Panasonic opens its R&D center in Russia’s Skolkovo high tech hub
Panasonic thus became the first Japanese company to sign up as a Skolkovo partner
Jul 21, 2015
Earlier this summer Panasonic opened its R&D center in Skolkovo, the international tech hub under completion on the outskirts of Moscow, following an agreement signed in December 2014, the Skolkovo Foundation announced.
Panasonic thus became the first Japanese company to sign up as a Skolkovo partner. The agreement commits Panasonic to deploying at least 30 workers from its Russian representative office at the R&D center by 2017—an operation that will cost the company around $3m at the current exchange rate, according to the Skolkovo Foundation.
The center will focus its research on coming up with energy efficiency solutions for the Russian technology and energy sectors. Panasonic’s priority R&D areas are alternative energy sources, in particular solar panels, electricity storage systems and fuel cells.
The center will also work on unique technologies developed by the company itself, such as robotic Blu-Ray libraries and echo-visualization systems, which are in need of fine-tuning in preparation for the Russian market.
In addition, Panasonic will provide Skolkovo’s resident companies with R&D support, including training and acceleration programs, and organize running competitions.
"We are excited about the opportunity to apply the advanced solutions made by our engineers… in the development of the first innovation center in Russia," said Junichi Suzuki, the CEO of Panasonic Russia.
Skolkovo’s international partners also include Boeing, Cisco Systems, EADS, GE, Johnson & Johnson, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Siemens, Nokia, Samsung, and a few others. Panasonic is Skolkovo’s 45th partner overall.
Panasonic thus became the first Japanese company to sign up as a Skolkovo partner. The agreement commits Panasonic to deploying at least 30 workers from its Russian representative office at the R&D center by 2017—an operation that will cost the company around $3m at the current exchange rate, according to the Skolkovo Foundation.
The center will focus its research on coming up with energy efficiency solutions for the Russian technology and energy sectors. Panasonic’s priority R&D areas are alternative energy sources, in particular solar panels, electricity storage systems and fuel cells.
The center will also work on unique technologies developed by the company itself, such as robotic Blu-Ray libraries and echo-visualization systems, which are in need of fine-tuning in preparation for the Russian market.
In addition, Panasonic will provide Skolkovo’s resident companies with R&D support, including training and acceleration programs, and organize running competitions.
"We are excited about the opportunity to apply the advanced solutions made by our engineers… in the development of the first innovation center in Russia," said Junichi Suzuki, the CEO of Panasonic Russia.
Skolkovo’s international partners also include Boeing, Cisco Systems, EADS, GE, Johnson & Johnson, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Siemens, Nokia, Samsung, and a few others. Panasonic is Skolkovo’s 45th partner overall.