Stepping stones to Saint Petersburg

‘Universities are doubling their identities,’ stated Dr. Sijbolt Noorda, president of the VSNU at the UT-ITMO Cooperation Seminar that was held at the University of Twente last week. ‘We used to share intelligence just among ourselves but need to join forces in the current open connective research environment. In the framework of the coming bilateral Netherlands-Russia year 2013, he added: ‘It is time to strengthen our joint forces with Russia.’ Dr. Noorda visited the university to moderate an open discussion on future collaborations between Russia and the Netherlands, discussing ways to stimulate innovative entrepreneurship activities between the two universities. The event was organized around a delegation from the Saint-Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics (ITMO) who visited to explore future collaboration possibilities with the UT. Professor Aard Groen, scientific director of NIKOS, commented in the discussion: ‘The Russian market and people are interesting, but it’s a complex process. We have witnessed many possibilities at ITMO that sound interesting to us. But we need a stepping stone and connection with people to help spin-offs take full advantage of opportunities in Russia. We need people who are willing to work together.’ The central push for Dutch universities in the coming Netherlands-Russia year 2013, an initiative to celebrate 400 years of diplomatic relations between the two counties, is focused on information technologies, commercialization, innovation activities, entrepreneurship and information communications technologies. Program Director of VentureLab Twente Rob van Lambalgen urged for parties to work together: ‘Only twenty percent of success comes from original ideas. Entrepreneurship is now considered a science. Innovation is the implementation of products or technologies which results in economically sustainable results and succeeds in the market. Don’t mistake innovation for invention. You need to build strong teams for cooperation.’ According to Dr. Noorda, Russian universities previously felt they had to ‘escape from a prison’ because of tight governmental regulations. Nonetheless, during the last five years a sharp change has occurred, creating a similar context in which to work together where collaboration efforts can flow suppler between Dutch and Russian universities. The VSNU president believes success is dependent on two hinging factors: ‘Firstly, we need to stay open and flexible enough in order to give ourselves the pleasure to speak about many future possibilities. Real innovation must be a prerequisite for future collaborations.’ He suggested there should also be a compatible match between the two sides and ‘real collaboration’ is grounded in academic fields that recognize each other’s mutual interests. ‘Let chess players talk with chess players, and soccer players with soccer players,’ said Noorda at the seminar. Mr. Toivonen, vice-rector at ITMO, agreed Russian universities are now ready to support innovative entrepreneurship activities and collaboration. ‘There is a wind of change at Russian higher educational institutes that provides the opportunity to review the structure and content of innovation systems. Nationwide in universities, the needs, challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurial support can be realized. Toivonen concurred ITMO leads in Russian innovative entrepreneurship, based largely on the existing models at Twente, Warwick and Stockholm universities. The symposium participants noted one of the major issues to overcome is the current perceptions held by European spin-off companies that view the Russian border as a ‘stumbling stone.’ Turning to Europe for acknowledgement, Dutch universities have new opportunities to collaborate in the Russian market and make vital links to their universities. In the new context, ‘We need to build bridges,’ concluded Noorda, ‘and teach each other the local rules. Trust and familiarity will turn the stumbling stones into stepping stones.’ Mariska Roersen Guest contributor Dr. Sijbolt Noorda: ‘Universities are a reflection of society as it should be and not how it used to be. Dutch universities need to reinvent themselves.’