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Cluster policy, development strategy of regions to be discussed

The congress segment of the innovation forum will have about 60 events

ST PETERSBURG, September 28 (Itar-Tass) — An innovative strategy for the development of towns and regions, the training of personnel for the country's new economy,as well as a cluster policy will be the main subjects for discussion at the 4th international innovation forum opening here on Wednesday.

The forum, which is to be held at the LenExpo exhibition compound, has drawn Russian and foreign participants in innovations-related activities from various fields -- Federal and regional government bodies, investors, scientists, educators, and institutions for development.

It is expected that Russian Vice-Premier Dmitry Kozak, Midkhat Shagiakhmetov, Minister of Economics of the Republic of Tatarstan, John Tierney, Dublin City Manager, Oleg Alexeyev, vice-president of the Skolkovo Foundation, Roman Tortsenko, president of the United Shipbuilding Corporation, and others will take part in the congress programme of the forum.

The congress segment of the innovation forum will have about 60 events, including plenary meetings on key subjects, thematic roundtable meetings, conferences and discussion panels with the participation of experts. At the same time, presentations of the newest technological and intellectual development studies, as well as a session of the youth section of the St Petersburg international innovation forum will be held withn the scope of the business programme.

Those present are to sign a number of agreements, including those on the establishment of an innovation cluster of manufacturers of space equipment, developers of technologies and providers of services, on interaction between the government of St Petersburg and the General Motors Company, on cooperation between the city and the Russian Venture Company. The Russian premiere of the newest modification of the "E(yo)-mobile" will be held at the congress ground, organizers say.

The exhibition area of the forum will incorporate the display stands of a number of regions of Russia (such as Pskov and Chelyabinsk regions, the republics of Karelia, Komi, Tatarstan, and the city of St Petersburg) and foreign companies, those from Germany and Finland, in particular, and various innovation clusters. A business contacts exchange will also traditionally function at the LenExpo these days.

This year, the three-day forum has been organized by the government of St Petersburg and the Republic of Tatarstan. Support to the forum is given by the State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Finance, as well as the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. According to the organizing committee, the previous international innovation forum held in the city attracted over 11,000people.

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