#24 - JRL 8332 - JRL Home
From: "Alistair Brett" <a.brett@att.net>
Subject: Russian Business Schools
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2004

Regarding the discussion of Russian business schools. I would like to comment on Kirill Yurov’s comment that “In addition to making world-class business education happen in Russia, I believe that professors from North America and Western Europe could help Russian researchers to strengthen their research agenda and methods.” I agree. During a decade of working on issues of technology commercialisation in Russia, I have been surprised that so few American business schools have shown interest in Russia’s transition – surely one of the greatest real-time business cases in history? In particular, study of the technology-based component of Russia’s economy, believed to be critical to the nation’s growth (as JRL readers will know) seems to have been neglected. I am not sure why.

One Russian institution is addressing this issue in a very practical manner: The Faculty for Innovative Technology Business (FITB) at the Academy of National Economy under the Government of the Russian Federation (ANE).

The FITB began life as the Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC) at the ANE in 1994 supported by an initial grant from the Eurasia Foundation. The US Agency for International Development, the British Council, the European Union, the Russian Fund for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises also provided early support. Now, the FITB is self-financing and conducts training and consulting activity for innovative companies and the national innovative infrastructure.

Practically oriented courses are the main innovation in FITB training programs. Students carry out extensive independent work in promoting real technology to the market and in acquiring practical skills. All of them train on basic real innovative projects connected with their job. Course Tutors are professionals who work in innovative businesses as managers or consultants. FITB teaches managers of small innovative technology firms, industrial liaison officers of universities and research institutes, managers and experts of infrastructure of small innovative business supporting, investing funds, industrial and consulting companies.

Since 1997 the ITBF has run two-year MS Degree Program: Technology Management, developed in cooperation with the University of Texas at Austin, and accredited by the Russian Federation Government. Graduates receive a Master of Management degree. Since 2000 the FITB has conducted the specialized MBA program: Innovative Project Investment & Risk Management. Eighty-five students have graduated in the MS and MBA programs. Currently, 175 students are studying in these programs.

Alongside the MS Degree Program, the FITB runs a one-year professional training program: Technology Management for specialists in technology commercialization and management. This supports the State Plan for training managers for the Russian economy (the President’s Program). This year 312 ITBF graduates are working in innovative firms and companies.

Alistair Brett
FITB Program Advisor
Senior Consultant
Oxford Innovation Ltd