Mr Chairman, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for your kind introduction. On behalf of the DTI, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all delegates to this conference, particularly the Russian firms who have come to seek collaboration with UK counterparts.
As Minister for Science and Technology, I appreciate the strength of Russian science. The scientific expertise in Russia is second to none, particularly in the field of basic science such as Maths, Physics and Chemistry.
Russia has half a million researchers in four thousand specialised institutes. And, notwithstanding the difficult budgetary conditions which the country has experienced over a number of years, the quality of the science remains very high indeed. However to help sustain this knowledge, it is important for Russia, and the West, that the scientific knowledge is commercialised for the benefit of all.
To our Russian guests I would simply say this. Although the UK has an excellent record in scientific discovery - producing 9% of the world's cited research papers with 1% of the world's population - we recognise that it is necessary to co-operate internationally in order to maximise our own potential. Global collaboration is the driving force for scientific advance and commercial success.
With this in mind, I would like to emphasise that we are Europe's leading research collaborators and partners. For example, the UK is the leading European partner in European research programmes and the UK has an excellent track record of successful management of projects in the European Framework programme. As part of the EU we also participate in the International Science and Technology Centre in Moscow and fully support its mission of redirecting scientific talents to peaceful science through science co-operation.
However, science in itself does not generate personal wealth, rather innovation and enterprise are required to do that.
And this is where I believe UK/ Russian collaboration can result in real benefit to both partners. UK firms bring not only technology, but a track record of managing fast-growth, high-tech businesses. If we work together we can make certain that knowledge, innovation and enterprise are brought together in a focussed way to generate sales and value added
There is of course one additional element which is needed to convert knowledge to value added, namely capital. It is capital that ensures that products and services reach the market and that future scientific advances can be made.
I am conscious of the investment and risk which British companies are required to take to collaborate internationally, which is why we participate so actively in European programmes. But we also need to take risk on our own account and this is where the Export Credits Guarantee Department has a role to play.
ECGD has been carrying out a review of its exposure to Russian risks, during which time the firms have been unable to obtain export credit cover for the Russian market. I am pleased to tell you that the results of this market review are going to be announced shortly.
While export credit is important in promoting commerce, I would also like to take this opportunity to emphasise another role which government can play. I believe that all too few UK firms are aware of the excellent technology which exists in Russia and the enormous potential for collaboration. We intend to ameliorate the situation by raising the awareness of the possibilities for collaboration through the Department's International Technology Service.
You will have seen the supplement on Russia in the Globalwatch magazine, which the Department circulates to over 10,000 companies, and other organisations, which have an interest in international developments in technology. We shall continue to use Globalwatch as a means for communicating developments in Russia.
We are also developing our Globalwatch Online website which is being piloted at the moment on a small sample of 200 firms. We expect the pilot to be completed before Christmas and a full launch is anticipated in the New Year. This will provide information on developments in a large number of countries, including Russia, so that British firms will have "one click access" to technology developments around the world.
But information and awareness are only the starting point, and I am delighted to see Juan Matthews, our newly appointed International Technology Promoter for Russia, in the Chair this morning. I will not spare his blushes: he comes to the job with enormous experience of Russian science and technology, having spent the last few years working with Russian research institutes. His main task is to identify, and facilitate, the opportunities for fruitful collaboration between UK and Russian organisations. I am sure many of you will want to avail yourselves to the opportunity of informing Juan of your particular interests
But we all know that the success of international technology collaboration lies in the people involved, and in developing a good mutual understanding of the technology and its capability. That is why the DTI's International Technology Service operates a Secondments programme for the benefit of small and medium sized enterprises. SMEs from any sector can second a key person for a period of 3-12 months in an overseas organisation, in order to ensure that the technology transfer process operates effectively, and thereby significantly improve their competitiveness. The DTI funds up to 50% of the total project costs, which can reach £100,000 on secondments to the Far East.
Only recently, I visited AHA Technology on the Southampton University Science Park and, as a result of that visit, the firm contacted the International Technology Service, and a secondment project to a Russian research institute has been developed and agreed. As I am sure the firm would acknowledge, the Department can, and does, move quickly to support firms who have a good understanding of their own technology needs.
A final word about international collaboration. To British firms I would say, "Open your eyes to the enormous possibilities which Russian science and technology and the Russian market offers you". To our Russian friends I would say, "Make the process of collaboration easy for us by ensuring easy access to the best research teams and by protecting the Intellectual Property Rights of the firms concerned". Between us, we have the potential to generate some truly exciting projects.
I congratulate the organisers, Eventica, for arranging today's event, I regard this as a very important initiative which is why I will be in Moscow in a couple of months time.
It only remains for me to wish you, the delegates, a most successful Conference.
Thank you.
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