April 23, 2013, the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) and Cisco signed an agreement of intent to increase the level of training for managers, students, and develop collaborative research and design projects.
Through the agreement, the two organizations plan to develop joint programs to train personnel as well as promote competition within Russia’s science and technology sectors. The two parties will strengthen their strategic partnership by organizing internships for managers and engineers studying at Skoltech. As a result, Skoltech and Cisco will expand cooperation between the public and private sectors.
Through this partnership, the Russian Ministry for Economic Development and the Agency for Strategic Initiatives are supporting a Russian-American working group on innovation. Under this umbrella, Skoltech and Cisco will launch joint training programs for managerial personnel working in administration, science and entrepreneurship. The program will last from one to two weeks and consist of on-site training at Skoltech and the Cisco headquarters in San Jose, California.
International experts will lead lectures for 30 participants, representing the public sphere, scientific community and private business. The training sessions will include focuses in cyber security, cloud computing, and venture capital investments. From this program, the participants will gain an understanding of the latest developments in producing innovation.
The first program is expected to begin in September or October 2013. Depending on positive feedback from this pilot group, the courses will periodically be repeated.
Cisco will also provide some students with the opportunity to work on pilot projects. Through this experience, students will gain the important technical and business skills necessary to compete in a global environment.
“This type of project can only be viewed positively,” said Skoltech Vice President for Institutional and Resource Development Alexei Sitnikov. “By forming relations with the private sector, Skoltech is moving in the same direction as all the leading engineering and research universities in the world. These ties are critical for commercializing scientific developments and will be beneficial for all—students, professors, and business leaders. ”
“This agreement of intent is the logical next step of the collaboration between Cisco and the Skolkovo Foundation. Cisco and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology will develop educational and research programs, that in their own turn will contribute to developing the economically strategic ICT sector within Russia,” said Cisco Director of Governmental Affairs Mikhail Pakhomov.
Further Information
Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology
The Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) is a private graduate research university in Skolkovo, Russia, a suburb of Moscow. Established in October 2011 in collaboration with MIT, Skoltech educates global leaders in innovation, advances scientific knowledge and fosters new technologies to address critical issues facing Russia and the world. Applying international research and educational models, the university integrates the best Russian scientific traditions with twenty-first century entrepreneurship and innovation.
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in IT that helps companies seize the opportunities of tomorrow by proving that amazing things can happen when you connect the previously unconnected. Net sales in fiscal year 2012 exceeded $ 46 billion, and in the first 6 months of fiscal year 2013 amounted to 24 billion dollars.
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