Partners

The Association of Innovative Regions of Russia (AIRR) unites 19 regions: the Republic of Bashkortostan, the Republic of Mordovia, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Republic of Tatarstan, Altai Krai, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Perm Krai, Vladimir Oblast, Irkutsk Oblast, Kaluga Oblast, Lipetsk Oblast, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Novgorod Oblast, Novosibirsk Oblast, Samara Oblast, Tomsk Oblast, Tyumen Oblast, Ulyanovsk Oblast and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Yugra.

AIRR regions account for more than 36% of Russia's GDP and more than 45% of the country's total innovative output. Since its establishment in 2010, the Association has been an aggregator and guide for the initiatives of its members, representing a consolidated position in federal authorities and development institutions on issues of economy, investment, infrastructure development and support of the business community. At the same time, AIRR ensures effective interregional interaction between the participants in the issues of scientific, technical and innovative development and represents the interests of the Association's regions at the international level. AIRR has established itself as an expert and analytical platform for sharing experience and best practices in the field of economic development of the Association's member regions.

Alexander Smekalin - Director of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia

Alexander Smekalin

Director of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia, Director for Regional Development at RANEPA (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration). Member of several specialized commissions of the State Council of the Russian Federation. Head of the working group on technological entrepreneurship development under the Coordinating Council of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation.

With over 20 years of experience in economic and investment development. Chairman of the Government of the Ulyanovsk Region from 2016 to 2021.

Key professional achievements include establishing an effective investment policy and regional development management system, creating a legal framework to support investment and entrepreneurship, and developing a comprehensive infrastructure for investment growth in the region.

Kavkaz.RF is a development institute, which works in the regions of the North Caucasus. With the help of the State the Company builds and develops mountain resorts, supports the tourism industry, helps local business grow and attracts investments to the region.

The most famous tourism projects of the state corporation are the mountain resorts Arkhyz, Elbrus, Veduchi, Mamison, which are united in the North Caucasus Tourism Cluster. Kavkaz.RF builds and maintaining cable cars, routes and related infrastructure. One of the promising areas is the development of beach tourism in Dagestan. Here the development institute team is creating a Caspian coastal cluster.

In the field of investment attraction - support of local enterprises is a priority: from apple orchards and sturgeon farms to the reconstruction of airports.

The Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation oversees the work of the Company. In the Russian Government, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak supervises the North Caucasus Federal District.