University Technology Entrepreneurship Platform

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Main article: Startups

2024

The volume of private investment in university startups from 2022 reached 1.3 billion rubles

The volume of private investment in university startups in Russia since 2022 has reached ₽1,3 billion. This data was announced in August 2024 by the Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia Daria Kiryanova in Novosibirsk.

According to TASS, in recent years, private investors have been actively investing in university startups, which contributes to the development of technological entrepreneurship in the country. According to Kiryanova, unlike world practice, where large players focus on large-scale projects, Russia is dominated by business angels who prefer to invest in small startups. This approach requires taking into account the specifics of the market and adapting technological business development strategies.

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The number of university startup studios, which currently number 22 in Russia, is planned to be increased to 50 by 2030. These studios, according to Kiryanova, play a key role in creating serial entrepreneurs and developing technological entrepreneurship in the country. They act as "factories" that help generate and develop new startups, providing organizational support at all stages.

The federal project "Platform of University Technological Entrepreneurship," launched by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia in 2022, has become the basis for attracting investments in university startups. The project is aimed at unlocking the entrepreneurial potential of students and training professionals in the field of technological entrepreneurship. Among his tools are a competition for grant support "Student Startup," entrepreneurial "boiling points," accelerators, trainings, startup studios and university venture funds.

Kiryanova also said that training platforms for technological entrepreneurship have been created in all federal districts of Russia, where more than 500 thousand students have already been trained. According to a survey conducted jointly with VTsIOM, half of the students are familiar with the Technological Entrepreneurship Platform, and 30% of them have completed trainings, and 20% of this group have already created their own business or are planning to open it.^[1]

Promote investment in "SmileAI"

The University Venture Fund invested 10 million rubles in a telemedicine student startup. This was announced on July 17, 2024 by the Platform of the University Technical Representative.

Funds in the project SmileAI at the seed stage (preparation for growth) were invested by a business angel and the Voskhod venture fund through one of the tools of the fedproject "Platform of University Technological Entrepreneurship" - UVF Korolev. Read more here.

The government selected 2 thousand student startups engaged in digital technologies, which will be given 1 million rubles each

In July 2024, the Russian Government announced the selection of 2 thousand student startups engaged in digital technologies, which will be provided with ₽1 million each for the implementation of their projects. This initiative is part of the federal project "University Technological Entrepreneurship Platform," aimed at supporting and developing technological entrepreneurship among students.

According to Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, the government pays special attention to stimulating technological entrepreneurship, since high-tech startups are able to solve the problems of the country's technological sovereignty. In 2024, 2 thousand students will be supported - 500 more compared to 2023. At the same time, the emphasis will be placed on supporting projects in key areas for the Russian economy, such as artificial intelligence, machine tool building, microelectronics and the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry.

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The grant competition "Student Startup," held by the Ministry of Education and Science, is one of the seven tools of this federal project. The competition is open to undergraduate, specialty, graduate and graduate students, including foreign citizens. Projects submitted for the competition must correspond to one of seven thematic areas: digital technologies, medicine and health saving technologies, chemical technologies and new materials, new devices and intelligent production technologies, biotechnology, resource-saving power and creative industries.

The head of the Ministry of Education and Science Valery Falkov noted that in two years the competition attracted more than 10 thousand students from all over the country. Such support enables university students to implement their ideas, the best of which can become in demand in the real sector. Students can attract schoolchildren and college students to work on selected projects, which allows them to get acquainted with the intricacies of entrepreneurship.^[2]

Ministry of Education and Science: 23 thousand university startups created in Russia

In Russia, 23 thousand university startups and startup projects have been created within the framework of the federal project of the Ministry of Education and Science "Platform of University Technological Entrepreneurship." This was announced on July 11, 2024 by the director of the project office "Platform of University Technological Entrepreneurship" Dmitry Alekseev.

According to RBC, the federal project was launched in 2022 with the aim of making universities centers for mass creation of technological projects. At the moment, 355 universities across the country have connected to the Platform, and the total number of participants in the fedproject has exceeded 500 thousand people.

