Cisco to Support IT Development in Kaliningrad Region of Russian Federation

Duncan Mitchell, Cisco SVP, Emerging Markets, and Evgeny Mikhailov, Kaliningrad Region Development Corporation

MOSCOW – December 06, 2013 – As part of the Open Innovations Forum, Cisco and Kaliningrad Region Development Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate in information and communication technologies (ICT) development in the westernmost region of the Russian Federation. Thus Cisco took another step toward keeping its commitment to support entrepreneur development and innovations in Russia, which was announced in 2010.

The agreement was signed by Duncan Mitchell, Cisco SVP, Emerging Markets, and Evgeny Mikhailov, Kaliningrad Region Development Corporation. The document stipulates the formation of a working group that will develop a plan for implementation of the ICT concept for the Corporation’s projects. The concept is aimed at building industrial hubs in the region as well as science parks, business incubators, engineering centers, and other objects of industrial and entrepreneurial infrastructure.

Cisco and Kaliningrad Region Development Corporation intend to cooperate in such areas as development and implementation of joint projects to deploy advanced information technologies in high and vocational education, electronic government, electronic commerce, and new-generation health care (including telemedicine).

As part of the signed agreement, the parties plan to create an ICT concept for an INGRAD BALTICA innovation development cluster to be actively developed by the Corporation. The INGRAD BALTICA project is intended to create an innovation infrastructure in Kaliningrad region, featuring an IT park with 120 companies, comprising 2.500 jobs, that will start operating in 2014, as well as an incubator for start-ups.

Cisco’s great experience in developing and implementing its Smart+Connected Communities™ strategy in many countries is very important in the development of joint projects with Kaliningrad Region Development Corporation. This cooperation is intended to result in the creation of smart city infrastructure based on solutions that raise efficiency of the city service management and optimize introduction of new services.

In the framework of cooperation with Kaliningrad Region Development Corporation, Cisco will also apply its experience in developing initiatives aimed at turning the Skolkovo innovation center into one of the most technology-intensive science parks in the world. Large-scale programs jointly conducted with the Skolkovo Foundation made Cisco the key partner of this center.

Cisco and Kaliningrad Region Development Corporation believe that the MoU signed at the Open Innovations Forum will be the start of long-term cooperation in the region. This cooperation will aim at forming the basis of an information society and wide use of advanced technology to develop information technology in Kaliningrad region.

Supporting Quotes

Evgeny Mikhailov, chairman, Kaliningrad Region Development Corporation:

“This is a unique opportunity for our region. This project will make modern high-tech methods of treatment available for the citizens of Kaliningrad region.”

Nikolay Tsukanov, governor, Kaliningrad region: 

“It is very important that our new partner places a priority on preparing staff for a high-tech economy. In view of geographical and historical peculiarities of our region, the only right way to increase productivity and develop the territory is to introduce innovative solutions in all life areas”.

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Supporting resources:

• Cisco
• Cisco® Smart+Connected Communities
• International Forum for Innovative Development “Open Innovations”
• Kaliningrad Region Development Corporation

About the Kaliningrad Region Development Corporation 

The Corporation was established as an open joint stock company pursuant to Kaliningrad Region Government’s Decision № 285 of 23 April 2012. 100% of the Corporation’s equity is owned by the Government of the Kaliningrad Region.

The Corporation’s main goal is to attract industrial investments to the Kaliningrad Region by creating industrial parks, technology parks, business incubators, engineering centers and other industrial and business infrastructure components in the Region.

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO, news, filings) is the worldwide leader in IT that helps companies seize the opportunities of tomorrow by proving that amazing things can happen when you connect the previously unconnected. For ongoing news, please go to http://thenetwork.cisco.com. Cisco equipment in Russia is supplied through its authorized channel partners by Cisco Systems International BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc.

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