U.S.-Russia Innovation Corridor Hosts Biotech & IT Startups

Furthering a commitment to bilateral innovation, a delegation of five biomedical and information technology companies from the University of Nizhny Novgorod visited the University of Maryland on October 16-25 under the auspices of the U.S.-Russia Innovation Corridor. The companies participated in the first region-to-region visit of Russian startups under the program since UMD and UNN signed a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2013 to deepen ties in the biomedical industry.

Representatives from the startups tapped into the resources of the Maryland International Incubator (MI2) at UMD and the tech communities of Maryland and Washington to explore commercialization opportunities in the U.S. market. During the visit, the companies demonstrated their innovative technologies, attended bootcamp and crowdfunding sessions, and learned about U.S. intellectual property protection from investors, entrepreneurs, and UMD tech transfer leaders. Companies participating in the delegation included:

• RiCo LLC, which has developed a prototype IR pyrometer to precisely measure temperature for medical diagnostic use;
  
• LLC Lasens, developer of ROZA - a diagnostic biochip screening system to detect early stages of cancer;
  
• Wireless In Motion, maker of a remote vehicle diagnostic and satellite tracking device;
  
• Laboratory of Mobile Services LLC, creator of AlteroZoom - an integrated and interactive personal information system;
  
• Radiotechnology NN LLC, which has launched the prototype of Ornament - a radio frequency system that analyzes local weather conditions to generate extremely accurate forecasts.

"I applaud the efforts of USRIC to build ties at the level of innovations, entrepreneurs and start-ups, and between regions with common industry interests," said Dan Russell, President and CEO of the U.S.-Russia Business Council, during a briefing with the companies. "The innovation corridor model is a very promising one for U.S.-Russia economic relations."

The two-week visit of Russian technology companies immediately follows the selection of three additional Russian startups to take on renewable, virtual, and in-person residencies offered by the U.S.-Russia Innovation Corridor at the University of Maryland. American Councils for International Education selected startups from Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Arkhangelsk based on their innovative footprints in their respective industries and university entrepreneurial ecosystems, including:

• Enzymer, a hardware and software system that monitors the enzymatic activity of microorganisms to increase the cleansing and processing efficiency of wastewater treatment.
  
• National Mineral Resources University in St. Petersburg, which will deepen U.S. contacts and cooperate with partners in the mining and energy sectors.
  
• Magru, a Moscow-based e-publishing service that puts authors in control of copyright with direct sales to readers.

Beyond providing services in business development for the residents, the U.S.-Russia Innovation Corridor advances U.S.-Russia regional collaborations in innovation commercialization and builds case studies about accelerating research-to-market technologies across all sectors.