The enabling environment of Technopark-NOR

2009-06-04

The Industrial Development Corporation of Norway (SIVA) has created innovation systems and innovative concepts across Norway for the last 40 years, while 15 years ago it also expanded its activities further to Russia, Baltic States and the Balkans. SIVA has been engaged in establishing a number of locally based innovation concepts in countries with transition economies and in less developed countries where there is a need for sustainable business growth. December 2007, SIVA started another project in Russia – the creation of the logistics (industrial) centre in close proximity to Murmansk airport.

New industrial centre in Murmansk for Norwegian SMEs is under renovation. The centre is named Technopark NOR aiming to facilitate the internationalization of Norwegian SMEs and to strengthen Russian-Norwegian cooperation. Technopark’s strategy is to provide a holistic enabling environment to make knowledge industry intrinsically competitive and world class. Enveloped in the ambience of good infrastructure of the airport, highway and internal railroad connection, Technopark NOR offers a unique confluence of warehouses and an administrative building for small and big businesses.

This is not a first Technopark-construction experienced by SIVA. A number of the clone parks appeared earlier in Norway, two parks in Lithuania, and one in Latvia.

Inga Visnevska, the project manager: “I’ve been cooperating with SIVA for 6 years starting from Latvian business park. I started my career at the business park as a trainee when I was a final-year student. Later I was promoted to a technical specialist and finally to a project manager. As a project manager I was engaged in construction of a new building for Latvian Business Park and I was doing some assistance in other projects’ development in Lithuania. The project in Latvia aimed at promotion of Norwegian business abroad, thus SIVA offered a full range of services of an industrial park, besides, Norwegian companies had softer terms for renting the park premises. Russian concept has not been thoroughly specified so far but is more likely to become a logistics centre and Siva will probably cooperate with one of the Norwegian logistics operators. In practical terms there maybe a single lessor that is experienced in the development of the similar projects, whilst SIVA in due course will cover technical issues and remain the owner of the Technopark.

Latvian project proved to be successful. 1.5 years ago it was sold, yet SIVA specialists still keep in touch with their former colleagues and do some consultancy work. Presently all the premises are fully rented. One of two parks in Lithuania has already been sold while the second one is waiting for its customer.

Tom Witso, the technical supervisor of the project, is positive about Russian subcontractors (OOO Stroycomplex) chosen through tender competition and now managing all the renovation works. Currently there are about 15-20 builders working in the field. “The administrative building is now completely rehabilitated”, he says, “and we have 750 sq. m. of available offices for rent. Yet the warehouses and industrial premises are to be renovated and adjusted to the customer’s needs. The customer has not been defined yet so the applications are still welcome for consideration”.

The area of 46 645 sq. m. with existing constructions of 7.174 sq. m. can be extended to 15.500 sq. m. says Ms. Tatyana Zhunzhurova, a project assistant. “Besides we have two self-owned electric substantions of 100 kwt allowed capacity (that will be increased); and a water pump providing continuous water supply which make Technopark NOR a sort of independent and self-sufficient industrial area”. Technopark has a railway connected to the Kola railway station that was operational 4 years ago and will be rehabilitated in 2009.

The project became possible due to cooperation of SIVA and Innovation Norway (33%) with the total investments of 80 million NOK so far. Mr. Geir Reiersen, the director general of Technopark NOR, feels very optimistic about the project saying that Technopark campus has been designed to international standards to provide the professional work environment for its companies and their employees, besides in future there will be more buildings in the area beside existing five.

More info here www.technoparknor.no

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