It is being strongly rumoured that Apple, along with a bunch of other technology big-wigs like Google, Facebook, Symantec and others, is in talks with the Skolkovo Innovation Centre in Russia for building world-class research and development facilities in the organisation’s research community, reported Izvestia, a Russian newspaper. This is being looked at as an effort to bring these hi-tech companies and their brilliant innovations to Russia.
The research community is said to be strikingly similar to Silicon Valley in California, US, which is home to the world’s largest tech corporations.
Companies reported to have already inked the deal are Microsoft, IBM, GE, Cisco and many others. Approximately $60 million is required to build the dynamic R&D centre, hence the innovation park is looking at several other potential investors to fulfil the need. According to Roman Romanovsky, Skolkovo Operating Director for Key Partners, the program needs at least 30 to 50 well established companies for the innovation park to be a success.
The Skolkovo Innovation Centre has been planned to host five research facilities which are: IT, Nuclear technologies, Biomedical technologies, Energy-efficient technologies and Space technologies. Skolkovo is a huge undertaking, which promises to build a ‘smart city’ which is technology driven with an array of futuristic facilities.
Though Apple refused to comment on this issue, its interest in R&D is evident going by the fact that it took over Israeli flash memory making company Anobit earlier this year, and is looking at opening up its very own international R&D center in Israel, to come up with its ever-evolving and brand new innovative technologies.
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