Kazan University Innovation Center Unveiled

The ceremony happened on December 30th and was visited by Minister of Economy of Tatarstan Artyom Zdunov.

One of the Center's priorities will be social entrepreneurship. The Center already conducts advanced professional training in this field – this among other things was mentioned by Vice-Rector Andrey Artemyev who is in charge of the Center’s activities.

The program was a fruit of the joint effort by Kazan University and employees of the Center for Innovations in the Social Sphere of Tatarstan. It is aimed at assisting people in launching their own social businesses. The lectures cover business models of social entrepreneurship, legal issues of social entrepreneurship, marketing, innovations in intellectual property, and investment planning. The program is designed for the simultaneous instruction of 30 students who receive KFU certificates upon graduation. The program results in ready-to-go business plans that can be submitted to potential investors or government agencies. The whole course takes 5 months – 2 months of compendium seminars and admissions and 3 months of educational activities.

The opening was attended by the first batch of graduates of said program who presented their social initiatives.

After listening to the presentations Minister Zdunov said that the program itself is an innovation for Tatarstan: «There are definitely some support programs for social entrepreneurs in Russia, but there is still little awareness of the differentiation between “simple” business and social business. And social entrepreneurship should be prioritized because its target audience is not always able to create a sustainable market segment». The Minister added that thanks to the University first steps in the support for social entrepreneurship were made. He also noted that the works on the Innovation Center were finished in a remarkably short time span.

Rector Ilshat Gafurov emphasized the role of the Ministry of Economy in establishing such a center. He said that the Center will be the point of meeting between other organizations and the University and will serve as the engine for innovative projects. Kazan University Innovation Center will try to unite businesses and scientific teams in their mutual interests.

After the opening Rector Gafurov and Minister Zdunov moved to the Higher School of Business and joined Director of HSB Alsu Akhmetshina. KFU and the Ministry discussed and signed the School’s roadmap for 2016.