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RF ministry, US State Department, Skolkovo fund sign memorandum

The document summed up the first meeting of the Russian-US working group on innovations

LOS ANGELES, March 28 (Itar-Tass) —— The Russian Ministry of Economic Development, the US State Department and the Skolkovo Fund signed a memorandum on mutual understanding in innovative cooperation in San Jose, California, on Tuesday.

The document summed up the first meeting of the Russian-US working group on innovations. Russia and the United States show common interests in joint research and the joint development and commercialization of new technologies.

“Three parties signed the document. This is an important step, because the Skolkovo innovative centre will be involved in the work of the working group,” Deputy Minister of Economic Development Oleg Fomichev, who headed the Russian delegation, told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

“Today we discussed three basic issues: the development of clusters, including in the regions, legal aspects in innovative sphere, including the improvement of the legal basis in Russia for the protection of intellectual property rights, as well as the commercialization of scientific projects. We agreed to form three teams, which will outline further ways for cooperation in all these issues,” he noted. “Today we set the guidelines for further work,” Fomichev added.

US private companies said they are ready to participate in the joint work. Officials from the largest corporation, including Microsoft, Cisco Systems and other major companies participated in the meeting. Skolkovo and RUSNANO represented Russia. The US side noted that they are ready to expand the participation on the Russian market, noting an enormous potential for development.

The working group for innovations along with other 19 specialized working groups works within the Russian-US Presidential Commission. In July 2009 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his US counterpart Barack Obama declared about the creation of this commission. The commission should contribute to the improvement of ties and cooperation between the governments of the two countries.

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