“Technology Development Special Economic Zone (SEZ) that has been functioning since 2005 crowns the innovative infrastructure of Tomsk region. Today, 57 high-tech companies specializing in such areas as information-and-communication technologies, new materials, nano- and biotechnologies work in Tomsk SEZ. Russian and foreign companies chose Tomsk due to its attractive conditions for business. Preferences for high-tech companies-residents of the SEZ include both customs and tax privileges. The total cost reduction for companies working within the zone may reach 40%,” says the article.
The newspaper also highlights that most Tomsk innovative companies are oriented to foreign markets including Singapore one. So, two Singapore companies – Vadaro Ltd. and Lite On Group – have chosen Tomsk as a place to establish their R&D departments. A subsidiary of Lite On Group produces polycrystalline silicon for solar batteries. “Vadaro department was initially established here to cooperate with Tomsk companies, and now it is cooperating with partners of the company all over the world, – the article says. – Both Vadaro and Lite On Group have a great opportunity to elaborate their own technological developments due to the access to Tomsk intellectual resources and engineering services. Then the developments are commercialized in Singapore and distributed all over the world. Such business cooperation is at the initial stage now but is rapidly becoming a model of efficient and mutually beneficial cooperation between Tomsk and Singapore.”
“Tomsk possesses a unique atmosphere where world-class discoveries live and prosper. It is a result of the work of a large number of academic scientists as well as of a special culture of research inspiring appearance of multiple highly qualified specialists. Relatively cheap resources compared to other world high-tech centers and support of regional authorities is atop of this,” answered Andrew Carmody, CEO of Vadaro, to the question “Why is it Tomsk?”