University signs cooperation agreement with Skolkovo

During the visit by a University of Groningen delegation to Russia, President of the Board of the University, Prof. Sibrand Poppema, signed a Memorandum on Cooperation with the Skolkovo Foundation.

Skolkovo is a high-tech scientific project in the process of being built near Moscow, which is also known as the Russian Silicon Valley. Skolkovo is an initiative of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, dating back to 2010.

The aim of the Skolkovo Foundation for Development of the Center of Research and Commercializing of New Technologies is to create an environment where applied scientific research can flourish. Energy and energy efficiency, space, biomedical research, nuclear technology and IT have been designated as focus areas.

Signing the Memorandum means that the University of Groningen will be able to submit research proposals for the project.

The signing ceremony took place on Thursday 20 October, with Poppema and the Vice-President of the Skolkovo Fund, Oleg Alekseyev, signing. The ceremony was held during the opening of a Russian-Dutch conference on bioenergy and was witnessed by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Victor Zubkov.

Note for the press

For more information: University of Groningen Communication Office, tel. 050-363 4444, e-mail: communicatie rug.nl