OREANDA-NEWS. April 05, 2011. Russian Railways has developed a programme for the innovative development of the Company to 2015, said the President of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin at the forum for innovative technologies InfoSpace, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.

The event aims to develop specific proposals for the Russian government on developing innovation, including legislation to promote innovative.

The Forum was organised jointly by the Russian State Duma, an interdepartmental working group on innovative legislation from the Presidential Administration and the Committee of Russia’s Chamber of Trade and Commerce to Promote the Modernisation and Technological Development of Russia’s economy.

As Vladimir Yakunin noted, Russian Railways has identified strategic areas for scientific and technological development to 2015 and put in place the right structures, including a corporate system for managing innovation.

In accordance with the instructions of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev following a meeting of the Commission for Modernisation and Technological Development of the Russian Economy held on 31 January 2011, a draft programme of innovative development of Russian Railways has been drawn up. This document contains a series of measures aimed at developing and introducing new technologies and innovative products and services that meet international standards. Important priorities in the programme are areas such as staff, youth and continuing training and education.

According to Yakunin, Russian Railways has great potential to implement this programme since it occupies a leading position among Russian companies in terms of investment in research and development (R&D). This year, a decision has been taken to make a substantial increase in the Company’s R&D funding of 21% compared to 2010. This amounts to 1 billion roubles or 0.46% of planned revenues. In the long term, by 2015, the Company plans to increase this figure to 1%.
The head of Russian Railways also said that the emergence of new technological challenges in rail transport, such as the development of high-speed services and switching freight trains to regular timetables, require an innovative approach when creating management systems and ensuring traffic safety and security. Similar projects are already being implemented successfully on Russia’s railway network.

Russian Railways has made remarkable progress in developing rail technology in conjunction with domestic transport engineering enterprises and the world’s leading manufacturers.

In addition, as part of its innovation policy, the Company intends to localise the production in Russia of the world's best technologies.

Yakunin also stressed the importance of information and analytical support and the active promotion of innovation. Moreover, in his view, the activities associated with the innovative development of the country’s economy need government support.

Among possible government measures are tax incentives for innovative activity at companies, the improvement of the system for the international transfer of new high-tech products and advanced technologies, the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through a system of government orders for high-tech products and subsidies and the development of innovation infrastructure.