A discussion on B2B-promotion of innovative products in Moscow

A conference on Best B2B practices for the promotion of innovative products, organized by Vedomosti business newspaper, took place on November 20, 2012 in Moscow, The Ritz-Carlton. RVC was the general partner of the event.

Russia puts considerable efforts and resources in the development of its innovative economy. The tools for the development of innovative infrastructure have been created over the past few years, which include the development institutions such as RVC, RUSNANO, the Skolkovo Fund and so on. Development institutions, together with private investors, create new technological companies that are actively launching new products. According to the Executive Director of RVC Alexander Potapov, one of the main objectives of the development institutions, RVC in particular, is to stimulate the demand for the production of innovative companies.

The agenda of the conference was a series of questions, including how to integrate new products into production chains of large corporations and whether to sell the finished product or discuss the sale of the company or technology. In addition, the panelists raised such a topical subject as the development of business in modern Russian environment, having regard to the significant impact of various barriers - from legal to mental.

The question of how to find the points of interaction between large companies in need of innovative products and producers of new technologies and products was considered at all panel discussions. The cases of five investment projects with potential in the B2B-market, were presented at the end of the conferences. The cases were considered by the managers of Bright Capital, Da Vinci Capital, FPI funds and TexDrive and Global TechInnovations accelerators.

The presentation of projects was led by the chief executive of RVC investment portfolio Michael Tsygankov. According to him, every new round of technological development of certain market segments puts corporations that captured large market shares, on an equal footing with young companies. Moreover, beginning businesses that are ready for quick reorganization to meet the needs of the market, have some advantages over big market players that are slow enough.