A new agreement will see an expansion of research into wireless technologies in Russia. After signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Skolkovo Foundation in January this year, Nokia Siemens Networks has confirmed that it will set up a Smart Lab as well as a wider R&D team focused on wireless technologies.
The Smart Lab will be located in Skolkovo, while the wireless R&D team – which is currently being assembled by NSN - will be based in both the Sistema-Sarov science park and on Skolkovo Foundation premises in the future.
Viktor Vekselberg, head of the Skolkovo Foundation, said: “The lab will play a crucial role in offering guidance and assistance to start-up companies, helping them streamline and focus their R&D activities. It will help us create a healthy, sustainable technological ecosystem that we have envisioned.”
“We are committed to developing future proof technologies in Russia,” added Kristina Trikhonova, head of Nokia Siemens Networks, Russia. “In particular, we see immense potential in areas such as cloud computing, machine-to-machine (M2M), and applications for smart devices, and telco and web 2.0 convergence.”
NSN’s Smart Lab will collaborate with Russian operators, handset manufacturers, and Internet and handset applications developers across a range of advanced broadband wireless technologies. In addition, the lab will play a key role in the firm’s Russian University Cooperation program, helping to support the development of public research and educational infrastructure in Skolkovo.
As part of its R&D initiatives, Nokia Siemens Networks launched an R&D centre in the Sistema-Sarov science park in June this year, and the centre has already started its R&D activities around active antenna systems. When the Skolkovo Foundation premises ready for operation, R&D activities in the science park will be managed by NSN’s management team based in the foundation premises.
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