There will be money for nanotech

Svetlana Khorosheva, Roman Romanyuk, "Business Petersburg", 06.02.09

In December, DP discussed with scientists, representatives of technological businesses and investors the prospects for the development of the nanoindustry in St. Petersburg.

As it turned out, despite the crisis, there are investors in the city who are ready to invest in nano-developments. And the state corporation RUSNANO (which has almost 135 billion rubles) intends to support both scientists and investors in this difficult time. The main difficulty lies in the fact that St. Petersburg scientists are not always able to find a common language with both RUSNANO and investors.

Sergey Petrov, Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation:

I think that before talking about nanotechnology, we need to discuss the situation in the innovation industry in general. In my opinion, Russia is not an innovative country and has never been so. Of course, we are constantly inventing something, inventing something, but then, either because of our vast expanses, or because of our broad thinking, almost nothing finds practical application.

But it is quickly implemented abroad. I would like to know the opinion of the scientists gathered here, it is good that there are representatives of both the older and younger generations, the opinions of developers and, of course, entrepreneurs implementing technological projects. Is it really possible to make Russia an innovative country?

Dmitry Lisenkov, Managing Director of the Russian Nanotechnology Corporation (RUSNANO):

In Finland, even 30-40 years ago, the innovation industry was much less developed than it is now in Russia. But the institutions that were founded there and the programs that began to be implemented made it possible to create one of the most effective innovation systems in the world.

In Russia, in the last couple of years, I believe, measures have begun to be taken, thanks to which the situation may change within 10 years. For example, the task of RUSNANO Corporation is to create a scheme of work in which it will be profitable for Russian business to develop high–tech projects. The Corporation offers business angels and venture funds to co-finance projects and thus share risks. We plan that thanks to this, the share of domestic nanoproducts in the world market will grow to 3% by 2015. This year it is only 0.07%.

Leonid Karachinsky, Researcher at the A.F. Ioffe Institute of Physics and Technology of the Russian Academy of Sciences:

I have been engaged in science for more than 10 years, and it seems to me that today it is necessary to solve the problem of non-innovation at the level of scientific institutes and universities. It is necessary to purchase modern equipment and encourage young people to engage in science. And also to allocate grants, the size of which would be comparable to European ones and would allow at least one or two years of research and development. These measures should be taken by the State. If it does not participate in these processes, then in 10 years neither private investors nor venture funds will simply have nothing to invest in.

Vladimir Vasiliev, Rector of St. Petersburg State University ITMO, Chairman of the Council of Rectors of St. Petersburg Universities:

Now it is customary to say that we have many scientists with promising projects, including those related to nanotechnology, but no one supports them. In fact, I can say that we are far from doing so well with science.

There is a clear criterion that determines the level of development of the scientific base all over the world – this is the number of publications in a particular field and the dynamics of their appearance. So from 2000 to 2008, the growth of publications on nanotechnology in scientific journals in Russia was 3-4%, in the world - 24%. I think this clearly demonstrates that we are not actively forming new knowledge today.

Alexey Vasiliev, General Director of NPP "AQUAPAST" (medical diagnostic drugs):

It seems to me that we in Russia do not need to make any grandiose scientific discoveries now that can immediately turn the world upside down. We need to go through the consistent improvement of existing products and developments. I think you can even copy foreign developments, bringing certain improvements to them.

I am not sure that we can really compete with the West now. Of course, the process is underway, certain structures are being created aimed at developing the innovation sphere. But this is not enough yet. I want to give an example of my fellow student who went to America and there with six Russian scientists organized a company similar to mine for the production of diagnostic drugs. This is how the university supports them, it has provided them with free premises, equipment and $ 5 billion for 5 years. And how can I compete with him on the international market?

Viktor Gerasimov, General Director of NPP "Carbon Technologies and Materials":

I represent a small company that produces fullerenes. They are used in medicine, cosmetics, and industry.

I would like to note that in order to work effectively with nanomaterials, it is necessary that there be an operating analytical laboratory. Because we, as manufacturers, need to constantly analyze materials, look for new applications, and then, of course, only in this case we will be able to be commercially successful. And there are no such analytical laboratories.

We were able to create it thanks to our investors. Moreover, we are currently working exclusively with private investors. Because so far we are a young company that has just entered the market, and we absolutely do not meet the requirements that are imposed by the main venture funds or, for example, the state corporation RUSNANO when accepting applications for financing.

Vitaly Sergeev, Chairman of the Movement of Young Professionals:

Scientists and developers simply don't have enough money. We do not have a functioning mechanism that would connect scientists with businessmen. Because from my own experience, I can say that a developer, even if he has the most brilliant idea, is practically unable to get funding for it himself. Most often, he applies to two or three foundations, gets rejected there and then postpones the project.

If there were some kind of center, real or virtual, with constantly updated information about which scientific areas are currently interesting to which companies, then it would be easier for scientists and developers to find interested partners with money.

Dmitry Shiryaev, Project Manager, Institute of Independent Financial Expertise CJSC:

I absolutely agree that scientists are often unable to raise money for their project. Therefore, I believe that it is necessary to create a well-functioning institute of financial and investment consultants. Such consultants are needed in order to analyze the project and offer its developers a concept for its implementation.

They can also offer to conduct marketing research, calculate the payback of the project, offer financing options, prepare the necessary presentation materials.

Lada Fomenko, President of the Eternal Youth Foundation:

We are looking for promising projects in the field of biomedicine, biophysics, biochemistry. Recently, we have also been engaged in developments related to nanotechnology. We consider projects that are at any stage, even at the idea stage. We have worked on about 60 projects. Of these, 10 seemed interesting to us, and we decided to finance them. Moreover, RUSNANO has already shown interest in some of them, and we have started close negotiations.

Andrey Fomenko, President and Founder of FHK Imperia, private investor, founder of the Eternal Youth Foundation:
I believe in innovation and in nanotechnology especially and am ready to invest in them. Does anyone present at this round table need money? Let's start negotiations.

Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru
06.02.2009