can prove well spent, providing we enshrine intelectual freedom for the innovative workers. We don't want a corporate Gulag.
John, you are wrong about Japan. I.B.M. led in Japan for years until Japanese hardware and software players were created. The same in South Korea. They LEARNT from more advanced competitors and finally surpassed them in some fields while they are still behind in other fields. So, it is possible, once Russian engeneers working for those foreign firms learn they can create their own companies. Remember that the German sofware company S.A.P. the largest software company in Europe, and the largest company in the World in the business software area was founded by German engeneers who worked for I.B.M. What is important is that Russian engeneers and scientists learn to develop their skills on private companies...later they can found their own companies with their own innovative ideas. And, if foreign engeneers and scientists can support the Russian industry with their skills, much better. If some of the brightest foreign high tech specalist decide to work in Russia and from their research and innovative ideas the whole industry improves that would mean the program has been a success. In 20 years we can evaluate the results of the this program.