Dubna to Become a Sort of Singapore for the Moscow Region

Since the times of the Soviet Union the town of Dubna, a prominent Russian and international scientific centre, has been regarded as a kind of scientific Makkah by the world scientists. Not without reason Element 105 of Mendeleev’s table was called Dubnium. Even through the 1990s — hard times for the Russian science — Dubna managed to retain its status and scientific traditions.

In 2005 the Government of Russia made a decision to create a special economic zone (SEZ) to develop and implement innovative technologies, and the SEZ was called “Dubna”. The priority in the SEZ is given to information technologies, nanotechnologies, nuclear physics, and bio-medical technologies.

The SEZ “Dubna” is the only centre in Russia with such unique potential. A similar SEZ is located in Singapore, and “Dubna” has established effective cooperation with it. A delegation from the Russian New University, led by Professor Vladimir Minaev, vice-rector, D.Sc. in engineering, went to Dubna, a Russian “stronghold of knowledge”, to meet Alexander Ratz, head of the Russian SEZ division in the Moscow region.

After learning about the prospects of the SEZ “Dubna”, Vladimir Minaev outlined the possible spheres of cooperation.

“The researchers of our University can claim some innovative achievements”, he said. “Nanotubes produced by our facilities are considered to be among the purest nanotubes in the world. Our device for cardiovascular system diagnostics, “Cardiocode”, makes it possible to predict heart attacks and blood strokes well in advance when there are practically no obvious symptoms of the disease. Our scientists are developing endo-ecological medical technologies used for lymph cleaning. After such treatment people look and feel much younger. Our engineers have developed a security server for the protection of cottages, cars, and facilities of special significance. This technology is unique. Besides, it is far cheaper than systems of the same kind manufactured in other countries. We are interested in commencing cooperation with the SEZ “Dubna” using our scientific basis.”

Alexander Ratz met the cooperation proposal with great enthusiasm.

“Science and innovative technologies are now of major importance for Russia,” emphasized Mr. Ratz. “During the post-Soviet period there was huge brain drain, and Russia began to fall behind. At the moment the Russian government endeavors to restore scientific potential of the country, and it must be done as soon as possible. I am sure that together with RosNOU we will find many promising lines of cooperation.”