Moderator (M): Hello, this is Dialogue and Innovations on RBC TV. The process of building a powerful research and development centre in Russia called Skolkovo Innovation Center is in full swing. The government plans to allocate some 15 billion roubles from the federal budget to developing the Skolkovo dream town in 2011 alone, followed by another 22 billion in 2012 and 17 billion roubles in 2013. Let’s ask our guests today what kind of city Skolkovo will be. I would like to introduce Viktor Maslakov, executive director in Territory Development of the Skolkovo Innovation Center, and Sergey Tchoban, architect and member of the Skolkovo Town Planning Council. Viktor, Sergey – welcome to our show.
GUESTS: Good afternoon.
M: Viktor, just for reference: is the executive director in Territory Development the mayor of Skolkovo or do you serve a different function?
VIKTOR MASLAKOV (SKOLKOVO INNOVATION CENTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT): Well, it’s not exactly a mayor, since mayors are usually elected to their position while an executive director is appointed. The people assigned to this post specialise in managing cities. Today, many cities in Russia have adopted this model of appointing executive directors or city managers.
M: Okay, but as far as I understand it, there is nothing in Skolkovo to manage right now. Or has something already been built?
VIKTOR MASLAKOV (SKOLKOVO INNOVATION CENTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT): Of course, some preparatory work is already underway. We are working on landscaping and final trimming of the area. The first buildings will be complete by the end of next year, so work has already begun.
M: I see. Now, you say you are working on landscaping. Perhaps you could tell us where exactly Skolkovo will be located, what its basic parameters are, how many people will live in the city, how many districts it will have, and so on.
VIKTOR MASLAKOV (SKOLKOVO INNOVATION CENTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT): Skolkovo is located west of Moscow, near the Minsk Highway and Moscow Ring Road. The city is expected to occupy four square kilometres of land. We expect the city to have 20,000 permanent residents, and 30,000 people working there. These are the broad parameters of the city.
M: Sergey, this appears to be a small town. Perhaps, from your point of view as an architect, this isn’t a major, large-scale project. Or it is?
SERGEY TCHOBAN (MEMBER OF THE SKOLKOVO INNOVATION CENTER TOWN PLANNING COUNCIL): I think this is the largest and the most large-scale project you could ever imagine. You see, Skolkovo isn’t just an innovation city and isn’t just a dream town, as you correctly put it; it is also a prototype for the kind of small city that must be developed. Russia shouldn’t only be developing its mega cities – it should be building in small towns where people feel comfortable. And I think Skolkovo should be the prototype for this new kind of city. […]