As part of the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, the first meeting of the Skolkovo Foundation Council was held. It took place after the Council staff was nominated and confirmed according to the Regulations by the Presidential Commission for Modernization and Technical Development of Russia’s Economy.
Several topics were discussed at the meeting, such as organization of the Foundation Council, appointment of the Council Co-Chairmen and conclusion of the labour contract with the Foundation President Viktor Vekselberg. It was also confirmed that the Foundation Council members are to work on a voluntary basis. Besides that, Nobel Laureates Zhores Alferov and Roger Kornberg were appointed as two Co-Chairmen of the Scientific Advisory Council, a specific expert body of the Foundation.
The size of the Scientific Advisory Council staff was specified as well. The lowest number will include seven members, and the highest – 25 members, according to the requirements of projects in progress.
Anton Rybalkin was appointed as an Executive Secretary in charge of planning and organization of meetings.
As well as the Council members, some guests were present at the meeting, such as the First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Vladislav Surkov and the Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Arkady Dvorkovich. Dvorkovich drew the Council’s attention to the fact that certain modifications to the legal system are to be considered. Such as, supposed privileges (tax benefits in particular) should be offered to the participants already on the current stage of the project, before the whole infrastructure completion. The Council members appreciated his idea as favourable for the acceleration of the project realization.
Full list of the Skolkovo Foundation Council Members as well as the Board of Trustees staff, headed by Dmitry Medvedev personally, is available here.