Visit to the Open Innovations Forum and Technology Show in Moscow, Russia

International affairs

From the 27th to the 30th of October 2015, the Chamber of Commerce of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg organised an accompanied visit to the Open Innovations Forum and Technology Show in Moscow, Russia’s leading platform for technology entrepreneurs and corporations to find new opportunities for development, connect with investors, partners and officials. A dozen representatives of Luxembourg companies as well as half a dozen representatives of different business organizations participated in this visit.

The Open Innovations Forum is one of the largest events in Russia and 2015 showcased the 4th edition. The Forum focuses on future technologies in the modern human society, economy and everyday life. The main topic was Humanity in the Center of the Technological Revolution. The program comprises five specific spheres of the human life that are dramatically changing under the impact of technologies – productivity, habitat, education, health and entertainment.

This year the Open Innovations Forum was launched in a new interactive format with presentations and discussions designed to follow the experience of the best international technological forums. The Luxembourg delegation had the privilege of participating in the plenary session where they could witness the welcome speech by the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, H.E.Mr. Dmitry Medvedev, the keynote speech by Mr. Jeremy Rifkin and many other leading speakers of the Forum.

As part of the visit, a Luxembourg Russia Bilateral Round Table was organized at the Forum, which focused on presenting the Luxembourg economy, its opportunities and its innovations. The Russian side was represented by the Skolkovo Institute, Rusnano and many other important players in the field of innovation.

A breakfast briefing in presence of H.E.Mr. Pierre Ferring, Luxembourg Ambassador to the Russian Federation, dedicated to the subjects of how to do business with Russia, what the current situation is and what opportunities exist for Luxembourg companies was held in collaboration with the Luxembourg Embassy in Moscow and the Russian Trade Representation in Brussels.

During the accompanied visit, participating companies from Luxembourg not only had the opportunity of discovering the Open Innovations Forum 2015, but could also benefit from various company visits and meetings organized to multiply the opportunities to meet key players in the Russian market. The Luxembourg Embassy also invited to a prestigious networking reception to which the participants could invite their Russian contacts.

Additional events included a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, as well as the visit of Technopolis, Moscow’s new entrepreneurial hub. Technopolis is a specialized territory for the development of high technology industries located in close proximity from the city center, whose mission is to develop the innovation ecosystem in Moscow by providing favorable conditions for local and international hi-tech companies. A visit of Zelenograd institute specialized in innovations and microelectronics was also provided. The open joint-stock company "Zelen?grad innovation and technology centre" (ZITC) was founded in 1998 as an organization to assist scientific and industrial activity in the field of microelectronics, electronics and IT.

Another highlight was the visit to the Kaluga Region which was added to the last day of the program. The visit included a meeting with the vice-governor of the Kaluga Region as well as a visit of “Freit Village Kaluga” and the industrial parc “Vorsino”. This visit was organized as a follow-up to the visit of the first Deputy Governor of the Kaluga Region to Luxembourg in 2014 and notably as a preparation to the visit of the Governor of Kaluga to Luxembourg which is planned for 2016.