Innovestor visits the Republic of Tatarstan
Wilhelm Lindholm, Partner & MD Russia in Innovestor, visited Tatarstan as part of a business delegation led by Hannu Himanen, Finnish Ambassador to Russia. The visit took place in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, on 6 Jul 2016 and was hosted by Rustam Minnikhanov, President of Tatarstan.
“Tatarstan has built a vibrant eco-system to foster innovation, and the republic belongs to the most progressive and business friendly regions in Russia”, Wilhelm explains. With a long history of industrial manufacturing in helicopter, automotive and petrochemical industries, Tatarstan has a well-developed infrastructure and resources for investments in high-tech sectors. “It is a really dynamic place with loads of potential”, Wilhelm continues.
In addition to the official meeting with the President and members of the regional government, Wilhelm also met representatives of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency, Investment and Venture Fund of Tatarstan and Pulsar Venture Capital, the leading local VC fund. Innovestor was invited to take in part in Kazan Venture Fair, one of the largest annual events for entrepreneurs and investors in Russia. According to Wilhelm, “The administration has created an impressive network to support local entrepreneurs in their quest to build successful businesses”.
The final stop of the visit was a tour at Innopolis, a whole new city established from scratch in 2012, and Tatarstan’s flagship project in the sphere of innovation. Innopolis is a smart city situated some 40 kilometers outside Kazan, that combines a modern residential infrastructure and clean environment with broad opportunities for education and professional development in the IT sector.