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As Dmitry Alekseev noted, within the framework of the project, a single system of support for novice entrepreneurs is being built, including several stages. At the first stage, trainings of entrepreneurial competencies are held and entrepreneurial boiling points are launched. The second stage includes tools to support the mass launch of technology projects - acceleration programs, a network of University startup studios and grant support tools. At the third stage, investment is attracted through University Venture Funds and other mechanisms.

One of the key tasks of the federal project is to prepare at least 30 thousand technological entrepreneurs by 2030, each of which will have its own startup or technological project.

Alexander Fertman, Managing Director of the Center for Industrial Technologies of the Skolkovo Foundation, stressed the importance of launching a platform for the development of technological entrepreneurship in the country. According to him, universities are becoming growth drivers in this segment, solving not only educational and research problems, but also acting as flagships in the creation, patenting and commercialization of innovative technologies.

Within the framework of the Platform, 150 acceleration programs are being implemented, and more than 20 startup studios have already been opened throughout the country. Project participants can count on attracting grant funding, private and other investments, as well as obtaining the necessary competencies and skills.^[3]

The government has created venture capital funds worth 3.5 billion rubles to invest in university IT startups

The Russian government has created venture capital funds worth 3.5 billion rubles to invest in university IT startups. This was announced on February 7, 2024 by the press service of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, the fund is designed to support such areas as robotics, microelectronics, biotechnology, medicine and artificial intelligence.

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It is important that the student startup has an understandable track for further development, - stressed the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.

Under the new state initiative, professional investors are expected to support student startups when entering the market not only with investments, but also with their business competencies. The main goal is to help such startups during the transition from the created product to its scaling. According to the head, by Ministry of Education and Science Russia Valeria Falkova February 7, 2024, five university venture capital funds were launched.

The project is also being implemented by Infrastructure and Educational Programs Fund leading Russian investment companies operating in the field of high technologies. The partners of FIOP were the venture capital fund Rising"," Sitronics Group a non-profit organization, Investment and Venture Fund of the Republic of Tatarstan LLC "" and RusBITech-Astra an investment company. Kama Flow University venture funds are launched within the framework of the federal project "Platform of University Technological Entrepreneurship," implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science.

University funds are designed to invest in fact at the point where private and corporate investors are still too careful, especially in such a new area for them as university startups, "said Ruslan Titov, head of the Infrastructure and Educational Programs Fund.[4]

2023

More than 7.5 thousand Students' IT projects for the year passed through accelerators in Russia

At the end of 2023, in Russia, more than 7.5 thousand technological projects created by students passed through accelerators (accelerated development programs) on the basis of domestic universities. Such data in the press service of the Platform of the National Technological Initiative (NTI) led at the end of December 2023.

The acceleration programs were attended by startups in the following areas: information and telecommunication systems, rational environmental management, power, utilities, construction and infrastructure.

More than 7.5 thousand technological projects created by students passed through accelerators (accelerated development programs) on the basis of domestic universities

According to TASS, citing materials from the NTI Platform, 2023 projects in the field of drone development against 326 a year earlier participated in accelerators in 137. These initiatives are also related to the creation of components and control systems for unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as the use of drones in agriculture.

From the statistics of the ANO "Platform NTI" it also follows that in 2023 the total number of acceleration programs held in Russia in 2023 reached 151. More than 60 thousand people took part in them.

The five leading regions in terms of the number of accelerators conducted are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Altai Territory, Rostov and Tomsk Regions. At the same time, most of the student projects were submitted by the teams of Moscow - almost 2.5 thousand, Tatarstan - a little less than 1 thousand, St. Petersburg and the Samara region - more than 700 in each region.

In 2022-2023. within the framework of the project, student project teams took part in more than 300 acceleration programs based on over 120 universities, which are located in more than 60 regions of Russia. Such programs form students' entrepreneurship skills, introduce potential investors, help finalize the products and business processes of the future young company, the NTI Platform said.^[5]

Skolkovo began reimbursing private investors for 50% of investments in a university startup

Skolkovo began reimbursing private investors for 50% of investments in a university startup within the framework of the federal project "Platform of University Technological Entrepreneurship" of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia. The press service of the Skolkovo Foundation announced this on July 3, 2023.

