I like how this article says: "Russian specialists lost their jobs, some went abroad, others turned to criminal activities." This is hilarious! It is like Russian technical colleges prepare engineers with the gangster skills as premium (or visa versa). Dual-diploma, you know. So, following the "logic" of this article, I assume that those Russian engineers working abroad, who for some reasons may lose their jobs, will automatically switch to... the criminal activity... And that, I guess, was the actual meaning behind the words: "Russia can help the U.S. in terms of technologists"(read: criminals). Beware the high-tech West! Russians are coming! The reality, though, -- nerds are nerds everywhere -- in America, China, India, Russia. If somebody turned to be a gangster, it means that guy (even though, was in a college) never meant to be a good engineer. This is simple not possible by definition of these words. Engineers -- they are creators, gangster -- they are destructors. You cannot have both at the same time!

I am little bit sick by that blatant statement that Russian computer engineers are the best. Like this one in the article -- "Everyone knows that the best viruses are written in Russia". Who knows? Russians living in Russia? I, personally, do not see Russians as being the best in the computer engineering field. This is the legend created somewhere in Russia and fed to Russians to be proud of for "achievement" they don't have. To be the best you have to prove it and being recognized by others. Like German car makers. Or Japanese robot builders. Or even Russian space engineers. What Russian computer guys are famous for to be recognized as the best? Almost nothing. Saying this, though, I want to emphasize that I mean: a) Russians -- not Soviet; b) Russians working in Russian companies -- not Russians working abroad. The Soviet Union (in 1950-60th) had very strong computer school (created by Lebedev) and for couple of decades Soviets went pretty even with the US. Until the beginning of 70th, when some political charlatans and Kremlin bureaucrats destroyed that school and forever put Russians on the path of the followers (and cloners) of the American computer technologies. With the collapse of that old Soviet school Russians lost one of its most valuable asset -- the desire to be creative, innovative, and original. And this is what distinguishes talents (or the best) from just good (capable) engineers -- talents create something which nobody could before them. And without being creative and original you cannot call yourself as the best. Sorry, Russians. But you have to be, at least, as talented and work as hard as employees of Apple to be recognized in the world. To get the crown, though, you have to be better than Apple... which is almost impossible.

Medvedev should read an article in the American magazine "Businessweek/Bloomberg": "The other U.S. energy crisis: Lack of R&D" ("Innovation") Russia can lead, or at least be as advanced as the U.S., in energy efficieny, R&D on energy. There are areas where spending R&D would be a waste of time and money....while other areas are not much developed in the World (U.S., Europe, Japan, S.Korea) and Russia can lead or at least be as competitive as the rest. Russia is, and can be in the future, very competitive in Aircraft, Aerospace and Energy software and R&D, for example.

Bogdanov, Last month I watched an interview with Spain´s Government representative on "cybercrime" and he said that the most sophisticated viruses came from "Eastern Europe" even if the Far East was coming strong and also Brazil (even if not as sophisticated as the Russian viruses)

I never underestimate people no matter where they hail from. Anyone during the Korean War that ran into a MIG-15 for the first time will attest to that. Vietnam had its own lessons. But no matter, what fascinated me was how the space programme was put together. Rudimentary physics, a cylinder inserted into a sphere with equalization throughout. It would have been the perfect vehicle for either inner or outer space. The great grandparent Lunokhod 1 is where “Rover”, “Spirit”, and “Opportunity” hail from. Granted you might not think such children and such parents could come together but there you have it. There is still a place for vacuum tubes, just ask Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, or “Slash” or “Bono”. There will always be technological hybrids, there has always been such. With German V2 technology both Russia and the United States went into the cosmos. From garages new computers and other equipment were built with Radio Shack parts and circuit boards lying around to create new things or improve existing things. But technology and science both have made pacts with their own devils. Hence phosgene gas, the machine gun, and the atomic bomb. I believe in open books, and open knowledge. Think of how many lives we could have saved or needless deaths we could have prevented if everything was open or transparent. But before this can happen, we have to learn to trust and love one another.

Russian IT companies such as: 1C Company, Akella, Buka entertainment, ABBY, Kaspersky lab, Dr.Web...can be the examples of russian development...becouse they produce cutting-edge products !

