IBM opens its development centre in Tatarstan

IBM is to launch a development centre in a technology park in Kazan. The Tatar prime minister Roustam Minnikhanov and IBM Eastern Europe/Asia general director Kirill Korniliev have today signed a related agreement.

In the spring of 2007, IBM Eastern Europe/Asia won a contest for conducting a marketing research and designing a business strategy and a business plan for an IT technology park. Late in August 2008, Tatarstan and IBM signed a memorandum of understanding, stipulating more areas for cooperation within establishing a new IT park in Kazan. The local authorities then asked the company to consider setting up an IBM development centre on the grounds of the IT park.

After the signing, The Tatarstan informatisation and communication minister Farit Fazylzyanov said in an interview to obtain a high-technology firm with a vast experience like IBM as an IT park tenant was very important for Tatarstan. According to the minister, the centre will focus on designing software and hardware solutions for Tatarstan’s economy, and will engage local specialists as well.

“In spite of the crisis, we continue to step up cooperation with Tatarstan, and are implementing the earlier concluded agreements,” noted the IBM Eastern Europe/Asia’s CEO. “The today’s agreement stipulates concrete moves Tatarstan and IBM should make, to set up a development centre.”

The centre will assist local and internationally operating firms in designing software solutions and providing services. The IBM centre will also help create and grow the IT park’s community through participating in the forming and stimulating of an environment for cooperation and innovation.

“The centre will do work that is more profound than simply adjusting ready-made products for specific tasks. That includes revising software and designing modules for the republic’s priority needs and areas,” said Mr Korniliev.

The IBM official made no comment on the project’s exact schedule and size. “To talk about when the centre is established, we first need to wait till the IT technopark is completed,” emphasised Kirill Korniliev. “Similarly, the number of personnel will depend on what tasks are set out for the development centre.”

Farit Fazylzyanov said the IT technopark would be completed this autumn.