Russia must support domestic innovation business mentors – Skolkovo advisor
Nov 06, 2013
To ensure Russia’s innovation business development, this country must actively support a select group of entrepreneurs in the high-tech sectors that are not only skilled in developing their own successful projects but can also share their experience with younger entrepreneurs as mentors, believes Pekka Viljakainen, the advisor to the president of Russia’s Skolkovo Foundation and a leading international expert in innovation.
Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted Mr. Viljakainen as saying that in his opinion, "the level of Russia’s innovation development is much higher than it was five or six years ago." He pointed out a dramatic increase in innovation activities in Russia’s regions, too.
He thinks to continue the development, Russia should focus on the backing of successful high-tech entrepreneurs who can do more than just run specific projects but would also be willing to mentor other people.
Mr. Viljakainen set the example of Finland’s innovation system which many experts regard as one of the world’s best in creating an "economy of knowledge" in a single country. TEKES, the Finnish Center for Technology and Innovation Development, is a key player in that system, helping fuel the activity of local innovation leaders.
"Russia must make sure it’s a leading group of domestic, not international, experts that advises the beginners. You need to "nurture" your mentors," the expert said.
Pekka Viljakainen set up his own company Oy Visual Systems back in 1986, and then sold it to Tieto. He has played a noticeable role in developing digital services in the European, Russian and Chinese markets. He’s been the primary driver since 2011 of his project "No Fear. The Community," which brings the managers of the world’s leading companies together into a global network.
Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted Mr. Viljakainen as saying that in his opinion, "the level of Russia’s innovation development is much higher than it was five or six years ago." He pointed out a dramatic increase in innovation activities in Russia’s regions, too.
He thinks to continue the development, Russia should focus on the backing of successful high-tech entrepreneurs who can do more than just run specific projects but would also be willing to mentor other people.
Mr. Viljakainen set the example of Finland’s innovation system which many experts regard as one of the world’s best in creating an "economy of knowledge" in a single country. TEKES, the Finnish Center for Technology and Innovation Development, is a key player in that system, helping fuel the activity of local innovation leaders.
"Russia must make sure it’s a leading group of domestic, not international, experts that advises the beginners. You need to "nurture" your mentors," the expert said.
Pekka Viljakainen set up his own company Oy Visual Systems back in 1986, and then sold it to Tieto. He has played a noticeable role in developing digital services in the European, Russian and Chinese markets. He’s been the primary driver since 2011 of his project "No Fear. The Community," which brings the managers of the world’s leading companies together into a global network.