The return of part of the investment was carried out as part of the first round of investment in the university startup UMAP, which develops indoor maps for indoor navigation. UMAP is a digital solution that helps visitors navigate closed spaces and receive the necessary information about objects and events from the phone. Student entrepreneurs have already released an IOS application on the campus of St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

Skolkovo began reimbursing private investors for 50% of investments in a university startup

The program of reimbursement of investments in university startups was adopted by the Government of the Russian Federation on the basis of a successfully proven program of reimbursement of investments in participants in the Skolkovo project. By the beginning of July 2023, the fund cooperates with more than 300 private investors. Since 2019, business angels have invested over 3.3 billion rubles in Skolkovo startups, of which more than 1.6 billion rubles. reimbursed to investors. Among the participants of the Fund's program: Whoosh - investments of 90 million rubles, compensation - 26 million rubles; Homeapp - investments of 200 million rubles, compensation - 63 million rubles; 3D Innovations - investment 82 million rubles, compensation - 41 million rubles.

Under the program of reimbursement of investments in university startups, the state will allocate 13 billion rubles until 2030. Investments in a university startup should be at least 500 thousand rubles. The number of startups for investment is not limited, said Sergey Krzhanovsky, vice president for grants, expertise and tender activities, managing director of the Skolkovo fund.

The Russian government will allocate 1.5 billion rubles to support 1.5 thousand student startups

The Russian government will allocate 1.5 billion rubles to support 1.5 thousand student startups in 2023, said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, whose words are quoted by the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers on June 21, 2023.

Acceptance of applications for participation in the fourth, final in 2023, the queue of the Student Startup competition has ended. The list of winners, each of which will receive 1 million rubles for the implementation of a startup project, will be presented in August 2023. The projects were selected in seven thematic areas: digital technologies, medicine and health saving technologies, chemical technologies and new materials, new devices and intelligent production technologies, biotechnology, resource-saving power and creative industries. Students of universities studying in undergraduate, specialty, master's or postgraduate programs could take part in the competition.

The government will allocate 1.5 billion rubles to support 1.5 thousand student startups in 2023

In total, in 2023, 6 thousand applications were received for the competition, which is 1.5 times more than a year earlier, said Dmitry Chernyshenko. According to him, foreign students studying at Russian universities are actively showing interest in opening their startup in Russia. Applications for the competition were sent by novice entrepreneurs from 13 countries of the world, including from the CIS, EAEU, Egypt and other states. Among the regions of the Russian Federation, Moscow, the republics of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan became the leaders in the number of applications.

According to the Director General of the Sergei Polyakov Innovation Promotion Fund, within the framework of the fourth stage of the competition, most of the projects submitted for consideration relate to the digital sphere, the development of new devices and intelligent production technologies, as well as to the field of creative industries.

The Student Startup competition was held by the Innovation Promotion Fund within the framework of the federal project "University Technological Entrepreneurship Platform."^[6]

2022

1,000 startup students selected for grants worth 1 million rubles

The holders of grants from the Student Startup competition are about 1000 students who will receive 1 million rubles each for the development of their business projects. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko announced this at the end of October 2022.

According to him, the implementation of the selected interesting and strong projects will contribute to the implementation of the tasks set by the president to achieve technological sovereignty and ensure the country's economic security. The money that the winners of the competition will receive, they will be able to spend on creating their own science-intensive technologies, including digital, production, medical, and resource-saving ones, Chernyshenko noted.

1,000 startup students selected for grants

According to him, in 2023 it is planned to support 1.5 thousand startups, by 2030 their number should be 30 thousand.. The effect of the launch of the first wave of projects will be clearly presented in the next 2-3 years, the Deputy Prime Minister believes.

The selection took place in two stages:

• The first stage took place from February to April 2022, the results were summed up in July - 620 projects were selected, with the authors of which contracts were signed.
• The second stage took place from May to July 2022, the results were summed up in October - 380 projects were selected for signing contracts.

The projects are focused on the creation of new devices, intelligent production, chemical, digital and biotechnology, as well as presented in the field of medicine, resource-saving power and creative industries.

