Skolkovo may punish poorly performing residents

Skolkovo intends to conduct an audit to identify residents who are not actively working on their projects - they may be deprived of benefits. The information is reported by RBC daily with reference to several sources in the innovation city.

We have a feeling that there are some companies among 600 residents that are not active in research or work exactly on the project which they presented to obtain the status of Skolkovo participant. The list of criteria is in development at the moment, - one of the managers of the fund said.

It is also reported that the rules of research activity will be considered in October, 2012 by the supervisory board of Skolkovo. The rules will identify the number of criteria to be met by projects.

The reason for such actions by Skolkovo could be not active response of resident companies on distributed by clusters leadership offers of services in attracting investment for projects. This source of RBC daily says that more than 130 participants from 600 responded, 20 of which refused, and 110 responded positively. In addition, we know that 70 more companies already have money to work and conduct research activities. This raises the question of why about 400 companies left the most important question in innovator’s life – attracting funding to their projects - without respond.

Skolkovo resident has the right to request funding of up to $5M. Funds are provided in the form of grants on conditions that the company agrees to contribute the amount equal to requested.

As the director of RVC department of investments Yan Ryazantsev says, we need to get rid of not working residents, but this should be done with extreme caution.

It should be understood that it is harmful to treat everyone alike. It happens that the project got stuck and the team of entrepreneurs and scientists think how to commercialize the development in a different way. - Jan Ryazantsev says.