AIRR helps Samara innovators attract investors, share experience and ideas, and adopt successful practices. Last year, the Association’s delegation attended the Samara engineering forum “New challenges for the development of engineering in the Russian Federation 2030: unmanned aircraft systems, engineering personnel, support infrastructure,” which took place at the Zhigulevskaya Dolina technology park. AIRR project manager Dmitry Mitroshin spoke at the forum about the necessary components for the development of a federal network of engineering centers. Examples were the engineering centers of the AIRR participating regions of Tatarstan, Bashkortostan and Perm Territory .
“Zhigulevskaya Valley” is one of the key elements of the innovation ecosystem developing in the region. Thanks to the national project “Small and Medium Enterprises” and the systematic work of the Government of the Samara Region, headed by Governor Dmitry Azarov , the platform has become a unique tool for the development of high-tech entrepreneurship.
Using the example of one resident
Today, 3D printing technologies are becoming increasingly popular. In some industries, it allows you to create completely finished products. A resident of the Zhigulevskaya Dolina technology park, Prototype LLC, began developing this area more than 10 years ago and has gone from a small studio working on foreign equipment to a prominent manufacturer of domestic 3D printers.
Imported printers at one time did not live up to the expectations of the company’s founders - they regularly broke down, and the components were expensive. Then, in 2016, businessmen decided to develop their own printer and a few years later presented the market with an easy-to-use device that could withstand a 20-hour work shift and is not picky about the printing material. In 2017, at the 3D Print Expo, it was recognized as the best in print quality among Russian manufacturers.
In 2022, the company became a resident of the Zhigulevskaya Dolina technology park, where it is implementing a project to create a large 3D printer with an innovative extruder that not only continuously processes polymer raw materials, but also filters them. The project successfully passed the expert council and received the opportunity to benefit from financial and non-financial measures of regional support for high-tech businesses.
“The main task of the technopark team is to help startups grow and become self-confident producers of quality products and advanced technologies,” said Dmitry Bogdanov, Minister of Economic Development and Investment of the Samara Region . – Based on the results of 2022, Zhiguli Valley was recognized as the best technology park in the country. Residents of the site have access to all opportunities created at the regional and federal levels.”
As a resident, Prototype began cooperation with the Regional Engineering Center (RCE), which is based in the Zhigulevskaya Valley and provides support to small and medium-sized businesses.
The Technopark and the regional Ministry of Economic Development actively promote the resident’s projects at major specialized exhibitions and provide information support. “Prototype” was a participant in the regional forum “My Business” and the specialized conference “Introduction of additive technologies into the production processes of a modern enterprise.”
In Zhigulevskaya Dolina, residents are helped with attracting funding: searching for investors, selecting regional and federal support measures, and filling out applications for participation in grant programs.
Today, Prototype LLC has 15 employees. The company's machine park consists of 100 FDM printers using layer-by-layer deposition technology and photopolymer printers. In 2022, the company expanded its range of capabilities and opened a polymer injection molding facility, which is now in great demand. A Russian brand from Tomsk is also a supplier of materials .
“Prototype” provides services in 3D printing, industrial prototyping, prototyping, development of a mathematical model, plastic and polyurethane casting, milling. Among the customers are manufacturing enterprises in the Volga region, including large ones. Today the company is preparing to present a new development, which will be based on more advanced printing technology.
Let us remind you that the Samara region has been a member of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia since 2012.