1. ECONOMICAL AND INDUSTRIAL CONDITION OF THE VLADIMIR REGION

The Vladimir region is one of the most important industrial regions in Russia, in which there are practically no nature resources, except wood, peat and some kinds of raw stuff for building materials industry, so the industry is mostly processing. Different machine-building enterprises, plants producing electronic devices, chemical, glass plants, enterprises of light and food industry are situated in the region. Historically the industry development of the Vladimir region was oriented on the needs of the military complex. At present because of the blunt decrease of military orders many enterprises have to accomplish the conversion of their production, that is a partial or total transition on output of the production of civil purpose.

Vladimir State Technical University (VSTU) as other Universities, situated on the territory of the region, prepared specialists for work in the military industry, and also carried out scientific research work in this field. That is why the conversion process in industry reflected on the conversion of universities. During the nearest years system of high education can't expect wide demand for new scientific or construction elaborations and rise of the demand for specialists in military industry.

Conversion of the military complex led to:

• high technology industrial potential gets free, which gives ability to produce high technological products;
• powerful scientific potential of research and design institutes and universities, whose activities were connected with military industry, becomes unnecessary.

There is undeveloped market of scientific and technical production in the region. The situation is characterized by the following factors:

• monopoly of producers, strengthened by disorganization of economical relations, which made it possible to ignore the improvement of technology and renovation of production during a long period of time;
• shortcoming of financial resource of enterprises to get new technics, materials, intellectual property because of tax pressure;
• absence of readiness to pay real price for products and services of innovation sphere (scientific and technical information, design and technological documentation, etc.), which had formerly very low and sometimes rather simbolic price.

Conversion process taking place in High Education is to consider from two points of view:

1. Conversion of High Education itself means a complex of actions to change scientific leads and educational process in order to resolve the most important economical problems, but reasonable part of functions for defense of Russia should be keeping.
2. Activities of Universities in conversion of military branches of industry are needed. New joint-stock companies make it possible for scientific groups and the personel of enterprises to develop without public investment. Given situation is characterized, on the one hand, by presence of industrial forces without need, and on the other hand, by presence of scientific potential without any financial support. So, there is necessity in special actions to realize scientific ideas into enterprises to organize the output of goods satisfied demand. It means that new techno-centres, incubators of business, etc. may use scientific potential of universities. That is why VSTU supported the idea of creating of innovative-technological centre in the Vladimir region and took part in all stages of forming this Centre.

In creation of Vladimir Ennovative-Technological Centre (VITC) as an instrument of economical development of Vladimir and the Region, public and private institutes were interested in. They are:

• the Administration of the Vladimir Region;
• the Municipality of Vladimir;
• the Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
• the Vladimir State Technical University;
• the Business Undertaking Support Centre;
• the Fund of Employment;
• the Bank "Incombank";
• the Innovations Support Fund;
• the Engineering Academy;
• the Scientific Research Fund.
• the company "Vector";
• the company "MakroMer";

During the creation of the Center, German consultants helped within consulting program of FRG government "TRANSFORM". The development of the Center activities is based on cooperation with the Technological Center of Dortmund and the Innovation Incubator Berlin-Adlershoff.

2. GOALS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE VLADIMIR INNOVATIVE-TECHNOLOGICAL CENTRE

The Vladimir Innovative-Technological Center is an instrument for development of economy in the region with positive influence on the process of reconstruction of economy in Vladimir, as well as in the Vladimir region.

The main task of the VITC is the creation of adequate conditions, which helps innovative and technological companies functioning on the first stage to realize their business ideas as products and services.

The results of these activities must be followings:

• creation and development of medium economical structures and reconstruction of huge economical enterprises;
• mobilization of innovative and scientific potential of starting firms or strengthening of existing small and medium enterprises;
• creation of new, more effective forms of technological transfer and technological cooperation for quick economic usage of scientific results and for more intensive link between science and economy;
• demonstration of chance for independent functioning on the example of successfully working firms and mobilization of existing potentials for independent work in future; creation of qualified, prestigious and permanent working places;
• creation of a set of incubators in Vladimir region as an example for the rest of the regions of Russia.

