Nanodrugs from the crisis
The Finnish Agency for Technology and Innovation Financing Tekes has simplified the procedure for issuing grants to developers. Russian companies can claim the money.
In 2009, Tekes simplified the application conditions for applicants and accelerated the funding process. The state organization resorted to such measures because of the crisis.
"In difficult times, interest in financing innovative developments is declining, so we are now especially encouraging innovators," says Kai Nordgren, communications manager at Tekes. According to him, now the agency will be able to finance large projects and cover more companies than before.
The budget of Tekes was increased from 516 million euros in 2008 to 590 million euros in 2009. Of these, 250 million euros will be allocated to development companies as direct investments.
Another 94 million euros are allocated from the budget in the form of loans. Companies with Russian capital operating in Finland can apply for investments on an equal footing with Finns.
In February 2009, Anatoly Chubais, the head of the RUSNANO State Corporation, already visited Tekes. In Finland, he negotiated joint projects in the field of nanotechnology with production in Russia.
Russian developers have already resorted to Finnish investments. In 2005-2006, Tekes funded Optogan, a nanotechnology company. Optogan was founded by Petersburgers, although at that time it had German–Finnish capital. Now the company is controlled by Mikhail Prokhorov's ONEXIM group.
Tekes is ready to finance 25-65% of the project cost. According to Maxim Odnoblyudov, the head of Optogan CJSC, one research project in the field of nanotechnology is usually
Zhanna Zhuravleva, dp.ruPortal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru