Ambassador McFaul Speaks at Monitor Group's meeting on Innovation for Excellence

June 13, 2012

As part of International consulting firm Monitor Group’s conference, “Innovation for Excellence” speakers from various high-profile, innovative firms such as 3M and Intel, came together on June 13, 2012 to discuss fostering innovation and the evolving business environment in Russia.

In addition to discussing American-Russian relations, Ambassador McFaul gave remarks about how to best to promote an innovative environment. He spoke of the opportunities that the Bilateral Presidential Commission’s Innovation Working Group can create as well as the policy conditions that foster innovation, such as the protection of intellectual property rights and the encouragement of a strong scientific base.

In closing, the Ambassador asked conference participants to consider what is necessary to create a Silicon Valley, an environment which highly values the protection of ideas, yet shares them so freely. The conference, which continued with various industry speakers and panels as well as open discussion, will help keep the innovation policy dialogue between the United States and Russia focused on concrete, practical outcomes.