Thus, VITC is a place of concentration of new firms, first of all technological firms. It will be a place where science and technique will be developed and will be a practical partner in the transfer of technologies.

The Center provides beginning firms with the support in important areas of development and application of modern technologies and innovative services, first of all related with:

• informative and communicative technique;
• electronics, technics for automated processes, heavy industry;
• optics, measurement technics, laser technology;
• new production materials, chemical technologies;
• ecological technologies and technologies for environment protection;
• biotechnology and medicine technique.

VITC suggests a wide spectra of services for firms included in VITC, as well as for other firms and corporations situated nearby VITC. Areas of VITC's services:

• support of the infrastructure for practical activity of firms, for example: laboratory, office, and productive squares on acceptable renting conditions, as well as rooms for seminars, communication tools (phone, fax, photocopying) on reliable prices;
• consultations for firms on the questions of organization via central bureau, information services, office services;
• consultations on the questions of firm foundation, firm management as: internal enterprise problems, staff, marketing, technology, patents, financing, state help, organization of consultations on law questions, and tax questions;
• organization and implementation of activity and seminars to increase qualification of managers and employees, working meetings, press conferences, firm presentation, advertisement activity, participation in workshops, etc.;
• help in search of partners for international cooperation, and cooperation inside the country.

The given list of services takes into account concerns of the firms included into the Centre and other firms situated near the Centre. Realization of these proposals is the aim of management of the VITC. The VITC management uses facilities of its partners and organizers when it is needed.

3. FIRST STEPS AND PROBLEMS

Practical work in creation of the VITC started in June of 1995 by developing of the conception. An active role was played by German experts from Dormunt and Berlin, who have good experience of creating and leading of techno-parks and technological centres. Before the official registration of the VITC, the Vladimir Administration gave the rooms for Centre office. German partners bought office equipment for this office. In april 1996 the VITC was officially registered. The Region Administration gave space to place offices of new small firms which are supported by the Centre.

The VITC and the Regional Undertaking Support Centre prepared draft local law about privileged taxation for new small high technology firms. It provides for delay of tax payment for four years. This project is being investigated by Legislative Council of the Vladimir Region.

The VITC started producing of video advertisement of production of small firms and distributing it in other territories of Russia. Having extensive contacts with scientific organizations and industrial enterprises the VITC suggests consulting of competent specialists for new firms.

There was uncovered principal difference of corresponding conditions in Russia and Germany whose experience was taken into account when VITC was being organized. In Germany expenses connected with privileged services supported by a technological centre are compensated by the state. This model is not practicable in Russia and VITC is forced to earn money to cover the expenses itself. So, there is necessity to investigate new additional means, such as privileged taxation to stimulate high technological companies. The absence of systematic education in the field of innovative activities is also problem.

4. TRAINING OF STAFF FOR INNOVATIVE ACTIVITIES

The VSTU starts organization of training of specialists in business and undertaking connected with science achievements. New self-financial department is established for this purpose in VSTU.

The VSTU has an experience of training of the personel for undertaking activities. The Interregional Centre of VSTU carries out training by order of the Regional Centre of Employment. Business College of the VSTU trains specialists in marketing and management using Russian-British programes. There are chairs of corresponding profile (Management, Economy and Organization of Manufacture, Jurisprudence) and teachers having experience of training students of different specializations.

The expected result of the project will be the first graduators for companies, enterprises and organizations of the Vladimir region. Next leads in training are accepted:

• conversion of enterprises of military industry;
• management of small high technological enterprise;
• undertaking in innovative field;
• management of innovative project;
• administer of enterprise certificated bankrupt;
• management of financial resource.

There are no any other Universities on territory of the Vladimir region which carry out analogous training. Invitation of foreign teachers and experts is planned in the future to add the programe by information about international co-operation. Graduators of the Department will be able to establish new companies by support of Vladimir Innovative-Technological Centre.

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