Almost in all capitalist countries working class, including engineer and scientist, like a slaves. They all under presure to pay bills and afraid to loose job. Very rare they take vacation or seek days. With respect, Michael Levin - 72 Years old, 35 Yaers in USA, Mechanical Engineer

Michael L,Tulpan, Your comments really capture quite a bit. Yes, we need to get out of the exploitation of people model which is the max debt/tax, minimum wage scenario. Where everything is associated with a minimum cost and which results in a minimum individual wealth scenario. This is slavery, where deliberate oversupply is created; be that through overtraining, immigration, outsourcing...... Where the ones advocating free market, destroy a free market in human capital, to get it on the cheap. It is the sweat shop model! And yes we do know how to make companies in Russia, good companies. But the process is hindered. It is hindered becase there is a direct anti-marketing campaign in the west against Russia, there are other ways to make good returns by just sticking to well tried commodities, there are easy ways to make money by giving it to finacial terrorists - operating companies incurs vunerability (raiding and corruption)... So that is why Russia needs learn somethings from the west, but not take everything lock stock and Barrel. We need a max individual wealth model, break down the external market barriers and make highly advantagous, the use of funds for industrialisation, instead of pure interest bearing capitalism. We need an environment of true freedom, born from money in peoples pockets, equal opportunity and rewards matching risk, effort and ability. So we need go big on investing in our people, both personal and corporate, allow them to develop and protect them as individuals - as the state should. The people will deliver, like flowers, if a gardner is there killing the weeds, digging the soil, providing some nutrients and sprinkling with water in the dry times. Make capital work in the hands of self motivated people. For the sunseekers, other than the legitimately retired, let them see benefit of moving to the shade, by reducing the value of idleness, so they get up and seek shade in industrialisation. A wealth of creativity

Saint-Petersburg University SPbSPU formerly known as Polytechnical Institute has a great school making perfect programmists. They go abroad, they stay in Saint-Petersburg and work in Russian and foreign companies that have branches in Russia. So when you say @This is the legend created somewhere in Russia and fed to Russians to be proud of for "achievement" they don't have@ that's not true. They are among the best at least. Who is better? What countries are the leaders in your view if not Russia?

It is clear that Russia’s top leadership wants to copy the U.S technology model based on strong focus on massively cheap spin-off products with short half-life and the military weaponry. In reality, Russia does not need to copy this model. Instead, Russia needs to adopt a new technological innovation based on green technology, energy efficiency, safe and sustainable food production, water purification. Now, what does the President of Russia’s joy of receiving the first copy of the a new regime of iPod means for how to tackle some of the pressing issues of our times? Russia, it seems, is behind not only in the technological sphere with the U.S but there seems to be a lack of critical analysis of the sociology of technology in the Russian media. Most important technological innovations are not sexy, of course. One may ask how it is that the U.S technology has failed to come up technological solution to the current ecological disaster unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico. The actions of the current Russian President makes me think twice Russia’s own position to offer original solutions to some of the pressing global challenges. P/S. I do not think Russians will suffer very much if they do not receive the new apple blink over-prised ipod gadget!

spbcactus, You are asking: "Who is better? What countries are the leaders in your view if not Russia?". Simple and easy. The United States. It is the obvious leader in this area. And not just the leader, but, it so far ahead of everybody else, that I would picture it as the US and the rest of the world, where the USA much bigger than the rest of the world. And there is a huge gap between them. This is different from the fact, though, that talented computer scientists and engineers exist in every corner of this planet. But, that is the power of the US -- it sucks like a vacuum cleaner all those talents and they become Americans and work for America. If fact, this is the most foreign workers powered field in the States. The entire world works for the US computer industry. Directly or indirectly. Almost everything related to your computer, which you are using now, originally or, even currently was created in the US. Processor, data storage, communication equipment, software ... I mean, everything. Even to post your message, you, most probably, had to use: a) the computer (hardware) designed in the USA (may be manufactured in China), which is b) running operating system created in the USA, and powering c) the software written on the computer languages created in the USA, and turned to d) working programs using development tools created in the USA, which accesses e) the RT website, I am almost sure, designed and created by the USA company and communicate with it using f) the communication protocols and equipment designed in the USA, ... Should I continue? Note, that I put emphasis on the word "designed" or "created" (read: invented). This is what Russian computer engineers do not have (in general). They are just capable engineers. In that sense, they are not better than Indian, Chinese, Polish, Spanish, Brazilians, Vietnamese, ...

