Successes and Difficulties of Small Innovative Firms in Russian Nuclear Cities Proceedings of a Russian-American Workshop (2002) / Chapter Skim
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Development of Small Innovative Companies in Obninsk to Serve the Russian Market
Development of Small Innovative Companies in Obninsk to Serve the Russian Market
Pages 88-96
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From page 88... ...
Their fields of activity, including both development and production, vary widely: oxygen gas analyzers (Ekon Closed Toint-Stock Company) , milk filters (Conversfilter Research and Production Enterprise)
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From page 89... ...
It was founded by the city's institutes to commercialize discoveries and inventions made in the city. Now, however, OCST has established a whole production section for manufacturing pilot samples of high-tech products: aerosol filters for the nuclear industry, water purification filters, devices for disinfecting medical wastes, and feed additives for removing radionuclides from livestock and raising their productivity.
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From page 90... ...
Despite these positive notes, the enterprise also provides some examples of actions that were not completely successful, especially with regard to the production of water purification filters. Having applied advanced technology based on research to create purification systems for submarine heat exchangers, the company devoted its efforts to producing single filters for household use.
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From page 91... ...
Considering the difficulties encountered in selling its milk filters, the enterprise ties its prospects for future development to the diversification of its product line (filters for wine, oil, etc.~. The next enterprise to be considered is the Ekon Closed Toint-Stock Company, a manufacturer of hard electrolyte gas analyzers for monitoring boiler exhaust gases.
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From page 92... ...
With regard to the investment project on trace gas analyzers and other devices, which could be profitably produced and sold, the enterprise must have even more of its own assets or an independent sponsor, both of which are very difficult to find. The problem can be solved by giving unsecured venture capital loans to innovative enterprises with a good credit history, well-founded market prospects, and good financial and staff capabilities.
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From page 93... ...
and the failure to focus on commercial results when conducting research and development work · lack of specialists in the field of commercialization and other professional staff for innovative companies and projects · insufficient entrepreneurial initiative among the authors of projects · high financial barriers in the search for necessary facilities, equipment, and so forth · lack of business incubators for innovative companies · the Russian mentality (innovative companies wish to carry out their activities by themselves to the maximum possible extent) · distrust of innovative companies in the quality of work and prices charged by innovation infrastructure enterprises · low overall level of entrepreneurial culture Among the problems that hinder the operation and growth of smalland medium-sized technology-based enterprises are the following: · lack of sufficient operating capital for research and development activities, equipment upgrades, and capital construction aimed at expanding production and improving product quality · lack of necessary office and manufacturing space · insufficient awareness among firms of information about the innovation infrastructure in the city and its capabilities · the high cost and not always high quality of consulting services · unsettled issues of intellectual property Based on a survey of small enterprises, estimates were made of the need for various services, including in the areas of technological development, business development, financial issues, information support, and start-up support.
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From page 94... ...
94 SMALL INNOVATIVE FIRMS IN RUSSIAN NUCLEAR CITIES TABLE 1 Needs for Services among Small Enterprises Service Percentage of Enterprises Needing the Service In technological development (audit, expert review, etc.) In business development: Product promotion Market research Legal support Patent and licensing support Business planning and investment projecting Certification Consultation on restructuring issues Organization of advertising and public relations companies Assistance in staff recruiting Educational and training activity In company finance: Promotion for external financing Tax optimization Consulting on arrangement of financial activity and accounting, auditing Credits and preferential loans In information support for innovative business: Databases on regulations Information on standards and patents Partner searches, access to information about demand and supply Automation and information technologies Web design and other Internet-related services Organization and holding of seminars and conferences At the company startup stage: Assistance in organizing start-up funding Consultation on issues of company establishment Supply of space for companies Support for activities in the initial period Equipment supply Other activities aimed at supporting innovative companies and authors of innovation projects: Project management Pilot production Design and graphics Construction and maintenance of office and manufacturing space Editing and publishing 10 40 40 40 40 30 50 5 40 40 20 70 20 40 50 10 10 50 15 40 10 100 20 100 80 50 5 10 30 30 30
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From page 95... ...
The quantitative need of small enterprises for the services is as follows: · low interest rate loans (10-15 percent) : in the sum of up to 100 million rubles annually · experienced specialists: up to 150 persons per year · rental of office and manufacturing space with information infrastructure: up to 3,000 square meters ACTIVITIES AIMED AT IMPROVING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES In the opinion of innovation infrastructure specialists and the innovative companies themselves, a number of effective measures should be taken to assist in the development of high-tech business and promote the transfer of high technologies into production to earn profits in the market environment in the coming years: · provide incentives for research and production companies that produce marketable science-intensive products that conserve state resources.
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From page 96... ...
For example, such subsidies could be paid from the Obninsk Science City Program. · ensure that new commercially advantageous projects are discovered and promoted for financing · create an effective legal mechanism for transferring new technologies from research institutions to small high-tech enterprises · develop a mechanism for insuring the venture capital of investors, high-tech product developers, and manufacturers · create an attractive investment climate in the city to attract outside investors.
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