the NLMK Group, the international metals company, and SKOLKOVO Foundation signed the agreement on strategic cooperation in the field of innovation.
under the agreement, the SKOLKOVO Foundation will provide the company access to projects from its portfolio, including developments in the field of construction, new materials, coating technologies, energy efficient technologies and IT products, which will help the company to improve production and business processes. The parties also determine the format of the expert and Advisory support of relevant projects.
the Group plans to test and implement the most effective, innovative solutions and technologies at its enterprises in Russia, USA and Europe.
"NLMK Group is open to the outside world for the joint search and implementation of new ideas. The company is ready to work with partners in open innovation, offering this simple and convenient mechanism. Building partnerships with leading universities, venture funds and development institutes, we have access to sources of new ideas and projects that help improve the efficiency of our business," commented a member of the management Board Sergey Chebotarev.
Oleg Dubnov, Vice President, Executive Director of the energy efficient technologies Cluster of SKOLKOVO Foundation: "I am Convinced that the cooperation between NLMK and the Fund "SKOLKOVO" will be vzimovygodnoy for all participants. Startups supported by the Fund will find a reliable partner and a base for growth, the Group will have new tools to improve their business processes and effective solutions to various production problems."
the First steps for development of cooperation between NLMK and the Innovation center "SKOLKOVO" have already started in this year. In April NLMK became a member of the demo days of startups, "SKOLKOVO" in Lipetsk in the framework of the Open Innovations Startup Tour. The company was interested in projects for the introduction of digital platforms for HR, design heat exchanger equipment, application of new materials.
