14 DAY TRIAL // While in Russia on the first day of his second European tour in 2010, Microsoft Chef Executive Officer Steve Ballmer penned a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with president of the Skolkovo Fund Viktor Vekselberg, designed to support the future of Russian Federation’s technology innovation. The Skolkovo Fund was introduced earlier in 2010, an initiative fathered by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's underpinning the need to drive evolution of technology in the country.
The Redmond company will invest millions into Skolkovo, pledging to focus on five areas, including building a software development center to create solutions for customers worldwide.
“We are pleased to welcome such an important IT player as Microsoft as a member of the Skolkovo project,” Vekselberg revealed.
“The huge experience of this corporation, both in creation of cutting-edge IT products and solutions and in the organization and support of research, and its expertise and ability to create an innovative ecosystem, will be very useful for developing Skolkovo,” he added.
Microsoft will also need to drive forward the level of collaboration with Russian and foreign universities as well as with scientific research institutions.
Moreover, the software giant has pledged to support a number of additional startups in Russia. In this regard, Microsoft is ready to open its Cloud to companies in Skolkovo, providing enough help to get them off the ground.
Microsoft will also establish a technology center focused on offering collaborative access to IT technologies in Skolkovo, as well as back the creation of a technological university in the region.
“Microsoft is committed to continuing investments that foster local IT industry development and expand growth opportunities in Russia,” Ballmer explained.
“We are proud to be participating in the Skolkovo project, which represents an important step toward increasing technology innovation and modernizing Russia’s economy.”