The city rests on the banks of the Tom River. Tomsk is rich in wooden and stone architectural monuments built in the 18th to 20th centuries. The population is 501,800. Together with its satellite-town of Seversk and the suburbs, Tomsk forms an urban agglomeration with a population of 702,000.
Tomsk is a large Siberian educational, scientific and innovation centre boasting nine higher educational institutions, 15 research institutes, and the SEZ. The Soviet Union's first technology park and Russia's first student business incubator were also opened in Tomsk. Up to 1,000 jobs are created annually in the sphere of business innovation, while 30-40 innovation companies are established, and 4-5 new products leave Tomsk to enter the international market.