Bogdanov Your “Vacuum Cleaner” metaphor is apt. I think Russia's President's love for the blink U.S technology is based on cultural gap in terms in Russian education of his time. I do not think that when he want to school there was much critical analysis of the pluses and minuses of the U.S technological model in the Russian academy. the Russian elite, including the President, are eating up capitalist commodity culture in gross form and it will take little bit more time fot them to engage with the U.S centric commodity culture critically. The President of Russia’s pilgrim to Hollywood/Silicon Valley dream land is a pastiche and little bit outdated, if I ask me. Medvedev admiration for Obama behind his trip. Obama did the same thing. Thus, he is copying Obama in so many ways. Today’s important technologies are those with the capacity to solve pressing issues of our times, such as clean energy, cleaning the environment, purification water, safe food production, etc. The President of Russia may be very well committed to these technologies but his visual image is associated with cheap blink technologies. That is, like Obama, he has become associated with the "fast-food type" "cool" technologies. These technologies are good for making money for corporations but they do not deal with pressing issues of our times. In fact, I do take great deal more inspiration from last summer’s Putin’s little trip to the bottom of Lake Baikal than Medvedev’s much publicized pilgrimage to Hollywood/Silicon valley fantasy land.

PR101, I agree with you that the Russians are late with their desire to copy Silicon Valley. For several reasons. First of all, the Silicon Valley today is not that power house packed by countless number of startup companies which generated innovations 10-20 years ago. It is becoming more and more a corporate world, with giants (like Google or Oracle) determining market based on their weight, and not because they create new exciting technologies. So, I am afraid that Russian may copy this environment and recreate similar clumsy monster in Skolkovo Secondly, and I again agree with you -- the computer technologies themselves is little bit outdated topic. What is necessary today -- the technologies which will combat problems related to energy, pollution, providing clean water, and enough food,... To be fair, though, I have to say that Silicon Valley is fast on reacting on these issues and trends. There is a big shift toward such areas as biotech, medical, and "green" cars technologies. And that, actually, was my main point which I expressed in my comments related to this topic on several articles posted on this website -- Russians should move forward with new technologies by creating them themselves and from scratch, rather that repeat the same mistake they already made in 70th -- borrowing outdated American technologies. Because, the real innovations are carefully guarded and well hidden by the Americans. So, Russians should understand -- everything on the surface is already old. If you just repeat them -- you are not competitive and you are doomed to be behind.

Also, here my free advice to those Russian leader who are in charge of creating new Russian techno center(s). There are some fundamental philosophical aspects which are the basis of any "Silicon Valley". If they were not implemented, Russia would not succeed in this area. a) All ideas (I mean 100%) are generated in individual heads (physical brains) and not in groups. This means, that the size of the company and its location do not matter. All attention should be put on individuals and not on corporations. Startups -- the best approach. b) The boundaries of known things can be broken only(!) by talents. No amount (even billions) of average researches would not substitute one genius. This means, that instead of going to Silicon Valley in attempt to find the secret for success, Russians should go to schools and universities, find those talents, and ask them what they need to implement the ideas they have and provide them those things. c) The geniuses are normally weird and "difficult" people. "Normal" people may not understand them. So, Russians should learn who to work with them and create the environment, which tolerate such "disturbing" individuals and encourages uniqueness and originality. And remember, that talents usually cannot coexist. Each of them prefer to go alone. So, putting too many of them together does not create "bigger talent" (see item 1). Actually, it just reduces the productivity of each of them. d) Talents cannot be just created. This is a unique combination of genes, personal drama/experience, and knowledge. Creating good schools will not guarantee producing talents. They, like gold, need to be found and taken care of to become shiny and valuable. And, again, similar to gold, they are sprinkled around the globe. There is no super-race or super-nation. So, Russians should provide the environment which attracts talents from the whole world.

Bogdanov You have made some great point. I do think it is rather funny and unwittingly retro for Medvedev’s homage to Silicon Valley. As you have noted today Silicon Valley is not the cutting edge incubator key cutting start up companies small entrepreneurs with big ideas. So what is the real objective of Russia’s President big media plash in Silicon Valley? Why not send smart Russian scientists and policymakers to take a look what Silicon Valley can still teach Russia? And when millions of Russians see their President with new generation of ipod that cost lot of money, the real message is that this is not about becoming modern; rather it is about marketing gimmick of blink expensive piece of commodity.. The whole think is naked marketing gimmick. Russians do not need silicon Valley to know the breakthrough technology the world needs at this moment. The President needs to spent the required funds in R&D in Russian institutions and spent little more time clarifying what he means by “modernisation”. Russians need clear water, safe cities, affordable healthy food, functioning institutions and they can do the rest for themselves.

