The Gate2RuBIN brokerage meeting was held on 29 October 2009, in Moscow.
During 18 months, an Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Centre in Russia (a consortium of RUITC, RTTN, RA) has been acting as a bridge between Russia and EU businesses providing services to create partnerships related to business development (B2B), transnational technology transfer (TTT) and research cooperation (R&D). In the framework of the Gate2RuBIN project, a regional network of Russian centres was established in 2008. These regional centres are focused on the international cooperation and provide services locally for their clients. The Gate2RuBIN consortium coordinates the Russian centres and supports their interactions with the European partners.

To increase the visibility among the EU partner centres of the EEN-Russia capabilities in establishing business and technological EU-RF partnerships, Gate2RuBIN Project Coordination Team invited European representatives to meet their Russian colleagues representing the interests of Russian companies and research institutes.

The brokerage meeting participants received a unique opportunity to have personal meetings with their foreign colleagues in order to demonstrate their capacities and also the needs and the potential of their regions for establishing international partnerships in the course of individual discussions and negotiations. The Gate2RuBIN brokerage meeting brought together more than 60 representatives of 6 EEN Centres (France, Germany, UK, Greece, Finland, Turkey) and 27 Russian regional centres.

At the beginning of the Gate2RuBIN meeting, Martina Diss, Head of Unit – Animation of the Enterprise Europe Network (Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation - EACI) welcomed the participants and pointed out that the European Commission attached a great importance to the Russian involvement into EEN. 
In the framework of plenary sessions, presentations were made about the existing national tools (programs, projects, initiatives) for supporting B2B and technological cooperation of Russian SMEs and R&Ds organizations with international partners. Russian regional centres presented the potential and needs of RF regions and specific projects of their clients interested in EU-RF cooperation.
Moreover, competencies of all regional centres were available from the catalogue “Discover the Russian Innovation Cooperation Potential” prepared by the Coordination Team before the brokerage meeting. It can be found as attached file.

Besides of brokerage plenary sessions, extended breaks were foreseen for personal bilateral communications. Every participant held from 3 to 8 meetings aimed at establishing bilateral relationships.

The Gate2RuBIN brokerage meeting provided an opportunity for European partner centres to raise their awareness about the EEN Russia operation model and partner search opportunities in Russia, and to have useful discussions with Russian partners. This was stressed by Marjo Uotila from TEKEL – Finish Science Park Association: “the event proved to be an excellent opportunity to meet and get to know the Russian partners of the Enterprise Europe Network”.

The Russian partners mentioned that they received a better understanding of mutual interests and cooperation areas between Russian and EU clients. Moreover, intercommunication of Russian centres resulted in a better understanding of each other’s capacities and establishing useful contact.

 

According to Christian Dubarry, OSEO Innovation (France), "the event was organized very professionally; it was a unique opportunity to meet and discuss with people involved in innovation development across the whole Russia. Last but not least, the event gave a good picture of the promising initiatives taken to turn the Russian science and technology potential into SMEs and economic development."

 

Chris Farmakis, Greater London Enterprise (UK), summarized his impressions as follows: “The event was very useful in getting an understanding of the support structures in place to accommodate and endorse commercial and entrepreneurial activity for businesses venturing in Russia. We have a great interest from UK companies seeking business opportunities in Russia and the event enabled us as stakeholders to get an accurate insight which we can relay. I am confident that there will be a much more systematic and effective approach from our side to promote business co-operation between UK and Russian businesses, Universities and Research Institutes”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brokerage meeting Gate2RuBIN (photo review)
Brokerage Meeting Catalouge
Gate2RuBIN project as a bridge between EU and Russia businesses and R&D - Anton Yanovsky
Federal SME support program: opportunities to support international B2B cooperation - Victor Ermakov
Joint FASIE calls for SME cooperation (France, Germany): results and perspectives - Alexander Larchikov
«Russian Federal Target Programs (FTP) as a tool to support R&D cooperation with EU partners - Irina Kuklina