The competition is also held Ministry of Education and Science Russia by the Innovation Promotion Fund. According to the fund, an additional list of applications was drawn up, which included projects that received high jury marks, but were not included in the first thousand winners. Such startups are recommended for support in 2023 from the federal budget, but in case of refusal to conclude an agreement by the winners of the second stage of the competition, they can be financed in 2022.^[7]

University startups are allocated 6 billion rubles

In October 2022, the Skolkovo Foundation announced the launch of applications for participation in the program of reimbursement of investments in university startups within the framework of the federal project "Platform of University Technological Entrepreneurship."

The program will allow university startups in the next three years to attract about 6 billion rubles of private investment, of which individuals will be able to reimburse about 3 billion rubles. Private investors financing university technology startups will be able to compensate for up to 50% of investments, but no more than 20 million rubles for investments in one startup. Reimbursement of part of the costs is provided if the amount of investment of the business angel is at least 500 thousand rubles.

University startups will be allocated money

Startups will be able to direct funds to research, development or commercialization of the results of intellectual activity. At the same time, projects must have elements of scientific and technical novelty, as well as undergo an independent examination of the Skolkovo Foundation.

According to statistics, every fourth startup is born in the university. Therefore, the main goal of state support for student startups is to stimulate the development of youth technological entrepreneurship in Russia. The program of reimbursement of investments in university startups helps innovators find funds to launch and develop technological business ideas, and investors - to reduce risks through the participation of the state, - said Sergey Krzhanovsky, vice president for grants, expertise and tender activities of the Skolkovo Foundation.

The goal of the federal project "Platform of University Technological Entrepreneurship," as reported on its website, is to form a galaxy of serial entrepreneurs, people who massively launch new businesses. The key indicator of the federal project is to bring to the economy from universities 30 thousand technological entrepreneurs by 2030.^[8]

Mishustin approved the rules of state support for startup studios in universities. They are allocated 1.5 billion rubles a year

In July 2022, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree approving the rules for providing subsidies from the federal budget to the Infrastructure and Educational Programs Fund in order to create and support university venture capital construction tools (university startup studios). The same document approved the financial support of the costs associated with the fulfillment of the functions assigned to it to popularize the project.

According to the press service of the Cabinet, in 2022 it is planned to create university startup studios in 15 Russian universities, which will become the place for the launch and promotion of new business ideas.

Mishustin approved the rules of state support for startup studios in universities. They are allocated 1.5 billion rubles a year

State support will be allocated within the framework of the new federal project "Platform of University Technological Entrepreneurship." The funds will be used to create, develop and popularize startup studios. Thanks to this, young specialists will be able to form the necessary entrepreneurial skills and, already during their studies, introduce their technological solutions into production, and implement specific business projects.

It is reported that in the federal budget in 2022-2024, 4.5 billion rubles are provided for these purposes - 1.5 billion rubles annually. The distribution of subsidies will be handled by the Infrastructure and Educational Programs Fund.

Шаблон:Quote 'We discussed the importance of such projects in detail during a working trip to Tomsk State University, - Mikhail Mishustin recalled at a government meeting on July 14, 2022. At the same time, he noted that such projects will allow attracting more young people to scientific and technical activities and innovations, which means developing high-tech sectors of the economy, creating new jobs in demanded industries.^[9]

State offsets up to 50% of private investment in university IT startups

The state compensates up to 50% of private investment in ITstartups universities. The Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed the corresponding decree defining the rules for using this instrument in early July 2022.

According to the document, investors who have invested in university technology startups will be able to compensate for up to half of their costs through federal subsidies, but not more than 100% of the amount of personal income tax paid over the previous three years, and not more than 20 million rubles for investments in one startup. Reimbursement of part of the costs is provided to a business angel if the amount of his investment in one university startup is at least 500 thousand rubles. We are talking about compensation for the costs of projects based on the development of students, teachers or researchers of universities.

State offsets up to 50% of private investment in university IT startups

The first recipients of the subsidy will be participants in the 145 best projects that will undergo an independent examination. In total, the federal budget of 2022-2024 provides for more than 3.1 billion rubles.

Startups will be able to direct funds to research and development or commercialize the results of intellectual activity. At the same time, projects must have elements of scientific and technical novelty, as well as undergo an independent examination of the Skolkovo Foundation.

