Russian deputy PM says democracy depends on innovative economy

(Interfax – Skolkovo, 28 November) Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vladislav Surkov has described innovative work as a priority political task because high technologies contribute to the development of democracy.

“I think innovative work is a priority political task. It precedes party building, it precedes elections, it comes before everything else, because there will be no democracy without high technologies and increasing labour productivity,” Surkov said during his meeting with representatives of various organizations, including research institutes, at the Skolkovo innovation centre.

According to the deputy prime minister, “democracy emerged exactly at the time when technologies emerged, because democracy is a luxury”.

“If you have many products, you can allow yourself to be free. If you have few products, you will have to tighten the rules, simply because of their vital necessity,” Surkov noted.

According to him, the country’s development strategy, its capabilities and resources in the near future depends on whether or not the work on innovative development is successful.

The event at the Skolkovo innovation centre is devoted to the topic of building a creative environment for interaction between investors and the state.

Among the topics being discussed are the formation of a system of identification and support of regional innovation projects, the development of recommendations for regional authorities to promote innovation, the development of legal, methodological and organizational support for inventors and innovators.

Surkov noted the importance of such events.

“I very much want to see my friends from One Russia (United Russia) (party), who have been spending a lot of time on this work, for a long time, for many years, supporting this policy, being involved in this more systematically, and we are ready to work with them, because in innovation activities it is not only laws and regulations that are important, the mood is important too,” the deputy prime minister said.

The event is being attended by State Duma deputies, including the State Duma deputy speaker from One Russia, Sergey Zheleznyak.