Last week our CEO, Mike, traveled to Moscow for a 5-day trip to attend and speak at the Open Innovation Forum 2017 in the Skolkovo Technopark in Moscow. With Russia’s entrepreneurship sector growing, there are many opportunities for Idea Foundry to lend their understanding and experience in the field to Russian innovators and entrepreneurs who are interested in expanding and growing internationally. While there, Mike signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Idea Foundry and the Skolkovo Foundation with their Vice President for Regional and International Development, Saprykin Yury Aleksandrovitch. Idea Foundry and the Skolkovo Foundation are looking towards the future, working together to promote entrepreneurship and international collaboration, both within Moscow and Pittsburgh. To truly promote global innovation, which is a cornerstone of Idea Foundry’s mission, we believe that partnerships in all corners of the globe are paramount.

This isn’t just a collaboration that will be beneficial to innovators in Russia, but one that will be beneficial here in Pittsburgh as well. Idea Foundry seeks to strengthen Pittsburgh through economic development, innovation, and globalization. Partnerships in Russia have the potential to bolster travel and investment in Pittsburgh and U.S.-market-ready innovations from Russia can also be brought to Pittsburgh, creating jobs here and building Pittsburgh’s reputation as a global innovation hub.

Overall, Mike’s trip was an encouraging one, driving confidence in the future of innovation . He was able to speak directly to innovators and leaders from around the world as an expert in his field and gain new insight and perspectives from them as well. Innovation is happening everywhere and the breakthroughs which are happening should not be put in a geographical box. Collaboration across sectors and parts of the globe will push the boundaries in ways we can only imagine. We are very gracious of the welcoming atmosphere that Idea Foundry received at the event, and are looking forward to seeing where future endeavors may lead us.

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