Today in Russian Business – June 24, 2010

Why Medvedev’s trip to Silicon Valley may yield little in the way of concrete results, from Reuters.  Ria-Novosti has a round-up of the  trip.  Russia already has several science parks, which have not flourished – why should Skolkovo be any different, wonders an article by RFE/RL.  At a talk at Stanford University Medvedev expressed his admiration for the technology hub in a speech read off an I-pad.  ‘He [Medvedev] is remarkably open’, Cisco CEO John Chambers told reporters.  The company plans to invest $100 million in venture projects in Russia.  The President’s first tweet.  Jumping on the innovation band wagon, Rusal is reportedly looking for $45 million from the government for two projects in that sphere.  Sistema Shyam TeleServices has said it expected to receive an investment of more than $600 million from the Russian government as early as September.  First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov has no plans for a bank levy that exists in other European countries.  An article from Reuters ponders the longevity of the cash-for-clunkers scheme.