Moscow is intensifying cooperation with Beijing in the light of Western sanctions. This year, Russia established oil exports to China through Kazakhstan; the government of China's Heilongjiang Province granted over $27.7 billion for construction of a railway to the Russian border; Russia is resuming rice imports from China; on September 1, 2015, construction of a cableway between Russia and China will start... Moreover, the sides are discussing expansion of cooperation in the innovation sector.
On October 14-16 Moscow will host the annual Open Innovations Forum, dedicated to advanced technologies and international cooperation in the sector of innovations, where China will become the main partner. Russian Vice Prime Minister Arkady Svorkovich said that attendees of the forum will discuss new breakthrough technologies and their impact on life, the success of foreign companies in preserving their potential, competitiveness, the policy that may result in the highest competitive potential of countries, companies and people.
The forum will discuss common, horizontal topics (development of science, education, business of innovations, large corporations, financial institutions) and vertical topics (biomedicine, healthcare, computer technologies, virtual reality, transportation, infrastructure, green technologies, resources).
"The new innovative map of the world. How to reduce the technological gap between countries" will be the main topic of the plenary session attended by members of the Russian government and Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang.
Leaders of innovative development, heads of international companies, Russian companies, scientists, teachers and businessmen will take part in the forum. The framework of the forum includes a meeting of technical directors, heads of companies responsible for technical and technological policy, and realization of research and construction. According to tradition, the forum includes a youth program based on the forum and other Moscow organizations and universities. The program is being realized by an international group of 100 innovators. The 100 best ideas from all over the world and developers aged under 35 are picked. Young people will have an opportunity to meet leaders, scientists, teachers and people who have achieved success, to exchange experience, ask questions, gain new knowledge and skills and expand contacts.
Federal Minister for Development of the Far East Alexander Galishka, Minister for Communications Nikolai Nikiforov, Minister for Education and Science Dmitry Livanov, Russian governors and high-ranking Chinese officials, including Chinese Minister for Science and Technology Wan Gang will attend the forum.
The exhibition will cover 13,000 square meters consisting of 84 stands, with over 400 organizations from 15 countries represented. Special start-up stands, stands of China and its large companies will be organized.
Skolkovo Fund President Victor Vekselberg said that two Skolkovo companies at the forum will sign a cooperation agreement with large Chinese industrial companies. Georesonance will sign an agreement with China's Fortuna Technology to create a joint venture to implement Russian innovative technologies for de-gassing coal veins and methane extraction in China. Optogard Nanotech will sign a deal with Shandong Trustpipe Industry, the largest Chinese pipeline manufacturer, to cooperate in using laser and plasma technology for production of superhard surfaces and modification of surfaces.
"In the modern situation, it would be very important for the Open Innovations Forum to open doors for full-scale cooperation with Chinese partners," said Vekselberg, reminding that Skolkovo was cooperating with Chinese companies, the Chinese Ministry for Science and Technology, the Torch Center for Development of High Technology Industry which owns about 100 technoparks, Huawei and some other Chinese companies plan to open research centers in Skolkovo, Chinese scientists may join the supervisory council of the Skolkovo University of Science and Technology.
