Business news

MINSK, 7 April (BelTA) – Around 100 applications have been submitted for participation in the Belarusian stage of the Skolkovo Russian Startup Tour in Minsk, BelTA learned from Chairman of the Belarusian State Science and Technology Committee (SSTC) Alexander Shumilin.

“Belarus is hosting a leg of the Skolkovo Russian Startup Tour for the second year in a row. As many as 100 applications have been registered this year, and 55 of them passed the selection. These are the most elaborate projects,” the SSTC Chairman explained. He pointed out that around 35% of the projects target information technologies.

Alexander Shumilin noted that for the first time the contest will feature the category Biotechnology in Agriculture and Industry. The sector has been actively growing lately. This fact influenced the choice of the location for the Belarusian leg of the contest which is hosted by Belarusian State Agrarian Technical University.

The 15 winners of the Belarusian stage of the startup tour will be invited to take part in Startup Village, the final stage of the contest in Moscow. “The event where the finalists will compete for grants will take place in June,” Alexander Shumilin said.

At the opening of the contest on 7 April, the SSTC Chairman said that the startup movement in Belarus has experienced a considerable rise in recent years. “New ideas have been developed. The business community is starting to realize the benefits of startups and invest in such projects. Startup financing is gaining momentum. More and more events are organized to provide a platform for meetings between project initiators and potential investors,” Alexander Shumilin noted. He also emphasized that a growing number of young people join the innovation movement.

Russia’s Skolkovo Foundation is holding a startup tour in Minsk on 7 and 8 April. The list of organizers and partners of the event features the Skolkovo Foundation, the Fund for Infrastructure and Educational Programs, the State Science and Technology Committee of Belarus, and the Minsk City Technology Park. Students, professors, scientists and businessmen ready to present innovation projects are invited to take part in the startup tour. All the registered participants will get a certificate of participation and new knowledge about commercialization of innovation projects.