Rustam Minnikhanov at an opening ceremony of XX Russian Venture Forum: The Forum status and its demand are growing every year

On 9 April the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, the Russian Minister of Science and Higher Education Valeriy Falkov, the Russian Presidential Aid Andrey Fursenko and the Executive Director of the Russian Venture Capital Association Albina Nikkonen took part in a ceremony of opening the XX Russian Venture Forum held at the Kazan Expo Exhibition Center on 9-10 April with participation of representatives of the innovational branch from more than 20 countries.

The main topic of the Forum is “The Technological Leadership – investments into the Future” and unites discussions of scientific and technological sovereignty, development of entrepreneurship platforms and market trends analysis. The specialized exhibition of the forum demonstrates 150 high tech startups, including those from India, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan and other countries.

Speaking at the ceremony, Valeriy Falkov said that the Forum has attracted more than 6000 participants and its main topic emphasizes the key task the country is facing. He stated that the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education strives to improve the work of universities and the higher education system as a whole, placing an emphasis on supporting technology leaders that is those who are still at the university environment but already think in terms of product, market, and global competition.   

The Russian Minister emphasized that for the last 20 years the Forum has become one of key platforms for shaping the technological development agenda, attracting investments and uniting teams of like-minded people.

In his turn Andrey Fursenko stated that the current period of time is difficult for economic projects but ideas, which emerge at the Forum, will be in demand in the future as they are focused on strategy and long-term prospects.

“Many of our partners look at us: if we are engaged in venture capital, if we are engaged in strategy, it means that we truly believe in our future,” he emphasized.

Albina Nikkonenen shared her recollections of the venture fair which gave birth to the Russian Venture Forum and said:” I would like to thank Rustam Minnikhanov for coming to St Petersburg in 2006, having looked around and deciding to host this event in Kazan. Now we can see it was a correct decision. And Kazan has become the federal platform everyone is talking about and about which investors ask: when are we having the next Forum?”

In his welcoming speech Rustam Minnikhanov thanked all those who have come to the Forum and wished them good and fruitful work and a good stay in Kazan. “We can see that the Forum status and its demand are growing every year. I assure you we will continue this work! The most important is that we have invited our guests and they all have come,” he concluded.