The program of reimbursement of investments is included in the federal project "Platform of University Technological Entrepreneurship." It is designed to implement one of 42 strategic initiatives of the government designed to improve the quality of life of citizens and ensure the sustainability of the economy. The program operator is the Development Fund of the Center for the Development and Commercialization of New Technologies.

The federal project is designed to ensure an intensive growth in the number of student startups and the opening of startup studios in universities together with technology entrepreneurs. The selection of projects will take place in seven thematic areas: digital technologies, medicine and technologies for improving and preserving health, chemical technologies and new materials, new devices and intelligent production technologies, biotechnology, resource-saving power and creative industries.

The "university startup" in the decree means an economic society, the participants of which received the support of the university "startup studio." Or the share in the authorized capital of the startup in the amount of at least 10% belongs to the university "startup studio." The share can also belong to university employees, students or university graduates who completed their studies no more than three years ago. At the same time, legal entities from the outside - which do not represent educational organizations - may own no more than 50% of shares in the authorized capital.

There are other requirements: the revenue of a university startup from the sale of goods, works or services for the year preceding the year of applying to the Fund should not exceed 120 million rubles. No more than five years should pass from the date of creation of the startup.^[10]

Issuance of 1 million rubles for the launch of IT startups to Russian students

From February 22, 2022, Russian students began to issue grants in the amount of 1 million rubles to launch IT startups. We are talking about the implementation of the federal project "Platform of University Technological Entrepreneurship." The competition is held by the Ministry of Education and Science together with the Innovation Assistance Fund and the ВЭБ.РФ group.

According to the press service of the Ministry of Education and Science, students studying under bachelor's, specialty, master's and postgraduate programs and ready to develop a new product, product, technology or service based on their own scientific, technical and scientific and technological research and having the potential for commercialization can take part in the competition.

Russian students began to issue 1 million rubles to launch IT startups

As the head of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Valery Falkova noted, in addition to grants, novice entrepreneurs will also be able to receive support in the form of an annual academic vacation, which they can spend on the development of a business idea. In this case, the project can be implemented both alone and in a team.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, within the framework of this project, 15 pilot university startup studios and 20 entrepreneurial "boiling points" will be created in 2022. 5.2 billion rubles will be allocated for its implementation in 2022, more than 2 billion is planned to be attracted from extrabudgetary sources.

This competition is great for students who have leadership qualities and have long wanted to start their own business, since they will be able to become heads of their own companies and get a practical understanding of what a real technological enterprise is, and the grant will cover the costs necessary to create and launch, "said Sergei Polyakov, General Director of the Innovation Assistance Fund.

According to him, when examining applications, the main criteria will be the applicant's qualification, his competencies and achievements, as well as the manufacturability of the idea of ​ ​ a startup project.^[11]

2021: Mishustin approved the "Platform of University Technological Entrepreneurship"

In early October 2021, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Russian Federation approved a list of 42 strategic initiatives for the socio-economic development of the country, which will be implemented in the form of federal projects. One of the initiatives was called the University Technology Entrepreneurship Platform. It includes four areas, said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko:

• involvement of students in work through modern gaming assessment technologies;
• intense;
• business games;
• business trainings held in universities.

Within the framework of the initiative, it is also planned to support universities through grants for the creation of a startup under the Student Startup program. For greater immersion of students in the process of creating and developing their own business, the issue of providing them with annual academic leave is being decided.

Mikhail Mishustin approved the "Platform of University Technological Entrepreneurship"

According to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, the main goal of the initiative is to create an ecosystem of technological entrepreneurship around universities to form a pool of fast-growing technology companies.

The platform of university technological entrepreneurship "will create at least 30 thousand new university startups and 150 thousand high-tech jobs, Chernyshenko said.

He clarified that an important part of this work will also be the support of novice technological entrepreneurs by experienced investors. The initiative is working on a set of long-term incentives for late-stage investors to enter the earliest through the provision of long loans at a low interest rate to invest in student startups.

Dmitry Chernyshenko added that, according to statistics, about every fourth startup in the world is created in universities, and in Russia their share is only 3%.^[12]

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