Tomsk Region
The Tomsk Region is located in central Siberia. The region's total area is 314,400 sq.km. The population is 1.05 million. The city of Tomsk is the administrative centre.
Among Russia's regions, the Tomsk Region has some of the greatest potential, including stable GDP growth. For 2011, the region's GDP was reported to be 321.4 billion roubles (+3.8%). The region ranks second in Siberia in terms of the gross regional product per capita.
The region has significant mineral resources, is included in Russia's top 10 oil and gas producing regions, and is among the regions with the largest reserves of fresh water and peat.
The Bakcharskoye iron ore deposit, located in the Tomsk Region, is one of the largest in Russia and in the world. Forests account for about 60% percent of the land area.
The region's main industries are: oil and gas, equipment manufacturing and metal processing, forestry and oil processing and nuclear materials production.
The largest companies are: Tomskneft VNK, Siberian Chemical Plant, Tomskneftekhim, Sibkabel, Sibelektromotor, Gazprom Transgaz Tomsk, Vostokgazprom and others. Industrial output in 2011 was valued at 246.6 billion roubles.
The region is currently one of Russia's leading centres for innovation development. The USSR's first tech park and Russia's first inter-university business think tank were opened in Tomsk. In 2005, the city won a government tender to host a special economic zone for technology development. Approximately 56 resident companies (nine with foreign participation), including the Wireless Technology Centre (a joint venture between Nokia Siemens Networks and Tomsk-based Micran, a research and production company), Niost (a Sibur affiliate), Russia's largest research centre for chemical technology, Russian-Australian Solagran Sun and others are located in the Tomsk special economic zone.
Tomsk is the host of the annual International Innovation Forum, a large platform for discussion about the country's development issues. The 15th Tomsk Innovation Forum, dedicated to Russia's integration into the world economy, will take place in May 2012. A governmental executive order gives the region special status and stipulates the establishment of INO Tomsk 2020, the so-called Siberian Skolkovo, a centre for education, research and development. In 2011-2013, 40 billion roubles will be allocated for the project from the federal budget and other sources.
In 2011, the St Petersburg Politics Foundation, the Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration and RBC Daily ranked the Tomsk Region first on a list of regions with the highest innovation activity.
The Tomsk Region has a well developed scientific and educational system that includes six universities, six institutes of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and seven institutes of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.