P/S. in one of his recent interviews with RT, President Medvedev confessed his admiration of U.S fast food such as hamburger and Coke. He will get soon his wish because according some media report Medvedev and Obama are going to have small chat over hamburger and fries! Also according to the home page of The Voice of Russia, Russia will purchase 50 Boeing plans! This will be a blow to the recovery of Russia’s aviation industry! I am sure Russia has something bigger to gain from all of these. We are waiting for RT to tell us what in for Russia.

Bogdanov, While I agree that personal impact is very important when it comes to innovations, it's not the only and probably is not even the biggest factor that formed Silly Valley as we know it know. Having one genius might be sufficient to solve the Poincaré Conjecture problem, but you'll need a critical mass of different talents and well-established supporting infrastructure to create a world-class chip maker like Intel. By supporting infrastructure I mean many things starting from venture capitalists and effective intellectual property laws and ending with ability to productionalize new ideas fast. By different talents I mean specialists in different areas, talented executives, business and marketing people that make innovation successful from commercial point of view. It's good that Medvedeyv at least tries to do all that, but I'm afraid it will take decades and a lot of dedication to create similar environment in Russia. That's why I think that the main problem will be consistency: there is no any guarantee that the idea will outlive the current President. It should not be a one man pet project (even if this man is a President), it should naturally grow from the country's economy needs and be supported by a number of powerful players.

GrizzlyBear-r-r, Great answer on the 'Individual genius', Bogdanov is spot on that individuals are the spark, you are spot on that that spark will not start a product fire without the rest of the critical mass of firewood around - both right. Its not how many ideas you have; we all invented the Portable gamer, MP3 player.... in our heads, but only a few took it to market - That is the key, to have ideas and to realise those ideas! Now the other great point you raise is 'decades'. My view is that if we don't get some quick success, then the momentum will be lost. Like it or not we need a continuing hype, continuing success, we need to have a fire just on the limits of control, not isolated little bundles of wood to brew up some tea. Basically decades, even a single one is way too long a time constant. So I expect within 1 year that a list of marketing tools have been found(read - Russian ideas to splash), that are protected and can be publicised and start to create a reason to believe. You have seen this started already, but you may not realise it! Then in two years, we see a few companies generating interest, because they are going through subsequent rounds of funding and have product launch campaigns in your face in the market. Then in five years we have at least one, but ideally a few IPOs, even if on specialist exchanges. The key here is speed,momentum and sustainability. Speed and momentum come from the critical product creation buzz. Sustainability come from the slower time constant of strategic direction and R&D investment. You can't have one without the other, if you want a real innovation future. So we need be careful here, not to be conned by the big western companies, that we need just R&D and create an R&D farm, for them to pick resources from and use. Instead we need our head in the product creation trough and get a big stuffing of products that ordinary people can relate to, enjoy and which generate high ASPS, margin and more importantly cash

GrizzlyBear-r-r, I cannot argue with you (because you are right) -- you need a team of people with complementary skills when it comes to mass production. The role of such group of people is to reproduce the product with the consistent quality... and collect money. But, this is not what distinguishes the Silicon Valley. This is not its soul. And this is one of the reasons why all production facilities moved to Asia. Because, this is not the Silicon Valley's specialty. Its strength -- inventing new things and creating new technologies. Just look at the history many of those companies which define the Valley today... HP -- a student of Stanford came up with the idea how to make the oscilloscope. And he started the company in his garage... Two students of Berkeley ahead of everybody else reconsigned the value of packet-based communication and started Cisco... Two post-grads of Stanford combined two different ideas in one and organized Google... And, of course, famous story of management genius, who convinced his talented neighbor (at that time, the student of Berkeley) to sell the personal computer which he created, and they started Apple (in the garage, as well). The same with Intel -- three scientists created the company based on the idea of creating advanced memory modules. As far as I remember, one of them even had to borrow $500 from his grandmother to open the business. The entire history of Silicon Valley is based on individuals and individual efforts. Normally, every company is based on one original idea. No government involvement. I mean zero involvement. The government came later... The Silicon Valley is a land of “gold-diggers”, young and crazy enthusiasts which decided to change the world and become rich. This is the reason, why I am concern about the approach Russians chose -- to build the house from the top. Because, you may be right -- it may be a project of one man, which may vanish as that man loses his power.