Tver Regional Information Node

Tver Regional Information Node

promoting the participation of the regional research organisations and
industrial enterprises in the Scientific and Technological Cooperative
Research and Development Programmes of the European Union

Regional proposals for the project "Establishment of a Network
of Regional Information Nodes on IT-RTD in Russia"
(ENRIN)
Co-operation in Science and Technology with Central and Eastern European Countries
INCO-COPERNICUS-1997

The Tver region is one of the largest and most diverse industrial centre in Russia with a population of approximately 2 million people. It is also a major defence industry, science and education centre.
In order to promote the active participation of the regional research organisations and industrial enterprises in the scientific and technological cooperative research and development programmes of the European Union the regional information node (Technology Contact Centre) has been set up in Tver. The Administration of the Tver Region and the Tver State University of Tver - the leading organisation of the Tver region that has experience of participation in international RTD and educational programmes (INTAS, TEMPUS) - have appointed the Technology Contact Centre at Tver State University as the Regional Information Node.

1.1. Experience in technology transfer, exploitation of R&D and innovation
   Tver State University (TTC) is one of the largest universities in the northwest region of Russia within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of General and Professional Education of Russian Federation (MGPE RF). It includes Faculties of Applied Mathematics and Cybernetics, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geography, Economics and others.
   Beginning from 1992 the TSU is working within the framework of TEMPUS (EC) and UNIVERSITIES OF RUSSIA (MGPE RF) in the field of technology transfer and information and consulting on European scientific and technical programs.
   Institution of Science of TSU incorporates 19 natural science laboratories. It carries out basic and applied research within a framework of agreements with industrial enterprises and support from different funds, such as International Scientific Foundation and Russian Fund for Basic Research.
   Among other components of the scientific research complex are:

Tver INNOCENTRE, which is a methodical centre of MGPE RF in the field of innovation activity, where database on innovative RTD developments applicable to high-tech industry are collected from the majority of russian higher educational institutes and universities.
Interdepartmental Centre of International Cooperation of the Tver region, conducting language and training courses in Germany, UK and Russia, dealing with publication of information materials (admissions and advertising brochures, departmental handbooks) and the arrangement of conferences, establishment of international contacts.
Regional Centre of Higher School Informatization (for Tver, Smolensk, Yaroslavl and Novgorod regions) is aimed at coordinating the process of computerization and the involvement of information technology in the local area and in the regional educational institutes. The Centre is involoved in scientific research if spheres such as computer modelling and network technologies. It consists of a number of laboratories, where the maintenance of computer and office equipment is carried out, including a laboratory of computer graphics, where university students specialize in "Computers in TV and radio'.

In 1995 the Tver university, using the Centre as a base, has become a member of the global computer INTERNET thus providing opportunities to work with information resources all over the world.

1.2. Experience of working throughout the proposed geographical area
The activities in the knowledge and technology transfer are coordinated by the Technology Contact Centre (TCC), organized in TSU. The main tasks of the TCC are as follows:

Analysis of the scientific and technological potential of the Tver university and higher educational institutes.
Analysis of the economic trends in the region and working out recommendations for the applied research.
Publication of advertising material for new research results and marketing in the area of new technology.
Organizing and holding conferences, symposiums, seminars on thecnology transfer.
International cooperation.

The TCC is supplied by communication means (email, fax, phone), which will be supplemented in the nearest future (in the middle of 1997) by TCC WWW-page in the regional INTERNET node organized in the university within the framework of Soros International Program.

1.3. Knowledge and experience of Community / international/ national/ egional RTD programmes.
TSU participated in the following European projects financed by CEC:

TEMPUS-Tacis P JEP-08518-93 (Technology Transfer and Internationalization of Higher Educational Institutes).
TEMPUS-Tacis JEP-08518-94 (Technology Transfer and Internationalization of Higher Educational Institutes). The project specifies the organization of the Technology Contact Centre and the Centre of International Relations in TSU and introduction of European teaching standards.
TEMPUS-Tacis P JEP-1062-94 (Social Support of the Students).
TEMPUS-Tacis JEP-CP-00048-96 (Organization of the Regional Service for the Social Support of the Students).

Within the framework of TEMPUS-Tacis JEP-08518-94 the staff of the TCC studied, besides language courses (English, German), the achievements in technology transfer in Keele University (UK) and Osnabruck University (Germany). In addition, students are training in UK and Germany with respect to the development of technology transfer. During the work on probation the experience of Staffordshire (UK) and Niedersachen (Germany) Parks of Science and Technology was studied.
Within the framework of bilateral contacts the TCC of Tver University receives regularly information on European programs and funds (CORDIS on CD) from the EC Consulting Centre (EG-Hochschulbuero Weser-Ems, Niedersachen, Germany) for the use of researchers in Tver region.

1.4. Experience in dissemination of information onCommunity RTD programmes and in providing support to proposers
   The Tver University holds annual applied scientific conferences on "Technology Transfer" (May 1996, May 1997) with invited European participants, and "Technoparks and Innovations in Higher Educational Institutes of Russia" (1992-1997).
   The Tver University is the host Russian university in the coordination of higher educational institutes in "Conversion and High Technology" and "Technoparks and Innovations".
   The R&D activities of Tver institutes of higher education are described in a special catalog prepared by the TCC of the Tver University.

1.5. Experience of working with pertinent national/regional organizations
The TCC of Tver University is working in close contact with the administration of the Tver region responsible for the science, education, industry and business. The TCC is a permanent member of the Tver Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is the main coordinator of leading industrial enterprises and business activities.