Open Innovations Forum

Contents

Open Innovations Forum is an annual international forum and exhibition focused on innovation, technology, and science policy held in Moscow. Founded to showcase research commercialization, industrial partnerships, and venture activity, the forum assembles representatives from Skolkovo Innovation Center, Rosatom, Rostec, Russian Venture Company, and bodies connected to the Government of Russia. It attracts delegations from the European Union, BRICS, G20, United Nations, and multinational firms such as Microsoft, Siemens, Google, and Intel.

Overview

The forum originated after policy initiatives involving Dmitry Medvedev and institutions such as Skolkovo Foundation in the late 2000s, aiming to emulate innovation ecosystems exemplified by Silicon Valley, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the Tech City, London cluster. Early editions included partnerships with Rosnano, Russian Academy of Sciences, and foreign delegations from France, Germany, China, India, and Japan. Over time the event featured keynote addresses referencing projects such as collaborations with European Space Agency, Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities, and multinational research consortia tied to Horizon 2020 and EUREKA.

Common thematic tracks include panels on artificial intelligence with delegates from Yandex, DeepMind, OpenAI, and Facebook AI Research; energy technology including Rosatom, Gazprom Neft, and Siemens Energy; digital transformation with firms like VTB Bank, Mail.Ru Group, and SAP SE; life sciences involving Biocad, BIOCAD, and universities such as Sechenov University; and aerospace with United Aircraft Corporation and Roscosmos. Other tracks address venture capital and startup acceleration featuring Russian Venture Company, Runa Capital, IQ Capital, DST Global, and accelerator models from Y Combinator and Techstars.

Notable participants have included heads of state and ministers from Russia, China, India, and United Arab Emirates; business leaders from Alphabet Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Alibaba Group, SoftBank Group, and Temasek Holdings; and academic delegations from Harvard University, Columbia University, ETH Zurich, and University of Tokyo. Partnerships and memoranda of understanding announced at the forum have involved Skolkovo Foundation with European Investment Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Rosnano, Rostec, Siemens, and research consortia linked to CERN and ESA.

Major outcomes have included technology commercialization deals, venture funding rounds facilitated by Russian Venture Company and RDIF, collaborative projects between Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and public–private initiatives with Sberbank and Rosatom. The forum has hosted exhibitions showcasing prototypes from Kaspersky Lab, Yandex Taxi, Tinkoff Bank, and startup showcases with investment pitches to funds such as Almaz Capital and Baring Vostok Capital Partners. It has also been a venue for bilateral agreements between Russia and delegations from France, Germany, China, India, and Brazil.

Proponents cite increased visibility for Russian innovation clusters like Skolkovo Innovation Center and growth in venture funding from entities such as Russian Venture Company and RDIF. Critics highlight concerns raised by commentators at Chatham House and analysts at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace about state influence, technology transfer, and geopolitical tensions affecting collaborations with entities such as European Union institutions and firms like Siemens and Airbus. Debates have involved export controls exemplified by policies from United States Department of Commerce, multinational sanctions dynamics involving European Union sanctions policy, and the role of state investment through Russian Direct Investment Fund.